And this one belongs to The Big One!, even though WLW-AM doesn't call itself "The Big One" any more.
Phil Castellini, Reds chief operating officer, announced on WLW-AM's Bill Cunningham show Wednesday a five-year renewal of the team's radio rights through 2022.
The deal covers all "regular and postseason games," says D.J. Hodge, Cincinnati market president for iHeartMedia.
"We are excited to continue this great partnership," Castellini told Cunningham's listeners.
The 50,000-watt flagship has broadcast the Reds for 49 consecutive seasons, since 1969. The Reds Radio Network, with more than 100 stations in eight states, is one of the largest in professional sports, according to the Reds media guide.
"A lot of people in this internet age don't realize how far that signal goes," Castellini said. "It helps us get into 80 markets in eight states."
Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman returns for his 45th Reds season in 2018, and his 12th year paired with former Reds reliever Jeff Brantley.
"I've never known any (Reds) flagship station than this one," Brennaman said on WLW-AM Wednesday. He questioned how many other Major League Baseball radio announcers could say they've only been heard on one station during their tenure with a club.
The 162 Reds games each year are a huge draw for WLW-AM, which was the city's No. 1 station for most of the past 15 years, and the last two months (beating WGRR-FM).
In the past year or so, WLW-AM has dropped "The Big One" branding, choosing to promote itself as "News Radio 700 WLW." I mostly hear that line when I'm listening to Reds baseball games, UC football games, Sunday night NFL games and "SportsTalk" shows.
