Unless this plan is based on the San Diego and LA sports talkers being on adjacent frequencies -- and sharing some hosts and contributors -- it makes little sense. While you're launching an all-new "FAN/LA," you could plop it on any Audacy local FM stick. But putting sports on 97.1 means you negate any loyal listenership you've built for news there. To move news to 93.1 or 94.7, means you're starting from scratch.
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Sports to replace KNX News simulcast at 97.1 FM
- Thread starter Rollo-Smokes
- Start date
Actually, I can think of another; that the all-news audience is ageing and advertising agencies want the younger audience that is drawn to all-sports stations. And, of course, there has been a lot of wishing on this Board for an FM sports outlet in L.A.
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Pure speculation here as well, but worth considering that Audacy currently leases its AM frequency in NYC to Good Karma Brands.
Good Karma Brands owns KSPN AM 710 with the radio rights to the Lakers, the Chargers, and the Kings. They also have the right to the ESPN content.
Could this open a content partnership between Good Karma and Audacy?? Discuss.
Good Karma Brands owns KSPN AM 710 with the radio rights to the Lakers, the Chargers, and the Kings. They also have the right to the ESPN content.
Could this open a content partnership between Good Karma and Audacy?? Discuss.
I was reliably informed on this site that this could never happen and anyone who thinks it could doesn't know what they are talking about.
Alrighty then.
Alrighty then.
I thought Cumulus still owned KSPN. That would indicate that Good Karma might be better served as a content provider than a broadcaster.
The other side of that is look what was blown up in order to make it happen.
The FM station with the oldest, most unsellable demo on the FM dial short of KUSC?
I don't know this to be true, just guessing. It was only a matter of time before one of the conglomerates took the leap in LA given the format's FM success in other markets.
One thing's for sure in the LA market - there are plenty of teams and colleges to obtain live play-by-play rights. The Rams are obvious, since they're on Jack. Perhaps the Lakers or Kings, who probably want their own exclusive timeslots for game broadcasts. Clippers? Ducks? MLS? UCLA? USC? There's a lot of sports out there.
Cumulus never owned the ESPN stations. They stayed with Disney until they sold them to GKB.
BTW the demos for the sports format typically isn't much younger.
As I said, a deal might be possible with KSPN 710.
A core business for Good Karma is as sales rep for ESPN. If they can get ESPN content on a powerful FM station, that's good for them.
Thanks for that.
I hope they do. I'm just thankful they will be continuing KNX News on 97.1 HD-2
My anecdotal experience is not consistent with this. I have nieces and nephews that like sports talk a lot and will seek it out. It is the only thing that separates them from absolute ignorance of the AM band.
The especially love LLLLLLLL..LAKERS play by play. (Too bad they are too young to have heard Chicky Baby!)
I think the argument could be made that rights to games still only fill a minimal amount of airtime during the week- the rest of the time you’re relying on your shows/hosts. Hell, I get pissed if I pop on 570 for Jason Smith and Mike Harmon and it’s being preempted for “Dodger Talk”. 97.1 can still talk about whatever teams they want, and it might even be beneficial to them to have less rights. While the Dodgers game is on 570 or the Lakers are on 710, crystal-clear 97.1 can be talking about the games, giving updates on the scores, and interacting with SoCal sports fans.
It depends on the market. WFAN NY doesn't do well with young audiences. However WIP Philadelphia does. So my take is it will take a very strong and topical group of hosts to make it work. Which is exactly what I said in previous posts on the subject, and why I said it would be a tough move for Audacy to make. So we'll see what happens.
Who, BTW work for Fox Sports Radio.
With PBP rights come dedicated shows, like pregame, post game and others that can lean on insider access. For example, KFXN in Minneapolis is heavy on Vikings content. They get exclusive content and partner benefits that other stations don't get (though their only sports competitor is an AM with abysmal ratings that relies on podcasts). Paul Allen, the team's radio PBP host, has his own weekday late morning show on the station. All season long, the station is near the top of the ratings.
Jim Lampley in the mornings
Big Joe McDonnell
and (of course) Jim Healy at 5:30. ("Jim Healy, you have a weak show!")
Plus the legacy Golden West sports properties, Angels, Rams and UCLA.
Doug Krikorian! They were such a good team with him and Joe! They use to also play old games at midnight- Healy was the best ! "Wgo goofed I got to know"
You are right, I should have listed Doug too. They were great together.