Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A wide spread, but low rated genre, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and callers; political commentary is rare. Many sports talk stations also carry play-by-play of local sports teams as part of their regular programming. Hosted by Bill Mazer, the first sports talk radio show in history launched in March 1964 on New York's WNBC (AM). Enterprise Radio became the first national all-sports network, operating out of Avon, Ct., from New Year's Day 1981 through late September of that year before going out of business. ER had two channels, one for talk and a second for updates and play-by-play. ER's talk lineup included current New York Yankees voice John Sterling, New York Mets radio host Ed Coleman and former big-league pitcher Bill Denehy.
Sports talk is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major North American satellite radio networks. In the United States, most sports talk formatted radio stations air mostly syndicated programming from ESPN Radio, Yahoo! Sports Radio, Sports Byline USA, Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, and NBC Sports Radio.
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