Just when you think it’s reached its zenith, the Portland Sea Dogs radio network just keeps on growing. Already one of the largest networks of its kind in all of minor league baseball, the Sea Dogs have added new affiliates, one of which is out of state, to their network.

Portland’s WMTW (870 AM) is still the Dogs’ flagship station. Also back for another season are Rockland’s WRKD (1450 AM), Augusta’s WIGY (97.5 FM), Gardiner’s WFAU (1280 AM), South Paris’ WKTQ (1450 AM) and Norway sister station WOXO (92.7 FM), Mexico’s WTBM (100.7 F M), Sanford’s WPHX (1220 AM), and Lewiston’s WLAM (1470 AM).

Gone is Winter Harbor station WNSX (97.7 FM), but its spot has been filled locally by Bangor all-sports station WZON (620 AM), which will air selected games only. WZON, WRKD, WIGY and WFAU will not air all 142 games this season due to scheduling constraints.

Two other stations have also joined the Sea Dogs’ radio ranks as Rumford’s WTME (780 AM) and WMEX (106.5 FM), a station in Rochester, N.H., have signed on to increase the network’s membership from 10 to 12 stations – making this the third straight season the network has grown.

Todd Jamison is in his third season as Sea Dogs’ play-by-play man while Steve Pratt returns for a second season doing color for most home and some road games.

Evidently, offseason tours around the state like the team’s “hot stove caravan,” which Jamison and knuckleball pitcher Charlie Zink took part in, are paying off.

“Our goal is to get folks in all of Maine excited about seeing the team and players like Charlie,” said Jamison, who got engaged in the offseason. “This is about as expansive a tour as we’ve done since we affiliated with the Red Sox.”

The Dogs are also getting plenty of television exposure as Portland ABC affiliate WMTW (Channel 8) has scheduled six live Portland game broadcasts. This is the 11th straight season WMTW has been the Sea Dogs’ exclusive local TV broadcast partner.

NESN’s defining development

Adelphia Communications and New England Sports Network have teamed up to launch NESN HD in time for the 2004 Boston Red Sox baseball season.

NESN high-definition television is only available on Adelphia Digital Cable systems, not via satellite TV services.

The HDTV picture is six times sharper than current analog pictures, twice the color resolution, improved sound, and more than 2 million pixels per screen.

NESN’s HD can be seen on channel 773 throughout most New England Adelphia service areas. To get it, subscribers must have a high-definition TV set and an Adelphia HDTV box. For more information, contact David Daniels at 978-557-2035.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 1-800-310-8600, 990-8205, or aneff@bangordailynews.net