Three teams that are local fan favorites — Tennessee, Vanderbilt and the Tennessee Titans — will have new broadcast homes for the 2010 season. The Titans and Tennessee Volunteers will be on 104.5-FM (WGFX) while the Commodores will be on 97.1-FM (WRQQ).

The changes stem from UT and Vanderbilt not having their contracts renewed from previous broadcast partners as well as the Titans' move to a sister station.

"It's going to take probably a couple of weeks for sports fans in the area to retrain their brains as to where to go to hear their favorite teams," said Brad Willis, program director for 104.5.

Regardless of the changes, fans will likely catch on quickly.

"From the listener point of view, their loyalty is with the team, not with the station," said Rich Tiner, Belmont's director of mass communications." They're not listening to Tennessee Vol football on 104.5 The Zone. They're listening to Tennessee Vol football. When you're loyal to your team, you find out pretty fast where to go."

Willis' station made the biggest moves. The area's highest rated sports talk station already had the Predators under contract but was aggressive in taking UT as well as bringing Titans broadcasts over from sister station 103.3-FM (WKDF). 104.5 and 103.3 are owned by Citadel Broadcasting.

UT's deal with 104.5-FM was reached after the Volunteers and 1510-AM (WLAC) ended a decade-long relationship this offseason. When the new deal was reached, WLAC officials said the parting of ways was amicable.

"We just didn't feel it was the right fit with our news-talk emphasis," said Tom English, Clear Channel Nashville's vice president and market manager.

104.5 had been the flagship station for Vanderbilt athletics, but decided not to renew and went with UT. Willis declined to discuss financial details behind the decision, but UT's larger fan base — and the ability to bring in more advertising dollars — likely played into the move.

"Vanderbilt's contract and Tennessee's contract in the Nashville market both came up at the same time," Willis said. "Thus, the biggest reason for the shuffling."

Vanderbilt found a new home with 97.1-FM (WRQQ), a classic hits station, and signed a three-year deal with the football and men's basketball team. No deal has been finalized involving the women's basketball team, according to Mike McIntyre, 97.1's program director.

McIntyre said his station's 34-54 age demographic is a win-win for the broadcasts and the university.

"Vanderbilt is a first-priority at the radio station and they're going to be treated that way," McIntyre said. "It's a great fit for not only Vanderbilt but for us, too. I think it will expose new fans to Vandy and give the longtime fans an opportunity to know where to go."

97.1 is continuing a marketing blitz to let Vanderbilt fans know where to find the Commodores on the radio. The station handed out paraphernalia on Aug. 15 at Vanderbilt's Dore Jam, an event that brings fans to campus to meet the players and coaches. 97.1 also has changed its official station colors to reflect the Commodores' black and gold.

104.5's new deal with UT is for five years (the previous WLAC contract was three years). 104.5 will broadcast UT football and men's basketball games, as well as VolCalls — the school's official coaches' shows — which moves from Monday to Wednesday this year. A broadcast deal has not been finalized with the UT women's basketball team, but talks are continuing between UT and 104.5.

As for the Titans' radio home, it is a homecoming of sorts. 104.5 was the team's flagship station from 1997-01, when the station played classic rock. In 2002, the Titans moved to 103.3 where it stayed through the 2009 season.

In 2003, 104.5 changed to a sports talk radio format, but station officials did not want to move Titans' broadcasts to another channel so quickly.

"Over time it made perfect sense: a sports talk station and the biggest sports property in Nashville," Willis said. "In years past, we were doing pregame shows to complement what was going on with our sister station (at 103.3). Now, a 104.5 listener can tune into the pregame show and never have to change the station when the game starts."

104.5's addition of the Titans and UT has impressed those who follow local radio trends.

"They are the flagship now for the best franchises in this area," Tiner said. "So when you think of sports and sports on the radio, the first thing you're going to think about is The Zone. From a marketing and branding standpoint, I think they've hit a home run."

Scheduling, however, may be a challenge at times for 104.5.

The football season will not pose many scheduling issues, but with UT men's basketball and the Predators sometimes on the same night, sister stations may be called on step in for the broadcasts.