MILWAUKEE- After more than a decade away, Badger football is returning to 620 WTMJ.
Announced today, WTMJ & its parent company Good Karma Brands, has reached a multi-year, multi-sport deal with Wisconsin Athletics, that will make WTMJ the Milwaukee home for Badger sports.
The switch to Good Karma Brands, which includes WTMJ-AM and FM 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee, goes into effect beginning with the upcoming fall sports season, which kicks off Sunday, September 6, with a historic matchup against Notre Dame in Green Bay at Lambeau Field.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Badger Sports Properties to welcome the Badgers back to WTMJ and to ESPN Milwaukee,” said Greg Scalzo, Vice President and Milwaukee Market Manager, Good Karma Brands. “The passion for Badger Athletics runs deep across Wisconsin, and brings together UW, Badger Sports Properties and two iconic Wisconsin media brands to create the perfect home for Badger fans across southeast Wisconsin. We’re excited to deliver the coverage, access and game-day experiences fans deserve while connecting them to the teams and traditions that make Badger Athletics such an important part of our state.”
As part of the deal, WTMJ will broadcast football, men’s basketball & women’s volleyball. Football & men’s basketball games will also be simulcast on WTMJ’s sister station FM 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee. Other sporting events such as men’s & women’s ice hockey, and women’s basketball will air on the ESPN Wisconsin app, the WTMJ app & Learfield’s Varsity Network App. In addition to games on the ESPN Milwaukee app, select games will also be broadcast on FM 94.5.
Wisconsin Badgers Football and Men’s Basketball broadcasts will continue to be led by UW Athletics Hall of Famer and long-time “Voice of the Badgers” Matt Lepay, with women’s basketball and volleyball broadcasts led by play-by-play announcer Jon Arias and men’s hockey broadcasts led by play-by-play announcer Brian Posick.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Good Karma Brands to bring Badgers broadcasts to fans in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas,” said Matt Lepay, Director of Broadcasting for Badger Sports Properties. “WTMJ has a long and proud history with the University of Wisconsin. On a personal note, one of my favorite memories was working with the legendary Jim Irwin. For a young announcer, it was a priceless learning experience. Together, 620 WTMJ and ESPN Milwaukee will be a great home for the Badgers.”
WTMJ has been the Milwaukee home of Badger women’s volleyball since 2024 and will continue to air select matches as part of this new agreement. WTMJ had previously been the home of Badgers sports in the Milwaukee area until 2014.
