MILWAUKEE — After 92 years with 620 WTMJ, the Green Bay Packers are moving their Milwaukee radio home. The team announced Wednesday that starting next season the games will be heard on “97.3FM The Game.”
The move takes the Packers from locally owned Good Karma Brands and moves the games to national radio giant iHeartMedia.
“We are excited to welcome a new station to the Packers Radio Network in the Milwaukee area beginning in 2022," Packers Vice President of Sales said in a statement. "iHeartMedia enthusiastically pursued the opportunity that being a part of the network creates, and we are looking forward to how their innovative approach will appeal to Packers fans in southeastern Wisconsin.”
As for WTMJ radio, home of the Packers since 1929, Vice President and Market Manager Steve Wexler said he is grateful for the partnership.
“While we’re disappointed in the Packers’ decision, we are grateful for our partnership over the years with the team," Wexler said. "It’s been an honor to be steward of the Packers brand and we’re looking forward to continuing to serve sports fans and our marketing partners with a new era of football content. We’ll continue to cheer on the Packers for years to come.”
Former WTMJ-AM radio host Bill Michaels said he was surprised by the announcement, but added the changing business of radio could be part of the reason for the change.
“Reach anymore doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing because of the internet broadcasts, because of podcast broadcasts,” Michaels said.
The team says the new partnership allows the team to take advantage of new platforms including the NFL and iHeart Media’s podcast partnership.
When the change takes place next season, 97.3 in Milwaukee will join stations in Madison, Eau Claire, and Moline in Illinois as part of the Packers Radio Network.
