The Detroit Pistons are returning to 97.1 The Ticket. The two sides have struck a multi-year deal to begin airing the team’s games on the radio station starting with the 2017-18 season. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The Pistons left The Ticket in April 2014 to join upstart sports radio station Detroit Sports 105.1. The station though flipped formats in less than three years, leaving the Pistons to air their games on 105.1 The Bounce. That fit wasn’t exactly what they had in mind when they agreed to change radio partners.
The new agreement gives 97.1 FM The Ticket exclusive rights to airing regular-season, preseason and postseason games. The station will also provide pre and post-game coverage, interviews with players, coaches and front office executives and additional coverage on its talk shows throughout the NBA season.
Game coverage and additional programming will also be available online at www.971theticket.com and via mobile apps for 97.1 The Ticket and the Detroit Pistons.
“The Detroit Pistons are thrilled to be returning to 97.1 FM The Ticket and re-establishing our partnership with the CBS Radio family,” said Charlie Metzger, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the Detroit Pistons. “Given the station’s position as the market leader in local sports radio, returning to 97.1 The Ticket is a natural fit for our organization and Pistons fans will enjoy high-quality game broadcasts and related team content throughout the NBA season and beyond.”
Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President/Market Manager at CBS Radio Detroit added: “97.1 The Ticket is excited to bring the Detroit Pistons back to the station! We’ve always maintained a strong relationship with the team; we look forward to bringing Pistons fans exciting game day broadcasts and exclusive coverage and being a part of the team’s inaugural year at Little Caesars Arena.”
Mark Champion will return as the team’s radio play-by-play voice for his 24th season. Former Piston and “Bad Boy” Rick Mahorn, is also coming back. This will be his 16th season serving as a basketball analyst.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
