No static at all: Bandits go FM

By Steve Batterson | Wednesday, March 19, 2008

After three seasons on a station that has changed formats more frequently than a minor league baseball team changes its roster, the Quad-City River Bandits have a new radio home.

Beginning with the Midwest League team’s April 3 season opener against Wisconsin, play-by-play of River Bandits games will air on WYEC (93.9 FM).

The River Bandits and Miller Media Group, the owner of WYEC, announced Tuesday a three-year agreement to air the team’s 140-game schedule on the station, which relocated its antenna and transmitter from Kewanee, Ill., to Geneseo, Ill., earlier this winter to provide a stronger signal.

The station has aired Quad-City Flames games this season. On four dates in early April when both teams are playing, River Bandits games will be aired on a tape delay or joined in progress. All Bandits games will continue to be streamed on the team’s website as well.

Previously, Midwest League baseball in the Quad-Cities aired on WKBF (1270 AM), which transitioned from a classic-standard musical format to political talk, Christian talk and most recently, a Spanish-language format.

River Bandits owner Dave Heller said the move to the FM dial should provide fans with a clearer signal that will reach a wider audience at night.

Ben Chiswick, the only full-time staff member remaining with the River Bandits following an off-season ownership change, returns for his fourth season as the team’s play-by-play voice.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.