XM MLB Chat: WBAL 1090 returns as Baltimore Orioles radio flagship in 2011

2/8/11, "After a four-season run on 105.7 The Fan, Orioles radio broadcasts are returning to WBAL-AM 1090, the Hearst-owned station that has had a partnership with the club for much of the past six decades. The three-year contract, which comes after the club shopped its radio rights for several months, is somewhat surprising considering the

rocky parting between the Orioles and WBAL after the 2006 season

as well as the trend among professional sports franchises to switch from high-wattage AM stations to multi-platform FM clusters.

"We are going back to a station that is familiar with Orioles baseball, having carried the broadcast for more than 40 of our seasons," Orioles director of communications Greg Bader said.

"The signal strength, the coverage they provide, their news-reporting abilities are all exemplary. They were a great partner of ours for many years, and we are confident they will be a great partner of ours this year and for years to come."

WBAL had served as the club's flagship station for 19 consecutive years when the broadcasts moved to the CBS-owned WJZ-FM 105.7 for the start of the 2007 season. It was the first time in nearly 40 years the Orioles weren't heard on the AM dial in Baltimore....

The switch will not affect play-by-play broadcasters Joe Angel and Fred Manfra, who are employed by the club and are expected to return for the 2011 season. Angel and Manfra have

teamed in the booth for the past eight seasons.

"We're bringing back that broadcast team," Kiernan said. "That was very important to us. Those are people we've known for a long time, and to bring them back in the fold, it's exciting."... The prevailing thought was that the Orioles would remain with 105.7 when their four-year deal expired at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Orioles principal owner Peter G. Angelos and 105.7 representatives engaged in several rounds of negotiations but were unable to hammer out a deal....

WBAL, which previously partnered with the Orioles from 1957 to 1978 and from 1988 to 2006, is now the flagship of both the Orioles and the Ravens. That could create conflict during September, when the baseball season is winding down and the NFL season is starting up. WBAL, however, does have a sister station in 98 Rock (97.9FM)....

WBAL is slated to broadcast all 162 Orioles games in 2011 and at least 10 spring training games. It will be a quick turnaround for a station that hasn't aired live play-by-play baseball since 2006.

"It's going to be a challenge. I'm not going to deny that," Kiernan said. "The first [spring training] game is Feb. 28, and we expect to be on the air and ready to go. Everybody that has worked with Orioles baseball is still here, and we know how to do it...."

WBAL will also have pre- and post-game shows, but additional baseball programming has not been determined. The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, the Orioles' TV arm, has worked with 105.7 in the past, and Philips said he believes that relationship will continue.

"I expect us continue to do stuff with MASN," Philips said. "They have a studio here and, as far as I know, they'll still be doing stuff in the studio."

This week, MASN pulled its simulcast of 105.7's "The Scott Garceau Show," stating on its website that the network is making "significant changes" to its afternoon lineup in the coming weeks. A source with knowledge of the subject said that while the timing coincided with the Orioles' switch in flagship stations, the decision to end the simulcast was not related to the deal and had discussed for months.

Philips said he does not anticipate layoffs because of the decision. Although disappointed in losing the Orioles, he said he believes his station will continue to be the top source for sports discussion in Baltimore.

"We'll still cover sports and talk sports every day. That's what we do," Philips said. "We had a lot of employees that are tied to the Orioles. That obviously is tough. We want to do all we can to keep all of our employees employed. We just couldn't come to terms with [the Orioles]. But [the Orioles] will be fine. WBAL will do a good job for them, and