Men's basketball to move to WKOS-FM 104.9, while women's basketball and baseball to air on local Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation's AM stations

For Immediate Release

Contact: Michael White (423) 439-4220

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 26, 2007) - The Mountain States Health Alliance Buccaneer Sports Network announced Thursday it would have a new flagship home for its men's basketball and coaches show broadcasts in 2007-08, while women's basketball and baseball broadcasts will also air on new stations this upcoming season.

For the first time in school history, ETSU men's basketball games and coaches shows will air on the FM dial, with Citadel Broadcasting's WKOS-FM 104.9 The Peak serving as the flagship station for the Buccaneers. The Bucs will no longer air on their longtime home of WJCW-AM 910, but will be gaining a new signal that will be available at the same strength at all times.

"Now our fans will be able to enjoy a more consistent radio signal both day and night, especially in areas such as Bristol," said MSHA Buccaneer Sports Network Director and Voice of the Bucs Jay Sandos. "The chance for our men's basketball games and our weekly coaches shows to air on WKOS is also exciting. For Citadel Broadcasting to partner with us to bring ETSU athletics to the FM airwaves is a big step for our network."

Citadel Broadcasting's willingness to move the Bucs to the FM dial was a key to making the new frequency available, especially after so many years on WJCW.

"Citadel Broadcasting is proud to carry on the tradition of being the flaghip station for the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers," said Citadel's Sales and Sports Marketing Manager Paul Overbay. "After many years of affiliation with WJCW-AM 910, we appreciate the opportunity to continue that great relationship with mens basketball on our FM station, WKOS 104.9 The Peak. These are exciting times ahead for ETSU and we are looking forward to being a part of that future."

While ETSU men's basketball games and coaches' shows are moving to FM, games for both women's basketball and baseball will be heard this season on a trio of AM stations owned by Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation. The stations that will air those games include WKTP-AM 1590 in Johnson City, WKPT-AM 1400 in Kingsport and WOPI-AM 1490 in Bristol. Additionally, WOPI's FM translator 97.7 will also air ETSU games.

"We at the WKPT Radio Network and thrilled and delighted to be partnering with East Tennessee State University to carry baseball and women's basketball for the upcoming 2007-08 sports campaign," said HVBC Executive Vice President/General Manager David Widener.

According to Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Michael White, the move to these stations makes sense for fans, as well as advertisers on the network broadcasts.

"Before we had an AM flagship which did not offer a consistent coverage of the Tri-Cities at all times of the day," White said. "Now, we have an FM broadcast for our men's basketball games and coaches shows that gives advertisers a chance to reach everyone in the Tri-Cities, not to mention our network's radio affiliate reach which includes 10 stations spread throughout Southwest Virginia and the rest of Northeast Tennessee. In addition, adding four HVBC stations to our family of affiliates only grows our network's reach and makes us more attractive to network advertisers."

Broadcast schedules for the upcoming season will be released in the next few weeks. For more on the Mountain States Health Alliance Buccaneer Sports Network, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the network logo.