Nov. 4, 2008

Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- WHKW, 1220 AM The Word in Cleveland will serve as the flagship station of the Viking Basketball Radio Network for the 2008-09 season as part of an agreement between Cleveland State and Salem Communications. The announcement was made on Tuesday by CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed.

In addition, the Vikings will get additional exposure under the agreement as WHKZ, 1440 AM The Word in Warren will also broadcast the games.

"The Cleveland State athletic department is happy to resume our partnership with Salem Communications and have WHKW and WHKZ serve as our primary broadcast outlets this year for Viking basketball," Reed said. "This partnership ensures that Viking fans have a high quality, regular radio destination for CSU Basketball. WHKW's 50,000 watts are the strongest local signal available for our broadcasts. We look forward to the opportunities that this agreement will bring."

"The Word 1220 AM is proud to be the flagship radio station for the 2008-09 Viking Men's Basketball games," Salem Communications General Manager Mark Jaycox said. "Salem Communciations has long valued its partnership with Cleveland State and we are happy to participate in a program that is already bringing great excitement and a positive impact to our community.

"We respect the advancement that coach Waters and the university's administration have achieved and we look to become an integral marketing partner in assuring the continuing success of the program," Jaycox added.

Under the agreement, every game during the 2008-09 season will be aired live on both stations and streamed live on the internet via whkwradio.com. The broadcasts will include a 30-minute pre-game show.

In addition, Salem has committed to a number of marketing initiatives involving its local affiliates, NewsTalk 1420 WHK and WFHM 95.5 FM The Fish.

Al Pawlowski returns for his fourth season as the play-by-play voice of the Vikings.

Cleveland State returns four starters and eight lettermen from a year ago and enter the 2008-09 season as the favorite to win the Horizon League in a preseason poll of the coaches, sports information directors and media in the league.

Cleveland State opens the 2008-09 season at home against Oakland on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tickets for the upcoming season are available by calling (216) 687-4848.