Hearst's Baltimore radio stations recently won the Orioles' broadcast contract beginning this year. Cary Pahigian, the group's president and general manager, told the Baltimore Business Journal that he has big plans for the partnership and already considers the deal a success.

The Orioles and Hearst have a six-year deal in place, but Pahigian is confident the partnership will last much longer.

"I think you're going to see the Orioles on WBAL and 98 Rock for a long, long time," he said. "This is a long deal right now with the way sports relationships are between a media outfit and a team. This is starting as a six-year agreement. That's a fairly committed marriage for two people right off the bat."

This is a reunion of sorts. The new contract will mark the third time Orioles games have aired on WBAL, which won the team back after their games were on 105.7 The Fan for the last seven years.

Cary Pahigian declined to say when the two sides began negotiating. He characterized the negotiations as "an organic partnership" that developed as talks progressed. He credits the strength of the WBAL and 98 Rock signals, the stability of the stations, and the success the Ravens have seen on their airwaves. That success led to an extension in Hearst's deal with the NFL franchise in December.

"Our partnership with the Orioles felt good from day one, and our partnership with the Ravens has always felt good and continues to be good," Pahigian said. "When you put all that together, and I'm a big sports fan personally, I couldn't be more pleased. The elation in our building was just one that went right through the roof when our employees heard about it."

Right now, WBAL is developing shoulder content around Orioles games. Pahigian says the station intends to retain Geoff Arnold, Brett Hollander, and Melanie Newman as the team's broadcasters.