It's official: Here's the CBS press release ending the 41-year run of WBCN

You already knew this, but now CBS has made it official: WBCN is no more. Here's the corporate press release that was just sent out:

-------

CBS RADIO TO LAUNCH BOSTON’S NEWEST AND ONLY FM SPORTS STATION, 98.5 THE SPORTS HUB, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

Sports Station To Be Available At 98.5 On The FM Dial

Local Favorite, MIX, Home To Today’s Best Variety, Relocates To 104.1 FM

WBCN To Live On At www.wbcn.com And 98.5 HD 2

CBS RADIO Boston is proud to announce the arrival of “98.5 The Sports Hub,” which will debut on Thursday, August 13 and feature a wide assortment of sports talk and play-by-play programming.  The new station will be heard at 98.5 on the FM dial and be available streaming online at www.985thesportshub.com, in addition to the iPhone, iPod Touch and select Blackberry devices, among other mobile outlets.  

The station will serve as the home of the three-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and the NHL’s Boston Bruins, and feature personalities including Toucher and Rich in morning drive.

Adding to the distribution of the station, 98.5 The Sports Hub will also be an online destination and interactive experience powered by CBSSports.com (www.cbssports.com).  For the consummate Boston sports fan, www.985thesportshub.com will be the place to go for everything related to Boston sports featuring an array of local content including blogs from the station’s personalities, sports videos, scores, polls, message boards, community groups and the most up-to-date sports news, as well as on-air schedules, team schedules and talent information.  

98.5 The Sports Hub will assume the call letters WBZ-FM upon launch, pending FCC approval.  A full talent and programming schedule for the station will be announced at a later date.

Of the new station, Mark Hannon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of CBS RADIO Boston said, “Boston fans eat, sleep and breathe sports, and are some of the most diehard followers in the country, so it makes sense for us to bring the city’s favorite pastime to an easily accessible platform where listeners- for the first time in Boston- will be able to take advantage of sports programming through the crisp and clear reception offered on the FM dial.  CBS RADIO has a rich and influential background in sports radio and we are excited to join such illustrious company.”  

98.5 The Sports Hub will interact with listeners through the use of social networking sites such as Twitter (www.twitter.com/985thesportshub), Facebook and MySpace (www.myspace.com/985thesportshub) in order to connect users and talent and offer a more engaging and personalized experience.  This integration of resources offers the audience the most up-to-date news and local information, while broadening the station’s fan base and providing more advertising opportunities.

As a result of the launch of The Sports Hub on 98.5, CBS RADIO’s legendary Hot AC station, WBMX, will change its dial location on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and move to 104.1 FM from atop the Prudential Building in Boston’s Back Bay.  The station will feature the same great music and personalities familiar to listeners with improved signal coverage benefitting the at-work listener.  MIX’s new website can be found by logging on to www.mix104.com.

Finally, WBCN will say goodbye to Boston listeners after 41 years on the air with unique programming and stories celebrating the history and heritage of the station.  Fans of WBCN will be pleased to know that the station will still be available online at www.wbcn.com, as well as at 98.5 HD 2 for those who have an HD Radio receiver.