May 10, 2000

Bowling Green, Ky. - Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, which owns the largest number of stations in the state of Kentucky, has been awarded the radio rights to Western Kentucky University football and basketball (men's and women's), beginning with the 2000-2001 school year.

"Commonwealth Broadcasting presents Hilltopper Athletics with a partnership, an established network capacity and more potential for growth," WKU Athletics Director Dr. Wood Selig said. "Locally, they give Western two 25,000 watt FM homes - one for Hilltopper football and men's basketball and one for women's basketball."

The contract with Commonwealth's new "Big Red Radio Network," which will run for four years with options that could add six additional years, will originate over Bowling Green flagship stations WPTQ-FM (103.7 THE POINT - football and men's basketball) and WKLX (100.7 FM - women's basketball).

The network coverage of both football and men's basketball will also include Commonwealth-owned stations in Campbellsville (WTCO-AM 1450), Elizabethtown (WIEL-AM 1400), Glasgow (WCDS-AM 1440), Madisonville (WTTL-AM 1310) and Eminence/Shelbyville (WKXF-AM 1600). In addition, WPKY-AM 1580 in Princeton will air Hilltopper football. And, Commonwealth has reached an agreement with WJIE-AM 680 in Louisville for the continuation of the broadcast of Hilltopper basketball in the state's largest city. One advantage of the new contract is the establishment of a permanent radio home (WKLX) for Lady Topper basketball.

"Commonwealth Broadcasting is very pleased to be entering this broadcast partnership with Western Kentucky University," Commonwelath president and CEO Steve Newberry said. "We are very confident we can assist the University in meeting its goals of building a strong regional radio network, originating exciting game broadcasts and promoting Western as a whole on our network of stations."

"WKU Athletics are rich in tradition and are on a path toward continued success," he added. "We look forward to providing every moment of the exciting action to a growing network audience."

Overall, the Big Red Radio Network will reach more than 1,000,000 Kentuckians. And, the network feed will feature a state-of-the-art digital delivery distribution via satellite.

Derron Steenbergen, CBC's Community Manager for the company's five-station cluster operating in Bowling Green and Glasgow, will serve as executive producer of the Big Red Radio Network.

Commonwealth Broadcasting will be just the second entity to win the exclusive radio rights for Western football and basketball. The Hilltopper Network became the first exclusive radio rights holder in WKU history in 1982 and has held those rights for the past 18 years. Hilltopper Network president Wes Strader handled the play-by-play of Topper football and men's basketball for 36 years (1964-2000).

"Western will be forever grateful for the contributions of Wes Strader and the Hilltopper Network," Selig added. "As a result of Wes' long-standing and loyal support, this was an extremely difficult decision to make."

Play-by-Play and color talent has not yet been determined for the new Big Red Network coverage of Western athletics.