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Report: Cumulus To End LMA Of ESPN 103.3 Dallas

Y2kTheNewOldies

Y2kTheNewOldies

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/195941/report-cumulus-to-end-lma-of-espn-103-3-dallas/

LMA Ends on October 7th. Not shocking given the recent issues of Sports being a money loser due to COVID-19.

Barrett Sports Media is reporting that Cumulus Media will end its LMA of ESPN Inc.’s “ESPN 103.3” KESN Allen/Dallas on October 7.

Cumulus began its LMA of the station on October 8, 2013. Cumulus has retained dual Sports stations in the market since then operating KESN alongside their “Ticket” 1310 KTCK Dallas/96.7 KTCK-FM Flower Mound.

Barrett reports that KESN is expected to cut its local shows that include “JaM Session” with Jean-Jacques Taylor and Matt McClearin in middays from 9am to 1pm and “Steve Dennis & Company” in afternoons from 3-6pm and run mostly its national lineup. KESN also carries Dallas Mavericks basketball.
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I don't see KESN surviving by simply running the ESPN Radio national feed. Major changes coming. The Gow Media speculation is interesting for those of us in Houston, but that company has been struggling with their Houston FM sportstalker.
 
I guess Disney might be more open to operating a station now, since it owns and operates an ESPN station in KSPN LA and KMVP Chicago, and LMAs a station in NYC. KESN is Disney's only FM O&O. Whereas ten years ago they were getting out of the station business. For Cumulus, the advertising money apparently wasn't enough to cover the operating expense. This was an LMA deal made 7 years ago, and is probably overpriced for today's advertising marketplace. They could have voided the deal during the bankruptcy, but that was pre-COVID. For Cumulus it's one less check to write.
 
The next thing Cumulus needs to do is flip the format of its longtime ratings beleaguered CHR, 93.3.

Going Adult R&B seems like a no brainer to me, given how much better 93.3's signal is in Dallas proper versus 105.7 and 94.5.
 
MarkW said:
The next thing Cumulus needs to do is flip the format of its longtime ratings beleaguered CHR, 93.3.

Going Adult R&B seems like a no brainer to me, given how much better 93.3's signal is in Dallas proper versus 105.7 and 94.5.
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I'm right there with you. Even though Majic 94.5 has re-imaged with new voice talent, new slogan, ("The Real Sound of the DFDub"), added Veda Loca, and has a wider playlist than KRNB, that signal will always be their biggest obstacle PPM wise.
 
I see this as fairly simple: Cumulus wants to cut costs and couldn't make a profit on the LMA in the Covid era.
Disney can run their national network and Mavs games only (maybe?) and sell enough ads to make a profit.
If not for Covid, this probably wouldn't have happened.
 
tested said:
I see this as fairly simple: Cumulus wants to cut costs and couldn't make a profit on the LMA in the Covid era.
Disney can run their national network and Mavs games only (maybe?) and sell enough ads to make a profit.
If not for Covid, this probably wouldn't have happened.
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This seems pretty likely. The Ticket has the Stars already, whose season overlaps with the Mavs, and 105.3 has the Cowboys and Rangers. The only OTHER option right now is probably to put the Mavs back on AM.
 
Triple Fake Jerry said:
This seems pretty likely. The Ticket has the Stars already, whose season overlaps with the Mavs, and 105.3 has the Cowboys and Rangers. The only OTHER option right now is probably to put the Mavs back on AM.
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or move it to 97.1 The Eagle due to the Mavs having connections to Ben & Skin who are already on The Eagle.
 
Is the mavericks radio deal with Disney or Cumulus. That makes a big difference. If the rights are with Cumulus then they can just move the Mavericks to either KTCK AM/FM or back to WBAP or KLIF AM. If its Disney, then either the Mavericks or Disney make opt out. Who knows?
 
When Disney takes back over, will the live hosts on KESN have gigs or will they be out of a gig? Do you think KTCK will pick up any of those for maybe a weekend show?
Also any rumors on the Mavericks radio rights?
 
salemjedi54 said:
When Disney takes back over, will the live hosts on KESN have gigs or will they be out of a gig?
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Do we even know at this point that Disney will be taking KESN back over? I doubt they’ll let it go silent, but there had been speculation that Disney was looking for a third party to operate it and run ESPN.

I'd have to guess a lot of the future for the live hosts will depend on who actually operates the station once Cumulus lets it go.
 
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/195941/report-cumulus-to-end-lma-of-espn-103-3-dallas/

The local airstaff of “ESPN 103.3” KESN Allen/Dallas will exit following their shows on Wednesday, October 7 as Cumulus Media’s LMA to operate the station comes to an end.

The 9am-1pm “JaM Session” hosted by Jean-Jacques Taylor and Matt McClearin will join Cumulus’ “1310/96.7 The Ticket” KTCK/KTCK-FM as weekend hosts as well as hosting a daily podcast. The station also features an afternoon show “Steve Dennis & Company” from 3-6pm.
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neosolbrudda said:
So I'm assuming they will continue to be ESPN Sports...
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The report said it will continue with the ESPN Radio network feed, but that is almost certainly only a short term arrangement, until they finalize another LMA partner or sell it off. I don't get the feeling ESPN is all that interested in running their own local stations, definitely not outside of LA and NYC. I would imagine all of the sales people for 103.3 are employed by Cumulus and staying put.

I know the the initial report speculated that maybe Gow out of Houston or Good Karma could be the new partner (GK recently took over management of ESPN's WMVP in Chicago).

But because an announcement has yet to be made, I wonder if if ESPN on 103.3 days are numbered. I'm trying to imagine who would buy KESN though and I am not coming up with any obvious suitors.

I wonder what 103.3 would go for right now. Maybe 6-7m?
 
Ryan Williams said:
I don't get the feeling ESPN is all that interested in running their own local stations, definitely not outside of LA and NYC.
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Bingo. It's a company-wide view coming from Disney. They see themselves in the content business, not towers & transmitters. They'd love to sell the TV stations too, but ownership works better for ABC. At least for right now.
 
If it is for sale, Cumulus seems to have already passed. iHeart and Entercom are at the ownership cap for DFW. Univision has room for one more, but are they adding to their portfolio? KESN doesn't even cover the ideal areas for Spanish programming. Estrella has no money. Urban One has been downsizing. Service?

Currently Salem has applied to downsize the antenna system for 660 so they can sell off part of the tower site. Maybe they move The Answer to FM and instead of part, they can sell the entire site.

I know EMF is often mentioned when a facility is on the market, and I am sure they would like to bring K-Love to DFW (even with the trademark issues), but i don't believe that will happen with 103.3.
 
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