On the Yankees radio network...

From the NY Daily News : Right now their future is up in the air. The Yankees contract with WCBS-AM, worth about $12 million per year, expires at the end of the 2011 season, so do Sterling and Waldman's pacts. Sterling has been the radio voice of the Yankees since 1989. Waldman joined him in 2005.


There has yet to be any serious negotiations between the Yankees and WCBS. The job status of Ma and Pa cannot be resolved until a new radio-rights deal is cut. Industry moles say other outlets have chatted informally with Bombers brass. These potential suitors are looking to get a sense of which direction the club wants to go with its radio rights.


Outside of WCBS, which probably wants to keep the Yankees, it's highly likely ESPN will - if it hasn't already - stick its beak into the mix. For ESPN-1050, the process of trying to chip away at WFAN, longtime Mets rights holder, has not been easy.


Adding Yankees radiocasts to the mix of Jets, Knicks and Rangers would help change the equation - drastically. But how much would ESPN be willing to pay for the radio rights to Yankees baseball? And would pinstripe honchos be satisfied having their games go out over ESPN-1050's weak signal? That situation could be corrected if ESPN ever purchases another station with stronger reach.


There also has been talk about the Yankees buying a radio station. With the radio biz in the toilet, and in the current lousy economic climate, that is not likely to happen. "

Let me start of by saying that I don't hate Sterling or Waldman as much as some Yankees fan, although I liked Waldman better when she was the on field reporter for YES. But if the Yankees wanted to switch commentators and stuff I don't have a huge issue, although I would hope they keep Sterling since his calls are classic and he is the voice of the Yankees for the past twenty plus years.

I don't not want the Yankees to even think about switching to ESPN radio. The signal is so bad, that there are times just driving around on Long Island it has an issue coming in. I know that the Yankees may get offered more money by them, but at least with WCBS they know what they are going to get. WCBS has such a strong signal it can be heard as far as Kentucky and North Carolina on a clear night.

As for the Yanks owning their own radio station, that would be very interesting since I have not a clue what other type of programing they could have on. They could make it another sports talk radio, but they area already has WFAN and ESPN radio, so it would be tough to compete.