SIUC sports returning to River Radio stations

CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, Learfield, have announced a five-year agreement with River Radio LLC to return as the official radio home of Saluki football, men's basketball, women's basketball and select baseball and softball games to its cluster of radio stations in Carbondale.

Veteran broadcaster Mike Reis will continue to call the play-by-play of the SIU games.

Beginning this fall, SIU Saluki football and basketball games, in addition to all pregame and postgame network programming, will be carried live on Southern Illinois' powerhouse, Today's Hit Music 101.5 CIL-FM. Saluki women's basketball games, along with pregame and postgame programming, will air on Magic 95.1 WUEZ-FM. Saluki baseball games in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and other postseason baseball tournament games will be heard on a River Radio FM station to be designated. River Radio also will provide an FM signal for all Saluki softball games in the NCAA Tournament. In addition, a to-be-determined schedule of regular season baseball and softball games will air via the TuneIn radio App and via Saluki All-Access at siusalukis.com.

"River Radio is excited to once again be the radio home for the Salukis and eager for its return to what were once, two long-term Saluki radio flagships, heritage station Todays Hit Music 101.5 CIL-FM & Southern Illinois' Greatest Hits Magic 95.1. We are looking forward to beginning this new partnership and for the start of the upcoming seasons," said River Radio GM / Market Manager Steve Falat.

The new agreement includes expanded station content surrounding the Southern Illinois athletic programs, including broadcasting live on 103.5 ESPN from Saluki Row prior to each home Saluki football game, a Saluki segment within the SportsVoice program on Saturday mornings and a one-hour Saluki Talk Show one night per week during the athletic season which will feature former Saluki athletes and coaches, Athletic Director and other Athletic Department personnel.

"River Radio's plans excite us both over the air and online. It's a good plan financially, too. I like winning and this plan is a win for Saluki fans and Saluki Athletics," said Southern Illinois University's Special Assistant to Chancellor Jerry Kill.

The Saluki Sports Network will also air on KATZ-AM 1600 in St. Louis, MO and WRUL-FM 97.3 in Carmi for the upcoming season, while fans can also follow the Salukis via the TuneIn radio app and via Saluki All Access at siusalukis.com.

SIU is one of nearly 130 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas represented by Learfield. Its local entity, Saluki Sports Properties, manages the relationship locally. The company's rich history includes over four decades of developing trusted, long-term relationships with some of the most revered institutions and associations in the world of college sports.

Additionally, it titles the Learfield Directors' Cup and offers its partners professional concessions and ticket sales; branding, licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; campuswide business and sponsorship development.