When it comes to the Yankees, the radio suspense is over for another year. The team is maintaining its WCBS address. The flagship station of Yankee radio broadcasts since 2002 has agreed to a one-year extension for the 2013 season. John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman are expected to remain at the mics. Sterling, playing his best Lou Gehrig, has not missed a game since joining the Yankees radio team in 1989. Waldman has been calling Yankees games on WCBS since 2005.

The CBS deal puts a major snag in ESPN’s hopes of acquiring the marquee franchise. In April, ESPN moved its New York voice to 98.7 FM. FishbowlNY attempted to reach WEPN for comment.

WCBS, which provides night time coverage to more than 30 states, will again carry the entire regular and post-season Yankee schedule.

At the end of last season, like a coveted free agent, the Yankees settled for a one-year agreement with WCBS.

ESPN is set to unveil New York’s first 24-hour Spanish sports station. As part of the switch to 98.7 in April, ESPN has created the Spanish-language station at 1050 on the AM, WEPN’s former home.

The station will debut September 7 at 2 p.m., Dave Roberts, ESPN New York GM, confirms to FishbowlNY.

In the April press release, Freddy Rolon, VP of ESPN Deportes Programming and Business Initiatives, said:

“As part of ESPN’s continual commitment to serve the U.S. Hispanic sports fan, we are thrilled to provide New York fans with a sports station that offers culturally relevant programming in Spanish. The launch of ESPN Deportes Radio will also provide advertisers and marketers a unique opportunity to reach local Hispanics sports fans in this market.”

Geographically and logisitically speaking, the Knicks and Rangers belong to ESPN 98.7, with studios above Madison Square Garden. ESPN 98.7/WEPN renewed its deal as the home of the MSG franchises.

The multi-year agreement includes full pre- and post-game coverage for both teams, and a continuation of a multi-tiered cross-promotional effort between The Madison Square Garden Company, including the Knicks, Rangers and MSG Networks, and ESPN New York 98.7 FM.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with ESPN New York 98.7FM, and all the unique marketing and promotional opportunities that accompany the association with such a world-renowned brand,” said Dan Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager, MSG Networks. “It allows two of the strongest brands in sports, MSG and ESPN, to continue their successful partnership and to bring the highest quality radiocasts in the country to the most knowledgeable sports fans in America…New Yorkers.”

In April, ESPN took listeners from the poor-signaled 1050 on the AM dial, to the former KISS FM home. VP and general manager Dave Roberts said in a statement, the relationship with the Knicks and Rangers was necessary for station growth.

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Coming off its silver anniversary celebration, WFAN, the most powerful all-sports station in America, may be positioning itself for a dramatic dial switch to FM.

Several factors are at play for WFAN to make that leap of frequency: First and foremost is last month’s announcement that CBS Sports Radio is being created. Original 24-hour programming will air on stations throughout the country starting in January. But as early as September, CBS Sports Radio will provide updates to affiliated stations.

One of those stations poised to take some of the network content is WFAN. Operations manager Mark Chernoff remains steadfast in the future of 660 AM.

“WFAN is locally programmed, no change.”

But there is much more to this story.

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The first Arbitron PPM ratings since the changes for WBLS and WEPN are out.

Inner City’s WBLS powered up the survey to number four. The Urban station leaped 2.2. It was the first full month since 98.7 was purchased by ESPN. Picking up the KISS/WRKS slack, ‘BLS added several personalities from 98.7.

As for ESPN, on the surface, it could be deemed a disappointment for the sports station still simulcasting on 1050 AM. The 98.7 frequency with KISS ended with an overall 4.0, while WEPN only managed a 1.8. WFAN increased slightly to a 3.2.

The cume (listenership) dropped from just shy of 2 million in April as an R&B station, to 1.4 million as ESPN Radio’s flagship.

“That’s because they [KISS] probably … [had] a lot of women listeners, which is typical of an Urban format,” Dave Roberts, ESPN New York GM, tells FishbowlNY.

That cume, though, has nearly doubled from a year ago among the people 12+ category.

“That’s a nice foundation [on which] to build new, loyal listeners,” Roberts says.

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