The Wisconsin Department of Athletics, in conjunction with Badger Sports Properties (BSP), will be launching newly formatted radio and television shows this fall and winter featuring UW Athletics.

'The Badger Sports Talk Show' will be a one-hour radio program networked to most of the Wisconsin radio affiliates in the state. Hosted by play-by-play veteran Matt Lepay and Capital Times columnist Mike Lucas, the show will air Mondays from 7-8 p.m. CST. The first show is Dec. 2 and the program will run every week (except Dec. 23) until March 31, 2003.

Broadcast live from the Badgerland Bar & Grill in the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Madison, the show will include basketball coaches Bo Ryan and Jane Albright, men's hockey coach Mike Eaves, and other special guests throughout the season. Fans are encouraged to call in questions to the coaches or attend the show at the Badgerland Bar & Grill.

Lepay, the 2000 Wisconsin state Broadcaster of the Year, and Lucas, a multiple time state Sportswriter of the Year, will host their normal Monday sports talk show (6-7 p.m.) each week as the lead-in to 'The Badger Sports Talk Show. '

On the television side, Lepay will also host the weekly 'Badger Sports Report with Matt Lepay' each Sunday on WISC-TV and Fox Sports Net North. Air time on WISC is Sunday morning at 1:30 and on Fox Sports Net North on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. The format of the 30-minute show will be a fast-paced interview program featuring Ryan, Albright, Eaves and other guests.

'We think these combined formats ' which are informative, quick hitting and interesting ' will be very popular,' said Eric Barnhart, General Manager of BSP. 'There is a lot of flexibility in the program's nature and we'll use that to our benefit as we review the various Badger sport seasons. We are truly excited about the prospects of these shows and are pleased to have Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas serving as hosts. Their popularity around the state and credibility with Badger fans is an important element.'