WKTI/Milwaukee To Flip To 94.5 ESPN
• UPDATED: Good Karma Brands just announced that when it assumes ownership of WKTI/Milwaukee from Scripps on November 1, the station will flip from Country to 94.5 ESPN FM, featuring local sports talk, play-by-play and ESPN programming.
Craig Karmazin, CEO & Founder of Good Karma Brands (GKB), said, “This is a natural evolution of our sports marketing, event and broadcast business in Wisconsin. 94.5 FM’s powerful signal, along with the synergy of its legendary sister station WTMJ-AM, will provide new and exciting ways for fans to stay close to their favorite teams and provide new ways for our marketing partners to engage with Wisconsin sports fans.”
Steve Wexler, currently VP of Radio for E.W. Scripps, will become Vice President & Market Manager of GKB’s new combined business in Milwaukee once the Scripps transactions are complete, which will include: 94.5 ESPN FM, WAUK-AM (540 ESPN), WTMJ (Newsradio 620AM/103.3FM), The Wisconsin Sports Awards and the Tundra Trio. WTMJ-AM is the flagship station of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks. 540 ESPN carries Marquette University basketball along with other high profile national play-by-play broadcasts.
At the outset, both 94.5 ESPN FM and 540 ESPN will carry the same programming, including the popular Wilde and Tausch show, featuring Packers Hall of Famer Mark Tauscher and award-winning Packers’ writer Jason Wilde, as well as the Homer & Gabe show, featuring Steve “The Homer” True and Gabe Neitzel. Fans can also listen via the ESPN app and online at ESPNWisconsin.com.
• Now, the inevitable fallout from a sale and format flip: Effective Oct. 31, WKTI PD Ryan Wild, morning personality Carol Vonn and MD/afternoon talent Karen Dalessandro will become free agents. Ryan Wild can be reached at wildonair@aol.com; reach Carol Vonn at carolgortmaker@gmail.com and Karen Dalessandro can be contacted at karen.rocks@outlook.com.
• And as we initially announced in August, Tom Langmyer, who has served in the dual role of Scripps VP of News-Talk-Sports and VP/Market Manager of WTMJ & WKTI will also depart on Oct. 31. He is expected to announce his future plans on Nov. 1. Stay tuned!
