July 1, 2010

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland athletics department, Terrapin Sports Marketing, and Red Zebra Broadcasting announced today a multi-year agreement in which ESPN980 will become the new Washington, D.C., affiliate for the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (TSRN) beginning with the 2010 football season. ESPN980 can be heard "trimulcast" throughout the D.C. metropolitan area, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia on 980-AM (WTEM), 92.7FM (WWXT) and 94.3FM (WWXX).

ESPN980 has been the sports voice of the Nation's Capital for 18 years and is the radio home of the Washington Redskins. Other ESPN980 programming includes ESPN's nationally-syndicated Mike & Mike in the Morning, and "The Sports Fix" featuring Maryland alumnus Kevin Sheehan.

Starting in 2010-11, Maryland football and men's basketball games, including postseason contests, will be heard in Washington, D.C., almost exclusively on ESPN980. In the infrequent event of broadcast conflicts with the Redskins, Maryland Athletics and ESPN980 will aggressively promote alternate stations where the Terps will be heard in the D.C. listening area. In the first year of the new partnership, due to Red Zebra's existing broadcast contracts, there may be a limited number of additional programming conflicts during the 2010-11 men's basketball season. Maryland Athletics and ESPN980 will promote where fans can hear the Terps in the event of additional men's basketball conflicts in this transitional year as well.

ESPN980 has also agreed to carry additional Maryland Athletics radio programming, including football and basketball pregame and postgame shows, The Gary Williams Radio Show and The Ralph Friedgen Radio Show. Red Zebra stations will also carry select women's basketball and men's lacrosse broadcasts. Hall of Famer Johnny Holliday will return for his 32nd year as the play-by-play voice of the Terrapins for both football and men's basketball.

"Affiliation with the ESPN Radio brand is great for us," said Maryland's Interim Director of Athletics Randy Eaton. "We have been assured ESPN980 will feature the Terps in special promotions and seldom have conflicting programming, something that is critically important to our fans, who want to tune the dial to one station and know it is the home of Terrapin football and basketball."

"ESPN 980 and Red Zebra Broadcasting are proud to be entering this partnership with the outstanding Athletic programs at the University of Maryland", said Red Zebra CEO Bruce Gilbert. "It is our goal to be the destination for the local sports fan and adding the Terps to our existing lineup was a natural extension of the local ESPN Radio brand. We look forward to having Johnny call the games on ESPN 980."

"After an extensive process, we are extremely proud to partner with Red Zebra Broadcasting and ESPN980 as the new, long term home for Terps programming in our nation's capital," said Terrapin Sports Marketing General Manager Christian Lewis. "In addition to providing a great signal to air our games, this partnership extends far deeper with new programming, cross-promotions, and an overall market strategy which will only serve to benefit all Terps fans."

The first Terrapin event to be heard on ESPN980 will be the 2010 football opener against Navy on Sept. 6. That game, to be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, kicks off at 4 p.m., with radio coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. The first regular-season men's basketball game is scheduled for Monday, November 8th against Seattle.

"I am very pleased that ESPN980 has recognized that the Terps are the most powerful collegiate sports brand in the D.C. radio market and that by adding Maryland Football to their Redskins coverage clearly positions them as the leading sports and football authority in the Nation's Capital," said Maryland Head Football Coach Ralph Friedgen. "ESPN980 is the best station in D.C. for Maryland football and our fans."

"ESPN980 is the right radio partner for Maryland Men's Basketball in Washington D.C.," agreed Maryland Head Men's Basketball Coach Gary Williams. "We look forward to the future years of this partnership, as well as the increased promotion ESPN980 will provide our program immediately in the D.C. market. I also look forward to working with them to promote the relationship."

Terrapin Sports Radio Network The Terrapin Sports Network boasts one of the strongest coverage areas in collegiate sports by providing coverage throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia and reaches into West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Terrapin Sports Marketing, a division of CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, manages the Terrapin Sports Radio Network on behalf of the department of athletics. Fans can also access Terps broadcasts through Terps TV on umterps.com.

Terrapin Sports Radio Network Affiliates (Subject to change)