Update 11/4: Clear Channel and the New York Mets have made their five year contract official making 710 WOR the new flagship station for Mets broadcasts. Additional team content and promotions will air on Clear Channel’s five FM stations in the market as well as working together to enhance the music and entertainment during games at Citi Field and to promote concerts at the stadium.
The New York Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any radio or television outlet, today announced the launch of a five-year landmark multimedia marketing partnership.
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s 50,000-watt AM powerhouse 710 WOR will become the flagship radio station of the Mets, broadcasting Spring Training, regular season, and post season games as well as the team’s pre- and post-game shows. Beyond broadcasting the games on WOR, the multifaceted strategic alliance includes Mets-related programming and promotion through all of Clear Channel’s multi-platform media assets, including radio, digital, outdoor and music/entertainment events.
Following are the other key elements of the landmark five-year agreement between the Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment:
Radio: The Mets will be marketed across all six top-rated Clear Channel New York radio stations and will work with each station on custom promotional opportunities on air and during Mets home games at Citi Field. Clear Channel and affiliate stations reach 93% of the New York DMA population of 12+ each month. Clear Channel New York radio stations include Z100 (100.3 WHTZ-FM), KTU (103.5 WKTU-FM), LITE FM (106.7 WLTW-FM), Q104.3 (104.3 WAXQ-FM), Power 105.1 (105.1 WWPR-FM) and WOR 710 AM.
Digital: In addition to promotion on the stations, each station website and iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s industry-leading, all-in-one digital service, will promote the Mets and Mets-related programming.
Outdoor: Clear Channel Outdoor’s strategically located media inventory will also market the Mets and WOR relationship throughout the New York Metropolitan Area.
Music and Entertainment: The Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment will work together to enhance in-game entertainment at Citi Field and jointly explore the production and promotion of top name concerts, festivals and large-scale entertainment events at Citi Field.
Community Outreach and Grass Roots: The Mets and Clear Channel Communities, the charitable arm of Clear Channel, will also jointly develop a number of outreach and grass roots programs to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
“This breakthrough partnership provides us with the ability to serve our loyal fans and attract a new generation of fans through Clear Channel’s massive reach and ability to target key demographics across the New York market,” said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. “Our agreement delivers more promotion of the club to a broader audience than this franchise ever has had before with additional opportunities to advance our efforts to make Citi Field one of the leading sports and entertainment destinations in the country.”
“WOR is a powerful, high potential complement to our existing New York brands, and it’s an incredible opportunity for us to be able to bring the Mets programming to WOR’s lineup and the rest of our New York cluster,” said John Hogan, Chairman and CEO, Clear Channel and Entertainment. “We look at this investment not only as an opportunity to establish WOR as a destination to a broader audience, but to also to drive further awareness and growth of the Mets through our unique multiplatform capabilities and programming — radio, digital, outdoor and live events.”
Original Report 10/18: Multiple reports in New York indicate that Clear Channel is finalizing a mulityear deal to make Talk 710 WOR the new flagship station for New York Mets baseball.
The station has been in a holding pattern since Clear Channel purchased it in August 2012 for $30 Million. That will begin to change in January when Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity move over from Cumulus’ 770 WABC. We reported last month that Clear Channel could be preparing a rebranding of the station.
ESPN New York reports that as part of the deal Clear Channel will promote the team on its five FM stations in the market and potentially host concert events at Citi Field. Clear Channel can also provide potential network affiliates in Connecticut and Upstate New York for the franchise. Howie Rose is likely to return as lead play-by-play voice of the team.
The Mets ended a 31 year relationship with CBS Sports WFAN (and predecessor WHN) in September when CBS signed a deal to move the New York Yankees over from sister News 880 WCBS.
In addition to the Mets, Clear Channel stations serve as flagships for the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
