from sportingnews.com

WWZN "The Zone" obtains Boston Celtics' home and away play-by-play rights for the next five years

Boston, MA - Sporting News Radio 1510 WWZN "The Zone" announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Boston Celtics to broadcast their entire schedule of games for the next five years, beginning with the 2001-02 season. WWZN "The Zone's" first season of Celtic basketball play-by-play coverage begins with exhibition games in mid-October of 2001 and runs through the regular season and playoffs.

"We are proud to partner with such a legendary NBA franchise," said Sporting News Radio President Christopher J. Brennan. "By acquiring the Celtics' rights, the station is moving forward to improve our local program presence in the marketplace. The Celtics are a world-class franchise and will be a great foundation with the Boston sports fan on which to expand our local presence."

Rich Pond
"The Boston Celtics are pleased to enter into a long-term relationship with Sporting News Radio 1510, WWZN-AM to provide Celtics fans with the most comprehensive game coverage and team information," said Celtics COO/CFO Rich Pond. "The station's format and programming content make it a perfect fit for our fans and we are very excited to be a major part of the station's plans for increased local programming."

Sporting News Radio is a part of the "Wired World " of Microsoft billionaire co-founder Paul G. Allen. Through Vulcan Ventures, Allen invests in companies that offer products, services or technologies that fit his Wired World strategy and can contribute to or benefit from the technology and strategy of other companies within the group's extensive investment portfolio. The Sporting News was acquired by Vulcan Ventures Inc. in February 2000, and Sporting News Radio, formerly One-On-One Sports, became part of the "Wired World" family in late 2000.

About Boston's WWZN, Sporting News Radio 1510, The Zone
Boston's WWZN Sporting News Radio 1510, The Zone is operated by The Sporting News. Sporting News Radio is the nation's largest and most-listened to 24-hour sports radio network broadcasting live over 430 affiliated stations. Sporting News Radio also operates New York's 620 WSNR, Sporting News Radio, Los Angeles' KMPC 1540 Sporting News Radio, and 820, WCSN, Chicago's Sporting News Radio. Streamed live through sportingnews.com and Rivals.com, Sporting News Radio is the #1-ranked sports channel on the Internet according to Arbitron Webcast Ratings.

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Sporting News Radio Contacts:

Beth Roncke
Marketing Manager
847-400-3010
broncke@sportingnews.com

Mike Wheeler
WWZN General Manager
781-937-0070

Media Relations
Boston Celtics
617-523-6050