Michigan's relationship with
IMG College dates back to March 2001 when the school signed a five-year deal with Host Communications, Inc., a sports marketing firm based in
Lexington, Kentucky]; the deal was predicated to generate $7.5 million in advertising revenue from Michigan football and men's basketball radio broadcasts through 2005–06 (this partnership with Host would ultimately remain in place for the next seven years). In 2007, IMG College purchased Host Communications; in August 2008, IMG announced a new 12-year media rights deal with Michigan reportedly worth $86 million, including gameday radio broadcasts.
WJR/Detroit had served as the network flagship station for Michigan football since 1976 (with sister station
CKLW serving as backup for those times when
Detroit Tigers baseball games took precedence) and men's basketball since 1997. In October 2005, WJR announced a new deal to broadcast rival
Michigan State football and men's basketball, while simultaneously dropping its long partnership with Michigan. The news came as a surprise to the Michigan athletic department, including director
Bill Martin, who claimed the school had acted "in good faith" throughout months of negotiations with the station. Michigan soon signed a new five-year deal with
CBS Radio and
CHUM Limited (later
CTVglobemedia), owners of
WOMC/Detroit and
CKLW/
Windsor, respectively. In August 2011, new Michigan athletic director
Dave Brandon announced a five-year contract extension with CBS Radio, with the majority of network flagship coverage shifting to WOMC's AM sister station WWJ. Play-by-play announcer Jim Brandstatter and analyst Dan Dierdorf both announced their retirements prior to the commencement of the season-opening Michigan Wolverines Football game on September 4, 2021. The Duo sat side-by-side in the Michigan booth for 7 seasons. ==Station list==