WVLZ sale forces Tony Basilio, Jayson Swain to make moves in Knoxville sports talk radio

Phil Kaplan
Knoxville

Doug Mathews, who has owned or leased WVLZ for the better part of 12 years, has sold the AM radio station known for its sports talk format.

Tony Basilio, left, during a broadcast in 2001 at WXTM in Knoxville.

Mathews said Wednesday the buyer is Aaron Ishmael, who owns WKCE 1120-AM in the Knoxville market. The deal will go into effect Thursday.

"I kept hoping someone locally to go into business," said Mathews, a former University of Tennessee assistant coach from 1980-89. 

"Just time to get someone else involved." 

Mathews, who lives in Nashville, hosts "Big Orange Sunday," and "Football Saturday" on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.

Attempts to reach Ishmael were unsuccessful. Mathews did not know if the format would change. WVLZ has used SB Nation Radio when not using local programming.

Veteran host Tony Basilio signed off Wednesday while Jayson Swain ended his six-year affiliation on 1180 AM last Friday. Both were independent from WVLZ, purchasing their own air time.

Basilio, who has been on Knoxville radio since 1993, told listeners that he is returning to WJBE on 1040 AM and 99.7 FM on Thursday. He left WJBE to take over for the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. time slot three years ago.

"I'm just excited to go back to work for (owner) Joe Armstrong and the FM exposure," said Basilio.

Former Tennessee players Jayson Swain, left, and Heath Shuler, right, talk about the Battle at Bristol with Jerry Caldwell, center, of Bristol Motor Speedway in downtown Bristol on Friday, September, 9, 2016 during the Battle on the State Line Kickoff and Pep Rally. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

Swain's "The Swain Event" is in the crowded morning sports talk drive time from 7-10 a.m.   

Basilio said for now Swain is broadcasting out of his house and using his studio equipment.

Swain said he learned last Saturday about impending changes at WVLZ and decided to not broadcast his show on Monday. Instead, Swain did his show as normal, but it was only available through his app and Periscope on Twitter. And for the time being, it will remain that way.

"I feel comfortable where I am," said Swain, who was a wide receiver for the Vols from 2003-06. "If there's an opportunity I will explore it."

 

Swain said WVLZ's signal wasn't the best and also affected the quality of his show.