Sunday News

WLPA-AM 1490 locks up Phillies coverage once again

When I read the email from WLPA-AM 1490, the first person I thought of was Fay Kramer.

The Millersville resident is a huge Philadelphia Phillies fan, one who was relieved when her favorite baseball team returned to WLPA last spring.

Kramer will be happy to know the Fightin' Phils are back on WLPA again this season, after the radio station signed a contract with the Phillies to air their 2013 season.

The Phillies returned to the Lancaster radio last season for the first time since 2006, when WPDC-AM 1600 in Elizabethtown began broadcasting the games. Prior to that, the Phillies had aired on WLPA for more than 40 years.

Lancaster's sports radio station has been busy, as the Fox Radio affiliate also locked in new deals with Penn State's football and men's basketball teams.

WLPA has signed a three-year contract with Penn State to air football and men's basketball through the 2015-2016 season. The station will broadcast Penn State's Blue-White game April 20.

New HD offerings: Comcast Cable has added 10 new high-definition channels in the Elizabethtown market and seven new HD channels in the Lancaster market.

This should give both markets the same amount of HD offerings, a Comcast spokesman said.

Here are the new HD networks, which are on the same channels in both markets: BBC America, 1225; Bloomberg, 1116; Fox Soccer, 1715; Hallmark, 1307; HUB, 1511; National Geographic Wild, 1262; Oxygen, 1334; Sprout, 1505; The Movie Channel, 1970; and WE, 1308.

No, those are not typos. The channels are all four digits. Eventually, I'm told, all of the HD channels will be four digits.

LCTV programs: Today through Saturday, LCTV shows on Lancaster Comcast channel 66 will include the following:

n "Andy & Patrick," a news magazine-style show that focuses on positive experiences in Lancaster. A trip to Nye's gym and a stop at Crush at Carr's restaurant are included in the latest episode, which runs daily at noon and 8 p.m.

n "PA Dancesport Winter Showcase- 2012" is a winter exhibition featuring amateur couples and student/teacher couples performing a variety of ballroom styles. It airs daily at 1 p.m.

n "Sports Central Pa. With Bryan Jordan." The latest episode, which will air daily at 2:30 and 10 p.m., features an interview with the Lancaster chapter of the American Outlaws soccer enthusiasts at the Brickyard.

n Taped local high school and college sports air at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.

Did you notice? The music on WKZF-FM 92.7 has skewed a bit to the younger side, if classic rock can do that. That's because there's a new program director.

Michael C. Anthony, who does a fantastic job with the 1980s music as program director for WROZ-FM 101.3, "The Rose," became the program director last fall at WKZF, as well.

Staff writer Eric Stark discusses trends and tidbits in broadcast media each week in the Sunday News. Write to him at estark@lnpnews.com.