Entercom announced a partnership with the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders to have all regular and postseason games of both teams live streamed exclusively by Radio.com for free. Entercom’s WFAN will remain the flagship radio station of the Devils.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with the New Jersey Devils and add the New York Islanders,” said Jeff Sottolano, senior vice president for Entercom. “As the fastest growing digital audio app in the United States and unrivaled leader in local sports coverage, Radio.com aims to become a daily habit for the millions of users we reach each month, including tri-state hockey fans.”
For the Devils, this will be the 14th consecutive season having WFAN serve as their flagship radio station. Last season, the Devils had 53 of their games live streamed by The One Jersey Network, a partnership that will be replaced by their exclusive agreement with Entercom’s Radio.com.
“Technology continues to evolve the ways fans follow their teams, over the last few years we have been focused on creating new platforms for our fans to engage with our teams,” said Hugh Weber, president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the Devils and Prudential Center. “Specifically in terms of our audio rights, we have taken a conscious, phased approach in digitally streaming our games with the mission of making our broadcasts available when and where our fans choose.”
Radio.com will also give Islander fans a new way to consume game broadcasts. Islander games will continue to air on terrestrial radio via Hofstra University’s 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 LI News Radio, along with select contests being heard on WFAN. In recent years, the Islanders have struggled to find a major radio affiliate, with WRHU and LI News Radio both having limited broadcast coverage on Long Island.
“The way our fanbase consumes information about the New York Islanders is constantly changing. As an organization, we want to work with new platforms that will continue to give our fans that information in cutting edge areas,” noted Lou Lamoriello, president and general manager, New York Islanders. “The ability to partner with Entercom while still having a presence on WFAN allows our fanbase to not only listen to live game broadcasts but receive exclusive content that will make them feel closer to the team.”
Through their Entercom partnership, both teams are expected to offer exclusive content featuring new pregame, postgame and weekly programming on Radio.com throughout the season. The Islanders and Devils partnership highlights a continued trend of professional teams offering their games live through free digital streaming. Last month, the Los Angeles Kings announced their games would have no terrestrial affiliate and only be available to fans through iHeartRadio.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.