CBS Sports Radio On KFWB: It's Coming

[DToTheJ]

Looks like CBS is going to go against recent speculation and turn 980 KFWB into their CBSSR outlet in L.A.

Of course, don't rule out CBS hi-Jack-ing one of their FM's for a local sports talker at any time...

 

[Shoot From Hip]

CBS no longer controls KFWB; it's under the control of a trustee. Doesn't mean this won't happen...only that it's not CBS's decision.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

CBS no longer controls KFWB; it's under the control of a trustee. Doesn't mean this won't happen...only that it's not CBS's decision.

Sure they don't.

The next shot the "trustee" calls will be the first.

 

[DToTheJ]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

 

[LKellerIII]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

The Bay Area has had a sports station on FM (Entercom's 95.7 The Game) for about a year, and KNBR 680 AM continues to kick the snot out of it, as far as ratings go. Granted, KNBR ("The Sports Leader") is a decades old habit, and has the red hot SF Giants while The Game has the not so hot Oakland A's. But still, being a talk station on FM (sports or otherwise) is no guarantee that it will dominate an established AM.

Kind of like the KFI on FM speculation, people on the Bay Area boards speculate that Cumulus will simulcast KNBR on one of their FMs, and it may happen eventually, but not yet.

 

[recto101]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

The Bay Area has had a sports station on FM (Entercom's 95.7 The Game) for about a year, and KNBR 680 AM continues to kick the snot out of it, as far as ratings go. Granted, KNBR ("The Sports Leader") is a decades old habit, and has the red hot SF Giants while The Game has the not so hot Oakland A's. But still, being a talk station on FM (sports or otherwise) is no guarantee that it will dominate an established AM.

Kind of like the KFI on FM speculation, people on the Bay Area boards speculate that Cumulus will simulcast KNBR on one of their FMs, and it may happen eventually, but not yet.

But for the past 20 years 95.7FM in San Francisco tended to flip formats every few years since KKHI-FM went off the air. Who knows if 95.7FM sports will last. I do understand that theres a station owned by Saul Levine in LA that's been flipping formats for the past few years.

 

[ajc_trw]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

This could easily be fixed with Cumulus acquiring an FM and putting it on that. However, in this economy I don't see that happening.

Theoretically how many stations can Cumulus buy in the LA market assuming they had the will and the cash?

 

[davideduardo]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

This could easily be fixed with Cumulus acquiring an FM and putting it on that. However, in this economy I don't see that happening.

Theoretically how many stations can Cumulus buy in the LA market assuming they had the will and the cash?

Eight stations with max of five on any band.

 

[LKellerIII]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

This could easily be fixed with Cumulus acquiring an FM and putting it on that. However, in this economy I don't see that happening.

Theoretically how many stations can Cumulus buy in the LA market assuming they had the will and the cash?

Cumulus already owns 2 FM stations in the SF Bay Area - KFOG 104.5 and KSAN ("The Bone")107.7. They could put KNBR (or CBS Sports) on FM now if they wanted to.
If they do bring "CBS" to the Bay Area, they're more likely to put it on their AM 1050 KTCT - also branded as "KNBR," but not very highly rated.

 

[SportsDotCom]

CBS no longer controls KFWB; it's under the control of a trustee. Doesn't mean this won't happen...only that it's not CBS's decision.

Sure they don't.

The next shot the "trustee" calls will be the first.

Could not have said it better myself. Just curious if they'll put any local programming on it?

 

[recto101]

Still hard to fathom L.A. would have four sports stations, but not one on FM.
http://socalmediawatch.blogspot.com/2012/08/kfwb-ready-to-play-ball.html

This could easily be fixed with Cumulus acquiring an FM and putting it on that. However, in this economy I don't see that happening.

Theoretically how many stations can Cumulus buy in the LA market assuming they had the will and the cash?

Cumulus already owns 2 FM stations in the SF Bay Area - KFOG 104.5 and KSAN ("The Bone")107.7. They could put KNBR (or CBS Sports) on FM now if they wanted to.
If they do bring "CBS" to the Bay Area, they're more likely to put it on their AM 1050 KTCT - also branded as "KNBR," but not very highly rated.

I've seen the KSAN Ratings and they were at a 1.7 for some time they could have moved KNBR 1050 to 107.7 and put KTCT 1050 in the trust. I do know that KSAN and KSFO have low ratings out of the Cumulus San Francisco stables.

 

[david]

CBS Sports Radio On KFWB: It's Here

Looks like CBS is going to go against recent speculation and turn 980 KFWB into their CBSSR outlet in L.A.
Of course, don't rule out CBS hi-Jack-ing one of their FM's for a local sports talker at any time...

DToTheJ got much of this speculation right - it was announced yesterday (April 10, 2013) that as of next week KFWB is adding more sports to its evening, overnight, and weekend schedule:
* The Amani & Eytan Show - 7p weeknights
* commentaries by Jim Rome - Sports Minutes, his unique take on the day’s sports headlines - M-F afternoons at 12:03, 1:03 and 2:03
* KFWB’s Sports Knight with Michael Knight - 10p weeknights
* The Jason Page Show - 7p Saturdays
* commentaries by prolific sports author John Feinstein
* Eric Kuselias - weekdays 3a to 5a

And all this is in addition to the 24/7 stream of CBS Sports on KCBS-FM HD2

 

[wprt949]

@ wich point will cbs Put KFWB on fm ?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

@ wich point will cbs Put KFWB on fm ?

If the grand plan is to eventually launch this thing on FM (which I still believe is the case - BTW, how is that PD replacement for Jhani coming along?) they are going about it horribly wrong. The way to do it is with a big splash featuring recognizable stars and/or sports properties and LOTS of promo. You have to break through the number of existing sports stations in this town to command respect in listeners minds as THE only viable choice to get your sports fix by being on FM and having top talent. Seems like they are taking the exact opposite approach. A "soft" launch on the off hours of one of the most poorly rated stations (with limited signal reach) on the AM dial. And then to top it off, they aren't even including their one big star, Jim Rome as part of the package! Crazy. I hear the crickets chirping already.

And I have been listening to CBS radio on KCBS HD-2 and have generally not been very impressed. Both KSPN/ESPN and KLAC/Fox Sports have much cleaner presentations with much more experienced radio talent. A lot of the CBS sports guys (and gals) sound like this their first time at the rodeo and perhaps it is. After Jim Rome, the talent pool is pretty thin. John Feinstein is a very smart guy and excellent writer, but after that, it is pretty much amateur hour. "Ferrel on the Bench" is one of the most accurate names for a show ever. Guy is simply terrible and should never be coming off of that bench. It's hard to believe why they wouldn't put Jim Rome on tape delay overnights over the talent they currently have. A star on a 12 hour delay is better than a stiff reading late night scores.

In short, this launch should be a "Game-Changer" but is starting to look like a ball-dropper. I hope I am wrong; I want them to succeed.

 

[davideduardo]

@ wich point will cbs Put KFWB on fm ?

CBS does not own KFWB directly; it is owned by the KFWB License Trust, administered by a trustee.

 

[Fornax]

You are not looking very closely. KFWB is adding three talk shows from NBC Sports and only Jim Rome sports commentaries from CBS. That hardly sounds like CBS calling the shots.

 

[hm insulators]

I live in Phoenix but visit Los Angeles a few times a year. Is "Romey" still on KLAC or is he now on KFWB?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I live in Phoenix but visit Los Angeles a few times a year. Is "Romey" still on KLAC or is he now on KFWB?

Neither. Your car rental will have to be equipped with HD radio (good luck!). He is on KCBS HD-2 (93.1).

Otherwise, if you like static, you can hear him trying to cut through it on SD's Slighty 1090.

 

[hm insulators]

My car radio doesn't have an HD radio, so I'll have to settle for 1090.

Sadly, Romey's no longer in Phoenix, either!

 

[observer8057]

@ wich point will cbs Put KFWB on fm ?

CBS does not own KFWB directly; it is owned by the KFWB License Trust, administered by a trustee.

IMHO, that "trust" is one of the biggest jokes ever foisted on the spectrum-owning public. It appears the facilities are shared, as usual. Virtually everything else appears to be shared, as well. The "general manager" of KFWB, in the trust, is actually the "Market Controller" (head bookkeeper!) of the CBS Los Angeles cluster. I don't know the woman. She may be brilliant, but for the Commission to accept this deal shows us how far regulation has sunk.