KEGL Dallas - iHeart Attempts Hot Talk with Sports

[Gregg.]

iHeart is trying to find the right combination of Hot Talk, Sports Talk and Sports Betting, some local, some national, for its long-time rock station KEGL, known as 97.1 The Freak. It debuted on Sept. 30, 2022. I've always wondered why Hot Talk works in several Florida markets (WTKS Orlando, WHPT Tampa, WZZR West Palm Beach) but is rarely found outside of morning drive time in other parts of the U.S.

KEGL has a four-person morning show called "The Speakeasy." Middays were retained from the rock format, "The Ben & Skin Show." There's a four-person afternoon show, "The Downbeat." In evenings, KEGL carries "The News Junkie" from WTKS. Late nights and weekends are from the Houston- based SportsMap radio network and from Vegas-based VSiN, a sports betting network. The station is also the Dallas Mavericks' NBA flagship.

In the Holiday ratings period, KEGL got less than a one rating. It has advanced now to a tie for #20. I'm sure iHeart sees how well Dallas Sports Talk stations KTCK and KRLD-FM are doing. Cumulus-owned KTCK is #1, even though it's on a rimshot FM signal. Audacy-owned KRLD-FM is currently at #14 but it has the Cowboys and the Rangers, so those numbers should pick up for the baseball and football seasons.

Folks say Sports Radio today is sports discussions combined with guy talk. So KEGL is mixing it a bit differently, mostly guy talk along with sports discussions. Many of the KEGL staff came from KTCK and KRLD-FM.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

god with all that local staff, KEGL has got to be expensive as hell to run. All that local talent goes against the grain of what Iheart usually does

 

[b-turner]

IHeart is willing to try new things. KZPS 92.5 in Dallas/Ft. Worth became Lone Star 92-5 with a format that played some Americana, Rock, Classic Rock and Red Dirt in a format not unlike Album Rock Radio of the 1970s. One advertiser per product (ie: official Lone Star 92-5 beer is Coors). Only 1 commercial per hour ad-libbed by the jock.

Commercial example: Tornado Warning issued. After announcing the jock says not to get out in traffic now but try that little bar on the corner. Give it a test to see if it's a great bar. Order a Coors in the can. When it arrives, you know you have a great bar if the mountains are blue. The mountains turn blue on your Coors can when the beer is perfectly chilled for drinking.

Imagine a station running only ONE commercial an hour and the jock ad-libs it so well you are already well into the spot before you realize it's a commercial.

This was a very left field 'experiment' that failed since ad agencies didn't see the value in the product branded to the station. It lasted just over a year before going back to pure classic rock.

I suspect KEGL is getting it's try at doing something out of the ordinary and will be given the chance to grow.

 

[TheBigA]

They've doubled their ratings in 6 months. The bad news is the Mavericks have been eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

I suspect KEGL is getting it's try at doing something out of the ordinary and will be given the chance to grow.

iHeart has three stations in the Top 10. They're making the money. This is what is called a project station. It's a work in progress.

 

[Loverofradio]

god with all that local staff, KEGL has got to be expensive as hell to run. All that local talent goes against the grain of what Iheart usually does

That’s why it was such a huge risk at first. If they’re making money doing this, then that’s excellent. But, its a move I wouldn‘t have made

 

[radiofan2023]

Four people on one show seems like overkill

 

[salemjedi54]

That’s why it was such a huge risk at first. If they’re making money doing this, then that’s excellent. But, its a move I wouldn‘t have made.

If management is happy and if their goal is to take a bit of market share from KRLD-FM and KTCK AM/FM in their target demo, then they are doing their job.