Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is getting out of the radio business. Snyder is selling the remaining radio station he own Team 980 (WTEM 980), formerly ESPN 980 to Urban One.
Urban One, Red Zebra Broadcasting and the Redskins announced the deal on Monday.
The Team 980 being sold to Urban One. Lotta questions about this one pic.twitter.com/fL4WpWuyn6
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) May 21, 2018
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Urban One and we are especially pleased that through our acquisition, The Team 980 will continue to be locally owned. The acquisition of The Team 980 is very much in line with our strategy of super-serving our community of listeners. We have deep roots in the greater Washington, DC area and are well aware that The Team 980 has always been a fan favorite,” says Alfred C. Liggins, President and CEO of Urban One. “Red Zebra has a track record of producing great programming that engages our hometown sports fans. We look forward to working with the Washington Redskins organization to continue this tradition.”
Team 980 will remain the home of the Redskins game-day broadcasts. It unclear if the team will produce any other programming.
The Silver Spring, Md. based Urban One is the country’s largest African American-owned broadcast media company.
Snyder once owned a collection of radio stations. Ultimately, he sold off all except for Team 980 until now.
According to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post, Snyder struggled to turn profit in the radio business.
The Redskins owning a radio station was criticized throughout the years and conflict of interest was highlighted when former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, now a personality on Team 980 and team employee, speculated that then-general manager Scot McCloughan was struggling with alcoholism, as a reason his negative job performance.
