As the NHL’s New York Islanders prepare to begin their first season playing in Brooklyn this week, the franchise is expanding their radio network to include NYC Media’s 91.5 WNYE New York. WNYE features a mix of Public Talk, Ethnic programming and a morning simulcast of Fordham University AAA 90.7 WFUV New York.
Hofstra University’s 88.7 WRHU Hempstead will begin their six year as flagship for the team’s broadcasts producing the games with Chris King beginning his 22nd season with the team. Greg Picker, who had served as the franchise’s social media communications coordinator and website contributor will join King as analyst.
JVC Media News/Talk “LI News Radio” 103.9 WRCN Riverhead will be the third station on the Islanders Radio Network.
Barclays Center has launched the New York Islanders Radio Network that includes WNYE 91.5 FM, WRHU 88.7 FM, and WRCN 103.9 FM. The three stations will broadcast every game in the team’s inaugural season in Brooklyn.
Veteran broadcaster Chris King, who has worked on Islanders radio broadcasts for the past 22 years, will continue serving as play-by-play announcer, while Greg Picker will become the team’s analyst.
Islanders games will make their Brooklyn debut with simulcasts on WNYE 91.5 FM. WNYE is managed and operated by NYC Media, the City of New York’s official television and radio network, and a division of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. WNYE is broadcast throughout the New York metropolitan area from the 4 Times Square tower in midtown Manhattan.
For the sixth consecutive season, Islanders radio broadcasts will be produced by and heard on WRHU 88.7 FM. WRHU stretches throughout Nassau County and into parts of Suffolk County.
WRCN 103.9 FM, LI News Radio, is Long Island’s only FM news station. Broadcasting live from Islip’s MacArthur Airport, the station covers local news, traffic and weather. WRCN reaches Suffolk County.
“We are pleased to launch the Islanders Radio Network with WNYE, WRHU, and WRCN to broadcast Islanders games this season,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “The three-station tandem allows us to reach fans in Long Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan.”
What a sad state of affairs for the Islanders.
With the move to Brooklyn, I expected the Islanders would have moved to a major commercial station (read; WOR-710).
The Isles would have been a good sports fit for WOR, forming a year-round sports axis with the Mets (in Spring and Summer).
I would think this network arrangement has an “exit” clause so that if a major New York commercial station does express interest in picking-up the Isles for the 2016-17 season, the WRHU/WNYE network could be scuttled in favor of a commercial station becoming flagship.
WOR would of made sense but I’m guessing being on FM was a necessity in the eye of the Islanders.
Maybe they could still end up on WFAN if in a year they decide to swap the Devils for the Isles…if thats possible?
The Islanders aren’t on FM by necessity. They’re on FM — a noncom at that — because no commercial AM station was interested. WOR was never an option because of its commitments to the New York Mets and Rutgers University.
And it sure is “a sad state of affairs for the Islanders” when they have a lucrative TV contract with MSG Networks.
Not sure how its a sad state of affairs either. New arena, influx of monies to pump into the team. Things seem on an upswing.