The Miami Marlins will move their game broadcasts in 2014 to Clear Channel’s “940 The Sports Animal” WINZ.
The deal ends a five-year relationship with Lincoln Financial Media’s “790/104.3 The Ticket” WAXY/WAXY-FM. All Marlins game broadcasts and ancillary programming will shift to WINZ starting with a weekly offseason program.
The Miami Herald adds that Dave Van Horne and Glenn Geffner, the team’s play-by-play announcers will remain in that role on WINZ.
The press release announcing the move follows:
The Miami Marlins announced today a partnership with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Miami, making 940 WINZ-AM the official English radio broadcast home of the Marlins, beginning with the 2014 season.
940 WINZ-AM, Miami’s Sports Animal, will feature full Miami Marlins coverage with live game broadcasts, pre- and post-game analysis, as well as daily game recaps with coaches and players. In addition, The Hot Stove Report, a half-hour long show covering Marlins and Major League Baseball news, will air each weekend during the off-season. 940 WINZ-AM is also the radio broadcast home of the Miami Dolphins, Florida Gators football and basketball and carries NFL games throughout the season.
“The Miami Marlins are extremely pleased to enter this new partnership with Clear Channel,” said Marlins President David Samson. “Our fans throughout South Florida will benefit from Clear Channel’s expansive network of stations. The Marlins new long-term home on 940 WINZ will give our fans the ability to follow the Marlins throughout the year.”
“Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Miami is thrilled to partner with the Miami Marlins and provide comprehensive game coverage for our listeners,” said Lonny Anger, Market President, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Miami. “As two-time World Series Champions, they have proven they have what it takes to succeed, and we look forward to serving their loyal fan base.”
Jay Rudko 
Nathan Obral
Unless they plan on simulcasting on one of their FM’s, WINZ’s signal into Broward County is less than stellar at night. The WAXY AM-FM simulcast made more sense. This is going to work against them big time. WINZ has a great signal during the day, but they go directional to the south at night. Most of Broward will be lost.
It’s more about the value of the Marlins right now. It appears that WAXY didn’t want them back, and nothing has been said about WQAM. It might have been 940 or bust for the team.
If they realize 940 isn’t enough, perhaps they’ll have time to add an additional Broward outlet.
Considering the poor performance by the Marlins this past year, and the mammoth amounts of negative PR that the owners have accrued in the market, who could blame WAXY and WQAM from staying as far away as possible from the team?