More details have been coming out regarding the new Pitt radio deal with Clear Channel. First some kudos to AD Jeff Long for getting this accomplished. We at PSB have waiting for improvements in the media/PR game. This is an important step that we’ve been waiting for since the AD Long started implementing the revised radio shows and even a little new PR weekly on Fox Sports Pittsburgh.

I have one suggestion for Long regarding the radio shows — make sure they are streamed on the internet. Either let the stations do it, and provide a link on the Pitt website, or do it yourself. I know Lee listens to the Ohio St. stuff on the web, and it is a great way to reach the fans that don’t actually live in Pittsburgh — not mention a way to build up fan support and interest for other radio stations in the state to carry the shows. And for these shows, do not do it through Yahoo!, so that you have to pay an annual fee. These are not the games. These are informational/propoganda shows. You want them distributed as widely as possible.

There was a little more about the deal in both papers yesterday. The Post-Gazette was a little weaker in details:

In a new deal that started with middle-management talks last summer, the Panthers hike their on-air presence by a minimum of 3 hours weekly during football and 1 1/2-3 hours weekly during basketball.

Football broadcasts will contain a 90-minute pregame and 60-minute postgame show, simulcast on both stations. Then, on the AM all-sports outlet, there will follow a 60-minute “Panthers Hotline,” a call-in show previously heard five years ago — after football games only, though.

Basketball games will include a 30-minute pregame and postgame show, to be followed on the AM by the new basketball version “Panthers Hotline.”

Also, there will be Walt Harris and Jamie Dixon coaches shows, most likely on 104.7, which Clear Channel regional vice president John Rohm called the flagship. Fox Sports Radio 970 also is AM home to the Steelers and Penguins, whose game broadcasts would take precedence over any conflicts with the Pitt basketball schedule. WPGB’s schedule won’t run into any conflicts, Rohm said, because Clear Channel’s WDVE-FM (102.5) is the Steelers’ flagship and WWSW-FM (94.5) is the Penguins’ flagship.

Tomorrow, Harris and Dixon are scheduled to make the radio rounds on the air with those FM stations.

Hosts for the new shows haven’t yet been selected

That last line isn’t totally true. There isn’t a new host for the “Panther Hotline,” but the other show not mentioned — is “Panther Prowl.” This show is hosted by the Tribune-Review‘s Mike Prisuta and Joe Bendel.

Clear Channel has six stations in the Pittsburgh market, and will be cross-promoting the shows on the stations. They claim that the Pitt programming will be an important piece of their programming on 104.7.

In addition, football coach Walt Harris and basketball coach Jamie Dixon will have weekly radio shows, on Fox Sports Radio 970. Other media personalities expected to be involved are Stan Savran, Ellis Cannon, Guy Junker and Rob King.

While Pitt football will have a 90-minute pre-game and 60-minute post-game show, its men’s basketball team will have 30-minute basketball pre-game and post-game shows. Both will be followed by the one-hour “Panther Hotline” call-in show on 970.

“This is a great step into the future for the University of Pittsburgh,” Long said. “Our past relationship had been inadequate for where the program had risen to.”
…
Clear Channel regional vice president John Rohm said its in-house research department projects the shows to be top-3 in the market, with WPBG-FM (104.7) to be the “exclusive home” of the Panthers.

“Sports are the backbone of our operations,” Rohm said. “We’re looking to dominate.”

Added Long: “That’s what is appealing to us. We’re not ancillary. We’re part of the backbone.”

Now if AD Long would only do something about the logo…