Good Karma Brands is expanding the local programming lineup on “94.5 ESPN” WKTI Milwaukee while 540 WAUK Jackson will pickup the national ESPN Radio lineup starting Tuesday, June 4.
The new WKTI lineup will include a new morning show hosted by Gabe Neitzel and former Green Bay Packer Mark Chmura from 7-9am and a new early afternoon show hosted by former NBA player Tony Smith & Bryan Dee from 1-3pm. Jason Wilde and Mark Tauscher will remain in the 9am-12pm slot, while sister WTMJ evening “Sports Central” host Greg Matzek adds a 12pm hour show on WKTI. Steve ‘The Homer’ True and Gabe Neitzel remain in the 3-6pm timeslot. WTMJ’s Doug Russell will add a 6-8pm show on WKTI.
“540 ESPN” WAUK will carry the bulk of the national ESPN Radio lineup with local and sponsored content in place of the majority of commercials. The station will also carry “ESPN Milwaukee Podcenter” hosted by Doug Russell from 3-6pm.
The company also intends to replace WTMJ’s evening sports talk programming with more general talk on nights that the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks are not playing at a later date.
ESPN Milwaukee announced new programming lineups for its two radio brands today, which will begin Tuesday, June 4. Local sports content has been expanded to include live and local programs on 94.5 ESPN and a new presentation of ESPN’s network content on 540 ESPN.
New voices coming to 94.5 ESPN include Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame player Mark Chmura, who will co-host a daily show with Gabe Neitzel from 7-9 a.m. weekday mornings; and Tony Smith, who started his basketball career at Wauwatosa East High School and went on to play for Marquette and six NBA teams, will join Bryan Dee for a midday show airing from 1-3 p.m.
“This investment in local programming gives fans more ways to engage in sports and provides our advertising partners additional opportunities to connect with their customers and build their brands,” said Steve Wexler, vice president and market manager for Good Karma Brands.
Greg Matzek and Doug Russell, from sister station Newsradio WTMJ will also have regular shows on 94.5 ESPN.
The lineup on 94.5 ESPN, effective June 4:
5 – 7 a.m. Golic and Wingo (ESPN)
7 – 9 a.m. Gabe & Chewy (Gabe Neitzel and Mark Chmura)
9 – Noon Wilde and Tausch (Jason Wilde and Mark Tauscher); note that this show will continue to air on 100.5 ESPN in Madison as well
Noon – 1 p.m. Power Lunch with Greg Matzek
1 – 3 p.m. Tony Smith & Bryan Dee
3 – 6 p.m. Homer & Gabe (Steve “The Homer” True and Gabe Neitzel)
6 – 8 p.m. Doug Russell“I’m particularly excited to bring Chewy and Tony onto our weekly lineup. Their unique perspectives and stories from their playing days, combined with knowledge of and love for Milwaukee, make them such great additions to this already compelling lineup in the Brew City,” said ESPN Milwaukee and WTMJ Program Director, Brad Lane.
At the same time, ESPN’s network lineup will air in a new presentation format on 540 ESPN with limited commercial interruptions. Local and sponsored content will air rather than a series of commercials.
The lineup on 540 ESPN, also effective June 4:
5 – 9 a.m. Golic and Wingo (ESPN)
9 – Noon Dan Le Batard (ESPN)
Noon – 2 p.m. Stephen A. Smith
2 – 3 p.m. Will Cain
3 – 6 p.m. ESPN Milwaukee Podcenter hosted by Doug Russell
6 – 8 p.m. Spain & Fitz
8 – Midnight Freddie & Fitzsimmons
Midnight – 3 a.m. SportsCenter All Night
3 – 5 a.m. First & LastNewsradio WTMJ will continue as flagship for Milwaukee Brewers baseball, Milwaukee Bucks basketball and Green Bay Packers football. Marquette basketball will air on 94.5 ESPN.
The addition of more local sports talk on 94.5 ESPN also means changes to WTMJ’s evening lineup when there is no sports play-by-play.
“We will be adding local talk content to WTMJ in the evening that will feature new voices and perspectives. We intend to more fully live up to our brand as ‘Wisconsin’s Radio Station’ and we’re on the lookout for additional local, compelling and entertaining personalities to add to WTMJ”, said Wexler.
The new lineup and shows begin Tuesday, June 4.
