WRUF Sportsradio 850 announces ESPN affiliation/Ocala partnership
WRUF Sportsradio 850, Gainesville’s top rated sports station, and ESPN Radio will join forces to broadcast local sports talk, ESPN programming, and Gator and high school sports to north central Florida. In addition, WRUF Sportsradio 850 announces a new partnership with SportsTalk LLC in Ocala that creates a single ESPN affiliate for the Gainesville-Ocala market. The affiliation and partnership begin Friday, June 29.
The new station, which will be known as ESPN 850/900, will originate from broadcast facilities at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and air on WRUF-AM 850, WMOP-AM 900 and WMOP-100.1 FM.
WRUF-AM 850 is a part of the division of multimedia properties at the UF College of Journalism and Communications, which includes seven broadcast facilities across North Central Florida.
The partnership will allow listeners in the Ocala/Marion County area to hear talk shows from Gainesville sports personalities Steve Russell and Larry Vettel, in addition to host Adam Reardon who has been on the air in both Gainesville and Ocala for several years.
The new programming schedule moves “Sportscene with Steve Russell” from its morning drive slot to 12 p.m.-2 p.m.; Vettel’s show remains from 4-6 p.m. “The Cheap Seats”, an hour-long sports talk program hosted by UF College of Journalism and Communications students, will air weeknights from 6-7 p.m. WMOP’s Adam Reardon will host the 10 a.m.-12 p.m. slot.
“We are thrilled about these new partnerships with ESPN and WMOP,” said Randy Wright, executive director of the UF College of Journalism and Communications’ division of multimedia properties. “Creating a single broadcast schedule for the entire Gainesville/Ocala market with ESPN, local sports talk, and Gator and local sports events gives fans throughout the region a single place on the dial to listen to all their favorite sports programming.”
The weekday program schedule is:
- 6 – 10 a.m. – “Mike and Mike in the Morning” (ESPN)
- 10 a.m. – noon – “Adam Reardon”
- Noon – 2 p.m. – “Sportscene with Steve Russell”
- 2 – 4 p.m. – “The Scott Van Pelt Show” (ESPN)
- 4 – 6 p.m. – “The Larry Vettel Show”
- 6 – 7 p.m. – “The Cheap Seats”
- 7 – 10 p.m. – “Hill & Schlereth” (ESPN)
- 10 – 11 p.m. – “SportsCenter” (ESPN)
- 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. – ESPN Radio programming
“Florida SportsTalk is extremely pleased to announce this partnership with the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications,” said Gordon Smith, president and owner. “With these combined efforts we can bring sports programming to our citizens like no other outlet in north central Florida.”
The new affiliation and partnership also open up more opportunities for the College’s journalism and communications students.
“The College continues to look for opportunities to enhance the educational experience of our students,” said John Wright, dean of the UF College of Journalism and Communications. “This ESPN affiliation will provide even more broadcasting and online experiences for our journalism and communications students. In addition, our plans to broadcast more high school football and basketball games live in these markets will give our students experience in broadcasting and producing live sporting events.”
Posted: June 28, 2012
Category: College News
