Network Keeps Louisville Fans Connected

Crystal clear reception all the way home, every minute of Wednesday’s Louisville vs. Louisiana Lafayette basketball game.

While making the four-hour Christmas drive from Western Kentucky, the observer had reason to thank Clear Channel Communications for the deal that set up a statewide radio network for University of Louisville athletics.

Until a couple of years ago, the only option was WHAS radio, and one usually wound up listening to Cuban music or soccer, with the signal only available for a few seconds now and then for U of L games.

Different this time around. After not locating the game on satellite radio, try WHAS, getting a muddled signal and some grandpa talking UK football and the Country & Western Bowl. A quick cell phone call to junior provides the listings from state network lineup posted by Card Game.

Start listening to the game on WQXQ-FM (101.9) out of Owensboro. When that signal fades, switch to WLVK-FM (105.5) in Elizabethtown. Thirty miles from Louisville, it’s over to WKRD 790 for the conclusion and the post-game interviews.

Such luck would never have been possible before the University of Kentucky forked over one million dollars for priority coverage on WHAS. Rather than lose the U of L audience, Clear Channel proceeded to set up a statewide network for Louisville games.

Quite a deal, UK. Any other bright ideas?