From this morning’s TRI Newsletter: “Nowhere in the press release from the team and Cumulus about the new relationship among the co-owned NBA Hawks and NHL Thrashers and the radio owner is there a mention of “HD Radio” or “translator.” But that’s what “99X – at 97.9” is.” Last year, Cumulus re-introduced the alternative “99X” brand as an HD-2 channel that feeds an FM translator at 97.9, and it’s been pulling ratings, probably mostly from listening to the translator. The NBA Hawks had previously been on Lincoln Financial Media’s “790 the Zone.” Now the Hawks will be on Cumulus-owned “99X at 97.9” and the flagship of the NHL Thrashers will be Cumulus-run all-sports WCNN (680). Part of the new contract is that WCNN will air the pre- and post-game and coaches' shows associated with the Hawks. The Atlanta Board of Radio-Info is talking about the unusual situation of an HD-2 station-plus-translator being the flagship for an NBA team – here.