L.A.'s KMPC now Korean-language Radio

[ShawnHill1]

I'm surprised (or not maybe not) this wasn't mentioned on this particular board, but Los Angeles' KMPC-AM 1540 changed formats as of yesterday, May 1st, going from the flagship of Sporting News Radio to becoming an outlet for Radio Korea (which already has a Los Angeles-area outlet of its own). So now, there's two left...Clear Channel's Laker and UCLA flagship KLAC-AM and ESPN's KSPN-AM 710 (home of the Angels, Clippers, and USC sports). Personally, I liked KMPC/Sporting News Radio, it was a great alternative to the Laker propaganda on KLAC and the sometimes mindless babble at KSPN/ESPN. KMPC was the L.A. home of the San Diego Chargers, Westwood One's sports coverage, and was once the home of USC sports. This move was made months after The Sporting News empire itself was sold, and the radio network moved from the Chicago area to the Los Angeles area. I can't imagine SNR going without an outlet for too long in the nation's 2nd largest market and the base of their headquarters.

 

[Scoobyfan1]

Personally, I think this might be the beginning of the end for Sporting News Radio, it may not be much but it's definitely a crippling blow. SNR now no longer has an affilate in the number two media market in the country, they barely have an affilate in the number one market(the station in question is mostly brokered) and most of their other affilates are either in medium to small markets or cities that only run SNR programming in certain dayparts(morning & nights mostly), even the only Satellite Radio provider(XM) that carries SNR doesn't carry it all the time. Plus, Fox Sports Radio and ESPN Radio's number of affilates dwarf SNR's. Eventually, I believe what's going to happen is maybe some of the more big name/money-making shows on the network like Tony Bruno, Todd Wright and maybe Tim Brando and weekend shows are going to be syndicated either by the current owners of the network or by another syndicator.