On the heels of the Los Angeles Kings placing their games for the 2018-2019 NHL season exclusively on the iHeartRadio app, two more NHL teams are moving their radio broadcasts to a digital platform.
Entercom’s Radio.com will become home to games of the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. Select games involving the two teams will air on Entercom’s 660 WFAN/101.9 WFAN-FM New York, which will also promote the streams. Like the Kings, both franchises will use their streaming channels to develop ancillary programming and exclusive content.
The Devils have had some of their games heard on WFAN since 2005 with 53 games last year heard online only on the team’s One Jersey Network. Islanders broadcasts have been on Hofstra University’s 88.7 WRHU Hempstead NY since 2010 with select games airing on various New York City stations including WFAN. They will continue to be heard over the air on WRHU and JVC Media News/Talk “LI News Radio” 103.9 WRCN Riverhead NY.
Entercom, the unrivaled leader in sports radio, the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders have announced today, in an exclusive partnership, that all regular-season and postseason games for both teams will stream live from Radio.com, the exclusive digital home for all Entercom content. As part of the agreement, the broadcasts will be available free via Radio.com’s app and website as well as the NHL, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders mobile apps and website. The digital stream commences on Thursday, October 4 at 7 p.m. EST with the New York Islanders game vs. the Carolina Hurricanes. The first New Jersey Devils streamed competition features the team’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, October 6 at 1 p.m. EST from the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition, WFAN Sports Radio 101.9 FM and 660 AM will promote all live, digital streams and air select head-to-head matchups between the two teams.
The partnership marks WFAN’s 14th consecutive season as the flagship station for the New Jersey Devils, who exclusively streamed 53 games last season on The One Jersey Network. Both teams are expected to roll out additional, exclusive content and develop new pregame, postgame and weekly shows on the new platform as the season progresses.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with the New Jersey Devils and add the New York Islanders,” said Jeff Sottolano, Senior Vice President, Entercom. “As the fastest growing digital audio app in the United States and unrivaled leader in local sports coverage, Radio.com aims to become a daily habit for the millions of users we reach each month, including tri-state hockey fans.”
“Technology continues to evolve the ways fans follow their teams, over the last few years we have been focused on creating new platforms for our fans to engage with our teams,” said Hugh Weber, President, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center. “Specifically in terms of our audio rights, we have taken a conscious, phased approach in digitally streaming our games with the mission of making our broadcasts available when and where our fans choose.”
“The way our fanbase consumes information about the New York Islanders is constantly changing. As an organization, we want to work with new platforms that will continue to give our fans that information in cutting edge areas,” said Lou Lamoriello, President and General Manager, New York Islanders. “The ability to partner with Entercom while still having a presence on WFAN, allows our fanbase to not only listen to live game broadcasts, but receive exclusive content that will make them feel closer to the team.”
The game between the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers in Gothenburg, Sweden is part of the NHL’s Global Series. The team’s first regular-season home game at Prudential Center will take place against the reigning Stanley Cup champion, Washington Capitals, on Thursday, October 11 at 7 p.m.