Speaking Of Sports…
• WGN Radio/Chicago has acquired the services of former NHL player Brent Sopel, who has signed on as a hockey analyst and host on The Beat, the station’s weekend sports show. Sopel will sit alongside Mark Carman, Adam Hoge and Jarrett Payton, plus he will contribute regularly to weekday shows. Sopel spent 12 seasons in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. He retired from the NHL in 2015.
Todd Manley, WGN VP of Programming and Content remarked, “With Brent Sopel joining our sports conversation, we can ramp up for more expanded Blackhawks coverage. As a mentor to some of today’s biggest stars, Brent brings a depth of knowledge in the past, present, and future of this great game.” Sopel remarked, “I’m very excited to join the WGN family and look forward to a [Blackhawks] long run in the playoffs.” Listen to The Beat Saturdays from 4-7pm and Sundays from 3-6pm.
• iHeartMedia Sports-Talk WOKY (The Big 920)/Milwaukee has inked longtime Milwaukee sports journalist Drew Olson to do middays. The new, corporately sponsored The Drew Olson Show, Powered by OnMilwaukee.com will air from 1-3pm weekdays. He replaces Mitch Nelles, who will now focus on sales for the six-station cluster. Nelles will also jump in as a substitute host and work on special events.
“As we continue to grow we are thrilled to add two strong Milwaukee brands to The Big 920 lineup,” said Tim Scott, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Milwaukee. “Drew is well known for talking and writing about sports, as well as his interests in music, food, comedy and pop culture which makes him a great fit for our audience.” Olson will continue to co-host The Mike Heller Show, which airs from 3-6pm on The Big 920 and sister WTSO (The Big 1070)/Madison, WI as well as two other stations.
