March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Ox radio contract on FM finalized

With almost two months to go before the start of its inaugural Northeast Baseball League season, Bangor’s new professional baseball franchise has created the Blue Ox Radio Network.

Listeners in approximately three-quarters of the state, plus Atlantic Canada, will be able to tune in to all 80 Bangor Blue Ox regular-season games on the FM dial.

Officials of the Bangor Blue Ox reached agreement with those at WMDI (107.7 FM) in Bar Harbor and WGUY (102.1 FM) in Dexter Monday on a one-year contract providing for the broadcast of all the team’s regular-season and playoff games.

“It took us about a month to put the deal together,” said Blue Ox media relations director Sean Bigham, who will also be the radio voice of the team.

It all started after Bigham and team president-general manager Dean Gyorgy attended a Rotary meeting in Bar Harbor and WMDI station manager Ed St. James gave them his card and voiced his interest in carrying games.

“He also helped put us in touch with WGUY,” said Bigham.

WGUY’s 50,000-watt coverage extends to Augusta, Millinocket, and Ellsworth.

WMDI’s signal reaches into Atlantic Canada as far as Saint John, New Brunswick, and blankets much of Hancock, Washington, Waldo and Knox Counties. The 25,000-watt station will be a year old on May 6.

“It gives us a chance for both of us to grow up together. We certainly think sports is a big part of our mix down here,” said St. James.

Both stations’ signals penetrate the Greater Bangor area.

“I guess the fact it’s a local team, it won’t change the station’s image, and it’s family entertainment was what made it attractive,” said WGUY owner Dan Priestley. “It’s a chance to broaden our audience and it gives us more promotional opportunities.”

Bangor stations such as WABI (910 AM) showed interest in doing the games, but Gyorgy wanted greater coverage.

“People can listen to either one in the Bangor area, so not having a Bangor station isn’t a problem,” said Gyorgy. “Bangor stations were interested, but when we found out we could cover three-quarters of the state – all on FM with no lessening of power at night – it’s pretty hard to turn down.”

Both St. James and Gyorgy would like to add some more stations to the Blue Ox network.

“We’re still open for someone in the Presque Isle-Caribou area to join us,” said St. James.

WMDI will produce the games and commercials and send the signal on to WGUY.

Bigham will not have a broadcast partner, but would like to have someone to do interviews from the stands, field, and dugouts for pregame and postgame shows.

The Blue Ox open their independent league season Saturday, June 1, at Adirondack in Glens Falls, N.Y. Their home opener is against Rhode Island at Mahaney Diamond in Orono on June 10.


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