‘Honest & Objective’: Commanders Searching For New Radio Home
If Washington Commanders fans want to listen to games on the radio next season, they are going to have to flip to a new station.
The Team 980 radio host Kevin Sheehan announced Wednesday that the radio station would no longer broadcast games for the 2022 season.
The Washington Commanders crest
The Washington Commanders uniforms
Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke hands the ball off to fullback Alex Armah
Instead, the station will provide "at least four hours of pregame coverage, a new in-game talk show focusing on analysis and fan-reaction and in-game betting angles."
The station released a statement in regard to its decision behind removing in-game coverage.
“The organization and the company disagreed on the value of the broadcasts and the station believed it was also important to continue to be able to provide honest, objective information, analysis, and commentary about the Commanders.”
Sheehan also echoed his sentiments on the move, stating that he hopes the station will be able to give "honest, objective analysis about the team.”
Washington Commanders co-owners Dan and Tanya Snyder
Washington Commanders co-owner Dan Snyder
Washington Commanders co-owner Tanya Snyder (right) with quarterback Carson Wentz (center) and head coach Ron Rivera (left)
The removal of in-game broadcasts comes after a tumultuous first half of the offseason where owner Dan Snyder has been involved in several controversies, including sexual assault.
The Team 980 isn't the only organization attempting to distance itself from the Commanders. Anheuser-Busch declined to renew its sponsorship deal with the Commanders last week, and medical companies Inova and Medliminal both cut ties with the organization earlier this offseason.
Those business losses could ramp up the pressure on the league to take appropriate action against owner Dan Snyder for the long list of accusations concerning misconduct within the organization.
Now, the Commanders are searching for a new partner to broadcast games for the upcoming season.