The Fan is now a Westwood One Sports Network affiliate:
You still think the same company will put its NFL games on any other station? Why would they do that?
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Sports to replace KNX News simulcast at 97.1 FM
- Thread starter Rollo-Smokes
- Start date
The Fan is now a Westwood One Sports Network affiliate:
You still think the same company will put its NFL games on any other station? Why would they do that?
I think mornings and middays will be interesting. ESPN finally went local a few years back. But it’s crazy this station is being built primarily by podcasters. Alex Curry has some radio experience but did weekends at Fox Sports Radio. But if this really takes off, will ihm just sit there and not do anything?
The same reason why GK is in bed with Audacy for Rams coverage/games
I would imagine that the Westwood One sports packages are separate negotiations from Westwood One Sports Network affiliations, but I could also be wrong as hell.
I also think the last thing iHeart LA would want to do is hand off major sports rights to an upstart competitor (unless there is some sort of compensation from WW1 for breaking whatever contract may exist).
The only thing they’d be able to do is move 570 to the FM dial, which has been discussed already way early in this thread. That would only potentially happen if 97.1 becomes a genuine concern for them.
It says what it says and it doesn’t say that.
No sane broadcaster would promise 100 years of anything—-much less a specific dial position for a radio station on a medium in decline.
FM itself is unlikely to be here in 100 years.
Audacy isn’t in a position to promise what they’ll be doing in FIVE years.
What a waste of branding and breath to pitch "KNX 97.1FM" for two years while seemingly ignore it's heritage band the entire time only to fully rebrand (or re-rebrand) as "KNX 1070" once again.
97.1 has had better days and formats and I feel this new bookmark on the signal will not be one of those sunnyside times.
I have zero faith in the product they are pushing here as becoming even moderately successful.
Lakers/Clippers/Kings/Ducks are all out and it's stars are more busy scheduling tee off times these days.
Dodgers/Angels are in the infancy of their season and this station (unless I'm mistaken) seemingly don't have the rights to air either.
I know LA has a chub for the Lakers but I do not think pontificating the success of a basketball team that got quickly eliminated in the playoffs for the next 4-5 months makes for "Great Sports Radio".
If "Derek & Decker" is the flagship voyage, I unfortunately will still bet on the iceberg.
97.1 has had better days and formats and I feel this new bookmark on the signal will not be one of those sunnyside times.
I have zero faith in the product they are pushing here as becoming even moderately successful.
Lakers/Clippers/Kings/Ducks are all out and it's stars are more busy scheduling tee off times these days.
Dodgers/Angels are in the infancy of their season and this station (unless I'm mistaken) seemingly don't have the rights to air either.
I know LA has a chub for the Lakers but I do not think pontificating the success of a basketball team that got quickly eliminated in the playoffs for the next 4-5 months makes for "Great Sports Radio".
If "Derek & Decker" is the flagship voyage, I unfortunately will still bet on the iceberg.
Sounds like the station may have soft flipped at midnight, currently hearing Brock and Alex talk about their sports fandom growing up and careers in sports, followed now by D-Mac and Reiter. Presumably what was recorded during their social media posts from earlier in the week of them in studio.
I thought that they were gonna switch at 6am, so I was asleep at midnight when it happened. Oh well. Here's to the Fan 97.1!
570 is available now at 104.3 HD2.
Affiliation contracts have term limits. They aren't unlimited.
I've brought this up in the past too, it's been on there for a few years now.
KABC and Westwood One are both owned by the same parent company, Cumulus. Not Audacy. Unless some money changes hands, the Westwood One play by play packages remain outside 97.1's reach. Does cash-strapped Audacy have the funds to purchase the pbp package?
It’s all speculation right now
Indeed, 570 used to be on 98.7HD2 with a very difficult signal where I'm located in the West SFV. Now, happily, they are "local" with that 104.3
K-"BIG" signal from Mt Wilson !
I’m really digging the morning show. Having Derek Fisher do mornings is a risk, because he’s never done radio before - or any kind of media? But the morning show is very energetic. Love the middays so far. Like I’ve mentioned, afternoons are where I’m concerned. My way too early prediction is that 97.1 will have a strong start.
Why are they on 93.1 HD2? The 97.1 signal is one of the strongest in LA
They’re somewhat returning to the best format the signal ever had, if they do more guy talk later. I think Audacy’s goal was to have podcasters do a radio show. It’s a smart move. I don’t like it. But it’s vital to reach a younger demographic to tune into radio to have podcasters with a huge following get paid a little more money than what they’re making off podcasts and follow a radio clock
there are some who think this will fail
barrettmedia.com
ESPN LA, AM 570 and 97.1 The Fan — Who Prevails in the Los Angeles Sports Radio Battle?
"Whether Los Angeles can truly sustain four full-time sports stations remains to be seen, but one thing is undeniable: the battle lines have officially been drawn."
barrettmedia.com
And they cite most of the issues those of us who know the market and the business have cited.there are some who think this will fail
ESPN LA, AM 570 and 97.1 The Fan — Who Prevails in the Los Angeles Sports Radio Battle?
"Whether Los Angeles can truly sustain four full-time sports stations remains to be seen, but one thing is undeniable: the battle lines have officially been drawn."