SportstalkNETWORK

Infobox Radio Station | name = sportstalkNETWORK.com


area = Global
city = Cleveland, Ohio
nickname = STC
slogan = America's Internet Broadcast Giant for Sports Talk and Entertainment Programming
airdate = March 15, 2002
format = Sports & Entertainment
owner = Belfi Internet Ventures, LLC.
website = [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com sportstalkNETWORK.com]
IMAGE USED WITH PERMISSION (c) 2008 BELFI INTERNET VENTURES, LLC/PAUL BELFI

sportstalkNETWORK.com (a.k.a. STN) is an internet-only sports talk station in Cleveland, Ohio. The company is managed & owned by founder and president Paul Belfi, and their studios are located at 5500 South Marginal Road and E. 55th St., just off I-90.

The station features local and national sports and entertainment talk from Cleveland-area personalities.

History

The WKNR Years

In February 2002, an agreement was reached with Salem Communications to partner WKNR with the fledgling Internet broadcast entity & website sportstalkCLEVELAND.com (aka STC). STC was to not only serve as the Internet home of WKNR and selected WKNR programming but to also offer Internet exclusive programming that would occasionally cross over on to the radio.

The very first sportstalkCLEVELAND broadcast was live on March 15, 2002 at the original Harpo's Sports Cafe on Brookpark Road.

WKNR's personalities would not only broadcast their show on terrestrial radio, they would also do a show on STC. Some notable personalities include the late John Antus, Les Levine, Bruce Drennan, Kenny Roda, Greg Brinda, Ken Silverstein, Dave Milo, Dave Scherer, Buck Woodward, Mike Ptak, Joe Lull, Matt Monter, Gene Winters, Andre Knott, Josh Sabo, Matt Loede, Bil Needle, Jeff Sack and Mike Catan.

In March 2005, WKNR and sportstalkCLEVELAND went their separate ways. Over a weekend, all of STC's equipment was moved from the old WKNR studios in Broadview Heights, Ohio to the old ClevelandHits.com building at E. 55th and South Marginal.

2005 and Beyond

Veteran Cleveland sports talker, Kendall Lewis, returning from a stint in Memphis, Tennessee, became the midday host in late 2006. His arrival was both successful but brief, since "The BSK" also signed a deal to become Les Levine's new co-host on FSN Ohio's Cleveland Rants, replacing Neil Bender. Because of the hectic schedule, Kendall would not be able to return as the midday host.

Former WMMS and Cleveland radio personality Lisa Dillon joined the staff at STN in April 2008 to host a new show which airs M-F 1-3p Eastern.

In April, 2008 the station evolved into sportstalkNETWORK with market specific websites in [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/cleveland Cleveland] , [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/pittsburgh Pittsburgh] , [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/chicago Chicago] , [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/newyork New York] , [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/seattle Seattle] , [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/detroit Detroit] , and [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/canada Canada] .

In August 2008, sportstalkCLEVELAND was resurrected once again, becoming the flagship home of sportstalkNETWORK.

sportstalkNETWORK currently features daily sports & entertainment shows such as "AM Mayhem" and "Rappin with J-Rock". Also, STN broadcasts niche programming which is original content produced exclusively for STN. Talk NASCAR and motor sports with Frank Reese on "Reece on Racing". Hockey fans can check out "The Goon Squad" on Wednesday nights with Rick Morris & Kyle O'Rourke. Wednesday nights also features "Fantasy Draft Help Insider" with Rick Morris and Jason Jones which is dedicated to the fantasy sports enthusiast.

New programs are being developed.

Current Programming

External links

* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com sportstalkNETWORK's website]
* [http://www.sportstalkcleveland.com sportstalkCLEVELAND.com, The Flagship Home of sportstalkNETWORK]
* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/pittsburgh sportstalkNETWORK's PITTSBURGH website]
* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/chicago sportstalkNETWORK's CHICAGO website]
* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/new_york sportstalkNETWORK's NEW YORK website]
* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/seattle sportstalkNETWORK's SEATTLE website]
* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/detroit sportstalkNETWORK's DETROIT website]
* [http://www.sportstalknetwork.com/canada sportstalkNETWORK's CANADA website]
* [http://www.fantasydrafthelp.com FantasyDraftHelp.com]
* [http://www.thefdhlounge.blogspot.com FDH Lounge Blog]