Jim Zabel
Encyclopedia
Jim Zabel is an American radio and television broadcaster best known for serving as the play-by-play announcer for Iowa Hawkeye football games for 49 years on WHO (AM)
Radio. Zabel joined WHO as the sports director in 1944, and remains employed by the station as a talk-show host.
Zabel worked for WHO-AM and its sister television station, WHO-TV
, as both a sports broadcaster and as a host of general-interest programs. His television shows included "Beat the Bear", which lasted for 25 years, and "Let's Go Bowling", which lasted for more than 30 years.
Zabel was a live presence for a half-century of sporting events in Iowa
, including the Drake Relays
, for which he provided radio commentary for many years. It has been estimated that he provided commentary for more than 6,100 sporting events. He was named to the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. Zabel was succeeded by Gary Dolphin as the play-by-play announcer for network broadcasts of Iowa Hawkeye football games.
WHO (AM)
WHO is a clear channel radio station broadcasting 50,000 watts on 1040 AM with a news/talk format. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The station can be heard over most of the continental United States during nighttime hours...
Radio. Zabel joined WHO as the sports director in 1944, and remains employed by the station as a talk-show host.
Zabel worked for WHO-AM and its sister television station, WHO-TV
WHO-TV
WHO-DT is a television station that broadcasts on Channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI Tower in Alleman, Iowa, which is actually owned by WHO-DT's owners. WHO-DT brands itself as WHO-HD...
, as both a sports broadcaster and as a host of general-interest programs. His television shows included "Beat the Bear", which lasted for 25 years, and "Let's Go Bowling", which lasted for more than 30 years.
Zabel was a live presence for a half-century of sporting events in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, including the Drake Relays
Drake Relays
The Drake Relays is an annual outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, in Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University...
, for which he provided radio commentary for many years. It has been estimated that he provided commentary for more than 6,100 sporting events. He was named to the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. Zabel was succeeded by Gary Dolphin as the play-by-play announcer for network broadcasts of Iowa Hawkeye football games.