Good Karma Brands has announced the official launch of 880 ESPN New York, creating a new avenue of sports radio coverage in the metro area. Starting today, fans will be able to hear the local content airing on 98.7 FM and on the 880 AM signal. The 1050 AM frequency will continue to air the ESPN Radio Network slate of shows, retaining the presence of ESPN New York across both frequencies.
Friday will be the final day in which ESPN New York will be heard on 98.7 FM, coinciding with the expiration of the lease The Walt Disney Company signed with Emmis Communications last decade. Good Karma Brands opted to end the local marketing agreement and is preparing to move forward without an FM signal airing ESPN New York content.
ESPN New York will serve as the home of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers for the upcoming seasons, teams within the MSG Radio Network that previously aired on 98.7 FM. The station will also serve as the home for live game broadcasts of New York Mets baseball, including any postseason matchups. The Mets organization moved its radio rights to Audacy ahead of the 2019 season, where the team aired on WCBS Newsradio 880, which officially signed off the air early Monday morning. The new 880 ESPN New York frequency will also be available on 101.1 FM HD2 and through the station app, providing listeners another means to access the station.
“We are very proud to be stewards of the 880 AM signal, allowing us to extend our local content to a larger audience,” Vinny DiMarco, market manager of ESPN New York, said in a statement. “The 880 AM signal is a clear channel, meaning it can be heard not only across much of the eastern United States but also in parts of Eastern Canada, especially at night. This expansion and investment is a testament to our commitment to providing unparalleled sports coverage for our listeners and unique opportunities for our advertising partners.”
The local programming lineup is remaining the same despite the change of frequency, starting with DiPietro & Rothenberg in morning drive before moving to Bart & Hahn in middays and The Michael Kay Show in afternoon drive.
Good Karma Brands is adopting the new call letters of WHSQ for the frequency, reflecting the impending move of the ESPN New York studios to Hudson Square early next year. The Walt Disney Company is moving its New York headquarters within the neighborhood as well and will be situated in close proximity to the offices of Good Karma Brands. The two entities inked an agreement last year through which Good Karma Brands oversees the operations and sales of ESPN radio and podcast networks, further expanding their decades-long partnership.
