Courtesy Manchester Union Leader

(May 6, 2009) Baseball fans in southern New Hampshire are having difficulty finding the Red Sox on their radio dial, the result of a contract dispute between Absolute Broadcasting and Entercom Communications, which holds the rights to the Red Sox Radio Network.

Talks continued yesterday, but the Red Sox and Yankees were not heard on WGAM (1250 AM) in Manchester or WGHM (900 AM) in Nashua, known as "The Game."

On-again off-again broadcasts have left fans flipping through the dial this season.

"The Game" did not broadcast the first three games against Tampa Bay but aired the next series against the Angels following a "handshake agreement" with Entercom, according to Mike Winn, Absolute Broadcasting's general manager.

The Red Sox stayed on the air in Manchester and Nashua through April 29 against Cleveland. The following night, however, the local affiliates did not broadcast the game against Tampa Bay -- and the stations have been in the dark ever since.

Instead of hearing Joe Castiglione and Dave O'Brien at game time, listeners have been surprised to hear Fox Sports Radio and the Petros & Money show.

Games can still be heard on Boston flagship station WRKO 680 AM. Wednesday night and weekday afternoon games are broadcast on WEEI 850 AM, making channel surfing all the more confusing.

Fans in the Concord area and throughout Merrimack County and beyond can listen to the Red Sox Radio Network on WTPL 107.7 FM, which signed a five-year contract with Entercom two years ago. The Red Sox Radio Network -- WGAM and WGHM notwithstanding -- includes a dozen affiliates in New Hampshire.

Absolute Broadcasting, which began carrying the Red Sox last year, hopes to patch up the undisclosed contract dispute as early as today.

"There's not a heck of a lot I can report right now. What I can say is there are ongoing negotiations," Winn said yesterday. "We want to do a deal. I'd like to believe that (Entercom) wants to do a deal, but we have to come to an agreement on all the terms. It's difficult economic times in every business. We're just trying to figure out a way to make it work for all sides."

Calls to Entercom Communications in Boston were not returned.

Red Sox Radio Network New Hampshire affiliates:

Berlin WMOU 1230 AM; Concord/Hillsborough WTPL 107.7 FM; Franklin WFTN 1240 AM; Hanover/Lebanon WTSL 1400 AM; Keene WKBK 1290 AM; Laconia WEMJ 1490 AM; Littleton WLTN 1400 AM; *Manchester WGAM 1250 AM; *Nashua WGHM 900 AM; Newport WCNL 1010 AM; New London WNTK 99.7 FM; Plymouth WPNH 1300 AM; Rochester WQSO 96.7 FM; Wolfeboro WASR 1420 AM.

* Negotiating with Entercom Communications