WPEN
has been a long time Nostalgia format station. On October here
at Philly Talk Radio Online it was first posted that there was a rumor
of talk programming to be added to WPEN in early 2002. More
below in the notes section.
Favorite
shows and a programming for schedule for 950 AM currently is listed on the Stations
Page.
In
2001 WPEN brought over some specialty programming from WPHT that
was displaced by the Sinatra music. These were weekend
brokered shows.
On
December 14th the Phillies and WPEN issued a press release
announcing that the Phillies were moving from WPHT to WPEN in a 3
year deal. Press release link
(text copied below)
Technical:
5,000
watts -- Reader feedback comment: PEN has a good signal, but not that good. Even if they went 50,000 watts, it would have been directional, much of it flung far easterly, and even at night, it would have been 10kw directional. Real estate issues, and cost, have all to do with it. Not to mention it would have taken 8 towers, and local residents weren't too hot on the idea. They don't have much of a signal at night.
Snail mail -
WPEN - One Bala Plaza - Bala Cynwyd PA 19004
Phone: (610) 667-8500 Fax: (610) 664-9610
Studio
line - 1-800-876-WPEN (9736)
Greater Media's Rick Feinblatt - photo by Michael Bryant
/ Inquirer
Press:
12/14/2001 10:30 am ET
Phillies move radio to WPEN 950 AM
Phillies Media Relations
The Philadelphia Phillies and Greater Media Radio have agreed to a three-year deal to broadcast Phillies games on WPEN 950 AM, Rory McNeil, Director of Broadcasting & Video Services for the ball club, announced today.
WPEN (950 AM) will become the flagship radio station for all 162 regular-season Phillies games. A total of 14 spring training games, including the Spring Opener, will also be aired on the station.
Additionally, WPEN will carry a full slate of Phillies pre-game and post-game shows.
Rick Feinblatt, Vice President/Radio for Greater Media, said, "We are pleased to have the Phillies as part of the WPEN family. The addition of the Phillies broadcasts complements our existing WPEN programming of adult standards and college sports broadcasts, as well as talk on the weekends. The future of the Phillies is very bright and we believe that they are one of the city's most exciting sports franchises."
"We're excited to become a cornerstone programming piece for WPEN and to begin a new partnership with Greater Media Radio," said McNeil. "A primary broadcasting goal for us is the expansion of our programming and this new relationship does that. We're looking forward to accessing the full power of all the stations in Greater Media Radio's Philadelphia Group (WMMR, WMGK, and WMWX). There are an unlimited number of new possibilities."
Phillies baseball will continue to be heard on the team's Radio Network of 18 affiliated stations, delivering the broadcasts beyond the greater Philadelphia region.
The new agreement marks the third time WPEN has broadcast Phillies games. During the 1939 season, WPEN aired night games only. All games were broadcast on the station during the 1950 and 1951 seasons.