Cavaliers AudioVerse explained

See also: List of Cleveland Cavaliers broadcasters.

Cavaliers AudioVerse
Type:Radio network
Country:United States
Headquarters:Cleveland, Ohio
Owner:Cleveland Cavaliers
Affiliation:NBA
Affiliates:20 (including 2 flagships)

The Cavaliers AudioVerse is an American radio network composed of 20 radio stations which carry English-language coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cleveland sister stations WTAM and WMMS serve as the network's two flagships; WTAM also relays its signal over a low-power FM translator. The network also includes eighteen affiliates in the U.S. states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia: thirteen AM stations, ten of which supplement their signals with low-power FM translators; and five full-power FM stations.

Tim Alcorn is the current play-by-play announcer, while Jim Chones serves as color analyst.[1] [2] In addition to traditional over-the-air AM and FM broadcasts, network programming airs on SiriusXM satellite radio; and streams online via SiriusXM Internet Radio, TuneIn Premium, and NBA League Pass Audio.

History

In 2008, longtime flagship WTAM signed a five-year contract extension with the Cavaliers through the 2013–14 season; in 2011, a Cavs spokesman stated there were "multiple years" remaining on the team's contract with WTAM, without specifying an end date. In 2014, WTAM owner iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel) announced a new "multi-year" contract with the team; this new arrangement also established simulcasts on WTAM sister station WMMS.[3] [4] Additional affiliates were added in the Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati markets, coinciding with LeBron James' heavily publicized return to the team.[5]

John Michael took over as the team's lead play-by-play announcer starting in the 2011–12 season following the retirement of longtime radio voice Joe Tait.[6] After the death of lead TV play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod prior to the start of the 2019–20 season, Michael was reassigned to that position, with Tim Alcorn—lead sports announcer and station manager at Cavaliers radio affiliate WEOL in Elyria—being hired as Michael's successor.

The radio network was rebranded as the "Cavaliers AudioVerse" beginning with the 2022–23 season.[7]

Announcers

Station list

Network stations as of the 2024–25 Cavaliers season
CallsignFrequencyBandCityStateNetwork status
WTAMdata-sort-value="001100" 1100 AM Ohio Flagship
WMMSdata-sort-value="100700" 100.7 FM Ohio Flagship
W295DEdata-sort-value="106990" 106.9 FM Ohio WTAM relay
WAKRdata-sort-value="001590" 1590 AM Ohio Affiliate
W228ELdata-sort-value="093590" 93.5 FM Ohio WAKR relay
WZOO-FMdata-sort-value="102500" 102.5 FM Ohio Affiliate
WHBCdata-sort-value="001480" 1480 AM Ohio Affiliate
WCSMdata-sort-value="001350" 1350 AM Ohio Affiliate
W262DCdata-sort-value="100390" 100.3 FM Ohio WCSM relay
WCSM-FMdata-sort-value="096700" 96.7 FM Ohio Affiliate
WJERdata-sort-value="001450" 1450 AM Ohio Affiliate
W265DLdata-sort-value="100990" 100.9 FM Ohio WJER relay
WEOLdata-sort-value="000930" 930 AM Ohio Affiliate
W262DMdata-sort-value="100391" 100.3 FM Ohio WEOL relay
WFOBdata-sort-value="001430" 1430 AM Ohio Affiliate
W289CPdata-sort-value="105790" 105.7 FM Ohio WFOB relay
WIMAdata-sort-value="001150"1150 AM Ohio Affiliate
WHTDdata-sort-value="107100" 106.3 FM Ohio Affiliate
WRGMdata-sort-value="001440" 1440 AM Ohio Affiliate
W294CKdata-sort-value="106790" 106.7 FM Ohio WRGM relay
WMOAdata-sort-value="001490" 1490 AM Ohio Affiliate
W267CQdata-sort-value="101390" 101.3 FM MariettaOhio WMOA relay
WLKR-FMdata-sort-value="095300" 95.3 FM NorwalkOhio Affiliate
WABQdata-sort-value="001460" 1460 AM PainesvilleOhio Affiliate
W234DOdata-sort-value="094790" 94.7 FM PainesvilleOhio WABQ relay
W225CWdata-sort-value="092990" 92.9 FM West Virginia WJAW relay
WLECdata-sort-value="001450" 1450 AM Ohio Affiliate
W228ENdata-sort-value="093591" 93.5 FM Ohio WLEC relay
WJAWdata-sort-value="000630" 630 AM St. MarysWest Virginia Affiliate
WWIZdata-sort-value="103900" 103.9 FM West MiddlesexPennsylvania Affiliate
WBBWdata-sort-value="001240" 1240 AM Ohio Affiliate
Blue background indicates low-power FM translator.

Network map

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Fedor. Chris. September 23, 2019. Cleveland Cavaliers, Fox Sports Ohio tab John Michael as play-by-play announcer; Tim Alcorn named team's radio broadcaster. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. October 17, 2019. October 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018032409/https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2019/09/cleveland-cavaliers-fox-sports-ohio-tab-john-michael-as-play-by-play-announcer.html. live.
  2. News: Schudel. Jeff. September 23, 2019. Tim Alcorn from WEOL in Lorain named Cavs new radio play-by-play announcer. The News-Herald. Painesville, Ohio. October 17, 2019. October 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018032418/https://www.news-herald.com/sports/cavaliers/tim-alcorn-from-weol-in-lorain-named-cavs-new-radio/article_1a2951a6-de0f-11e9-85a2-8bbc8f309c66.html. live.
  3. Web site: October 8, 2014. Cleveland Cavaliers Games To Be Simulcast On WMMS, WTAM. AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. October 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141009130701/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/134264/cleveland-cavaliers-games-to-be-simulcast-on-wmms-. October 9, 2014.
  4. Web site: May 12, 2008. WTAM, Cavaliers Ink New Deal. AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. October 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20141007093553/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/40096/wtam-cavaliers-ink-new-deal. October 7, 2014.
  5. Web site: Kleps. Kevin. September 28, 2014. Full court press: How local media is preparing for a Cavs season like no other. Crain's Cleveland Business. Cleveland, Ohio. October 7, 2014. September 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916093011/http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140928/SUB1/309289982/full-court-press-how-local-media-is-preparing-for-a-cavs-season-like. live.
  6. News: Reed. Tom. December 24, 2011. Cleveland Cavaliers' new radio voice made right decision to leave law career, judging from results. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. October 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20120114090754/http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/12/cleveland_cavaliers_new_radio.html. January 14, 2012.
  7. WJYD 107.1 FM Joins Cleveland Cavaliers AudioVerse as Columbus Affiliate for 2022-23 Season . October 23, 2022 . October 5, 2022 . Cleveland Cavaliers . Cleveland, Ohio.