Pitt and Clear Channel radio officials are expected to announce a long-term rights deal today that will simulcast Panthers football and basketball games for the first time.

Pitt's games will be broadcast on WPGB-FM and WBGG-AM. Pitt's new contract calls for an expanded programming base that is an improvement over its last package.

Pitt games have been aired on WRRK-FM, which interrupted its music format for game broadcasts that were sandwiched between abbreviated pregame and postgame shows.

Both Pitt and the station's Steel City Media ownership decided earlier this year to take the option to part ways, even though a contract was still in force.

That's when Clear Channel entered the picture. It's scheduled to make an on-air announcement about the long-term deal at noon today, in a one-hour WPGB-FM broadcast with hosts Stan Savran and Ellis Cannon before the broadcast of the Blue-Gold spring game.

As part of the deal, Pitt's football and basketball games starting in the fall will air simultaneously on WPGB, Clear Channel's 3-month-old launch as news-talk 104.7, and WBGG, sports radio 970.

There could be potential conflicts on the AM side between the Pitt basketball schedule, which soon will join Penguins and Steelers games already airing on WBGG. There will be no overcrowding problem on the FM dial, where WWSW (94.5) is the Penguins' flagship and WDVE (102.5) the Steelers' flagship.

Football coach Walt Harris and basketball coach Jamie Dixon will get their own radio shows, something that exists with many other major-college programs but hasn't been heard here in almost a decade. Pregame and postgame shows figure to be longer, too.

Pitt also expects to get a boost in ancillary programming, not only from additional shows on WPBG and WBGG, but on other Clear Channel stations as well.

There will be no change in broadcasters, with Bill Hillgrove to be joined by Bill Osborn in football and Dick Groat in basketball.

Officials from both parties declined comment until the announcement today.