Radio isn't what it used to be. Honestly, if you grew up in the DMV area, you probably remember the absolute powerhouse that was WTEM. It was the station. You’d get in your car, hit that preset, and immediately hear the latest drama surrounding the Washington Commanders—back when they were the Redskins—or some heated debate about whether the Wizards were actually going to make a move at the deadline. But lately, searching for an espn 980 listen live link feels like a scavenger hunt where the map keeps changing.
The signals got crossed.
Things shifted a lot when the station moved around the dial and corporate ownership changed hands between Red Zebra Broadcasting and Urban One, and eventually into the hands of iHeartMedia. If you're looking to tune in right now, you’re likely trying to find that specific blend of local D.C. sports talk and national ESPN programming. It’s not just about the game; it’s about the culture of D.C. sports.
The Identity Crisis of WTEM
WTEM 980 AM is a legacy. It started as the first all-sports station in Washington, D.C., back in 1992. Think about that. Before the internet was a household thing, people were calling in to yell about coaching decisions on this frequency. It’s the home of Tony Kornheiser’s early radio days and the legendary "The Sports Junkies" before they moved over to 106.7 The Fan.
But here is where it gets tricky for the casual listener. People still search for espn 980 listen live because the branding stuck. However, WTEM has swapped affiliations and frequencies more times than some teams swap quarterbacks. At various points, it was an ESPN Radio affiliate, then it leaned into Fox Sports Radio, then it went back to ESPN. Currently, while it maintains that sports identity, the way you access the "live" part has migrated almost entirely to digital apps.
If you are hovering over your radio dial, you might find the signal is weaker than it used to be in certain parts of Northern Virginia or Maryland. That’s the nature of AM radio in 2026. Buildings get taller, interference gets worse, and the digital stream becomes the only way to hear the crackle-free analysis of the morning drive.
Where to Actually Find the Stream
Don't bother with those weird third-party "free radio" websites that look like they haven't been updated since 2008. They are usually riddled with pop-up ads and the stream lag is unbearable. If you want to espn 980 listen live, your best bet is the iHeartRadio app or their website directly. Because iHeartMedia owns the station now, they keep the high-definition stream locked into their ecosystem.
You can also find it on the Audacy app occasionally depending on the current syndication agreements, but iHeart is the primary source. If you’re using a smart speaker, like an Alexa or Google Home, just saying "Play WTEM" or "Play ESPN 980" usually does the trick, provided the skill is enabled.
Why the Local Connection Still Matters
Why do we even care about a 980 AM signal when we have a million podcasts?
Because of the "The Team 980" legacy. When a big trade happens—like when the Commanders finally landed a franchise QB or when the Capitals are deep in a playoff run—podcasts are too slow. You want the immediate, raw reaction of a local host who actually lives in Bethesda or Arlington. You want to hear the callers who are just as frustrated as you are.
That’s the "Listen Live" magic.
It’s the shared experience of a city. Whether it’s Kevin Sheehan breaking down film or the national guys like Mike Greenberg providing the broad strokes, 980 has historically bridged that gap. Even as it competes with 106.7 The Fan, 980 keeps a certain "old school" prestige. It feels like the station for the die-hards who remember the RFK Stadium days.
The Technical Hurdle: AM vs. FM vs. Digital
Let’s talk physics for a second. AM 980 uses a directional antenna system. During the day, it pushes out 50,000 watts. That’s a lot of power. It covers a massive chunk of the East Coast. But at night? It drops down to 5,000 watts to avoid interfering with other stations on the same frequency in places like Troy, New York.
This is exactly why the digital "listen live" option became the savior of the station. If you’re driving home from work in the winter and the sun goes down at 4:30 PM, the signal might just... vanish. Or get fuzzy. By switching to the stream, you bypass the ionospheric reflections that mess with AM signals.
- Download the iHeartRadio App. It’s the official home.
- Search for "The Team 980" rather than just "ESPN."
- Check the schedule. Sometimes national ESPN programming takes over the local feed, especially late at night or during big national events like the NBA Finals.
What Happened to the "ESPN" Branding?
You might notice that the station is often referred to now as "The Team 980" rather than "ESPN 980." This is a result of the shifting landscape of sports media contracts. While they still carry ESPN content, the local identity is what sells ads in the D.C. market.
Advertisers don’t want to buy spots on a generic national feed. They want to reach the guy driving a Ford F-150 on the Beltway. So, the station leans heavily into local personalities. If you’re looking for a pure ESPN National feed, you might sometimes be redirected to a different digital sub-channel, but WTEM remains the flagship for the local flavor.
Honestly, the "ESPN 980" name is a bit of a ghost now. It’s like how people still call the Sears Tower by its old name. We know what it is, even if the sign on the door changed.
Surprising Facts About the 980 Frequency
- It was once the home of the "Wolfman Jack" show back when it was a music station.
- The transmitter site is actually located in Germantown, Maryland.
- It has survived multiple "format flips" that would have killed lesser stations.
Radio is resilient. People keep predicting its death, but as long as there is traffic on I-95, there will be a need for sports talk radio.
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How to Get the Best Experience
If you’re going to stream, do it right. Use a stable Wi-Fi connection if you can, because those high-quality audio streams can eat through a data plan if you’re listening for four hours a day.
Also, pay attention to the "Live" aspect. Most streams have a delay. It can be anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes behind the actual broadcast. If you’re trying to listen to the radio while watching a game on TV to get the local announcers, the "Listen Live" stream will drive you crazy. You’ll hear the touchdown call two minutes after you saw it happen. For that, you really need a physical AM radio or a low-latency receiver.
Actionable Steps for the DMV Sports Fan
To stay connected to the heartbeat of Washington sports without the static:
- Bookmark the direct iHeart station page on your mobile browser so you don't have to navigate the app every time.
- Follow the individual hosts on X (formerly Twitter). Guys like Kevin Sheehan often post clips or "best of" segments if you miss the live window.
- Check the Commanders' official broadcast schedule. WTEM is often a key part of the gameday radio network, but sometimes the primary play-by-play moves to an FM sister station for better reach.
- Ignore the "Listen Live" mirrors. If a site asks you to download a "player" or an "extension" to hear the station, close the tab immediately. Those are almost always malware or junkware. Stick to official platforms.
The landscape of sports media is messy. Frequencies change, names shift, and apps update. But the core of what people want—good, honest, local sports talk—is still sitting there at 980 on the dial, or more likely, tucked inside an app on your phone. All you have to do is know where to point the digital antenna.