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February 28, 2024 – The New York Jets and iHeartMedia New York have agreed to an exclusive, multi-year radio and streaming partnership that establishes Q104.3, New York’s Classic Rock Station, as the official broadcast radio home of the New York Jets and connects the audio company’s millions of listeners across multiple platforms to New York Jets partnerships, events, and personnel.
In addition to broadcasting Jets pre-, in-, and post-game on Q104.3, fans can also hear all the action on both the iHeartRadio and New York Jets apps (local market only). The multiplatform partnership will utilize iHeartMedia’s diverse array of New York City broadcast radio, streaming and digital platforms to promote the New York Jets brand and allows talent from both companies to appear as guests on shows.
New York Jets and iHeartMedia Partnership will include:
- All New York Jets Games Radio Broadcasts Aired On:
o Q104.3, New York’s Classic Rock
- Promotion of New York Jets Broadcasts, Events, and Programing Across iHeartMedia New York Radio Stations:
o Q104.3, New York’s Classic Rock
o Z100, New York’s #1 Hit Music Station
o Power 105.1, New York’s Hip Hop and R&B
o 103.5 KTU, The Beat of New York
o 710 WOR, The Voice of New York
- Weekly regular season appearances from New York Jets Coaches and Players
- Special programming from iHeartMedia New York stations at New York Jets Training Camp
- New York Jets and iHeartMedia Editorial and Video Talent Guest Appearances
- Dedicated position on iHeartMedia app for New York Jets related content, including team produced podcasts
This is good for the Jets.
Obviously I don’t the financial details of the deal, but they needed to make a move.
On August 31, 2024, the Jets’ current home, ESPN New York, will give up its 98.7 FM signal, and focus on digital distribution and 1050 AM for programming
So their signal will be reduced.
Also, by going to a music station, they won’t have to deal with being on a station that is all sports talk, with people attacking them all the time, like Ryan Clark and Stephen A. Smith. Even some of the local coverage can be negative.
Look, I’m not against tough coverage., Don’t get the wrong idea. But like I’ve written before. The key word here is “media partner.” You are going to get hammered by the mainstream media and on other broadcast outlets, but this usually doesn’t happen with “media partners” where the team is business partners with the station.
Remember that story from early November, after the Jets lost to the Los Angeles Chargers, Robert Saleh was asked about who’s decision it was to stick with Zach Wilson, and he said, “It’s something I’m gonna plead the fifth on all this one.”
The coach got criticized all over the place for this answer. How can the head coach answer a question like this?
Well, why were the hosts on the Jets “media partner” cross-examinating him, non-stop, on who is making the decision?
Saleh didn’t initially say, “it’s something I’m gonna plead the fifth on all this one.” It was after myriad questions were they wouldn’t stop.
So it’s best for the Jets to just put their games on a music station, where the games appear, and perhaps there is an occasional appearance from a player, with a music DJ and that is about it.
You don’t need your “media partner” hammering you. Like most “media partners” around the sports world, they need to take a softer approach.
Let the hammering go on other places.
Let the games appear, and then go Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones music.
February 28, 2024
Premium will return at 9:30 on Thursday.
