Sports radio

Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal,[1] sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and callers. Many sports talk stations also carry play-by-play of local sports teams as part of their regular programming. Hosted by Bill Mazer, the first sports talk radio show in history launched in March 1964 on New York's WNBC (AM).[2]

Soon after WNBC launched its program, in 1965 Seton Hall University's radio station, WSOU, started "Hall Line," a call-in sports radio talk show that focuses on Seton Hall Basketball. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary on air during the 2015-2016 season, "Hall Line," which broadcasts to central and northern New Jersey as well as all five boroughs of New York, is the oldest and longest running sports talk call-in show in the NY-NJ Metropolitan area-- and is believed to be the oldest in the nation. [3]

Enterprise Radio became the first national all-sports network, operating out of Avon, Connecticut, from New Year's Day 1981 through late September of that year before going out of business. ER had two channels, one for talk and a second for updates and play-by-play. ER's talk lineup included current New York Yankees voice John Sterling, New York Mets radio host Ed Coleman and former big-league pitcher Bill Denehy.

Sports talk is available in local, network and syndicated forms, is available in multiple languages, and is carried in multiple forms on both major North American satellite radio networks. In the United States, most sports talk formatted radio stations air syndicated programming from ESPN Radio, Yahoo! Sports Radio, Sports Byline USA, Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, or NBC Sports Radio, while in the Spanish language, ESPN Deportes Radio is the largest current network. In contrast, Canadian sports talk stations may carry a national brand (such as TSN Radio or Sportsnet Radio) but carry mostly local programming, with American-based shows filling in gaps. Compared to other formats, sports radio is not as popular on Internet radio; as a live and interactive format, it does not lend itself well to voice-tracking (thus raising the cost and required labor to keep a station running 24/7), and most sports leagues place their radio broadcasts behind a paywall or provide their broadcasts directly to the consumer, though sports podcasting is a popular alternative to address this problem.

As with most other radio formats, sports radio uses dayparting. ESPN Radio, for instance, insists that its affiliates carry Mike and Mike in the Morning during morning drive time to provide as much national clearance as possible; in contrast, it carries less prominent programming in the afternoon drive to accommodate local sports talk, as well as in the evening (for its first two decades, rolling score updates aired under the banner of GameNight) to allow stations to break away for local sporting events. Somewhat unusually for radio, the late-night and overnight hosts have more prominence on a sports talk network, due to a near-complete lack of local preemption; Sports Byline USA, for instance, only operates overnights.

Sports radio stations typically depend on drawing an audience that fits advertiser-friendly key demographics, particularly young men with the disposable income to invest in sports fandom, since the format does not have the broad appeal to reach a critical mass in the general public. Prominent sports radio stations typically get their greatest listenership from live play-by-play of local major professional sports league or college sports franchises; less prominent stations (especially on the AM dial) may not have this option because of poorer (or for daytime-only stations, non-existent) nighttime signals and smaller budgets for rights fees.

Sports talk stations

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Terrestrial

Australia

Canada

Call sign Branding Ownership City Province
CFAC Sportsnet 960 The Fan Rogers Communications Calgary Alberta
CFGO TSN Radio 1200 Bell Media Ottawa Ontario
CFRN TSN Radio 1260 Bell Media Edmonton Alberta
CFTE TSN Radio 1410 Bell Media Vancouver British Columbia
CKGM TSN Radio 690 Bell Media Montreal Quebec
CKST TSN Radio 1040 Bell Media Vancouver British Columbia
CJCL Sportsnet 590 The Fan Rogers Communications Toronto Ontario
CHUM TSN Radio 1050 Bell Media Toronto Ontario
CFRW TSN Radio 1290 Bell Media Winnipeg Manitoba

China

New Zealand

Nigeria

88.9 Brila FM: Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM, owned by Brila Broadcasting Services, is Nigeria's first sports radio station and was launched in 2002.[4]

Philippines

DZSR Sports Radio 918 kHz is the first and only sports radio station owned by the Philippine Broadcasting Service.

United Kingdom

United States

In 2009, Detroit's "97.1 The Ticket" WXYT-FM, thanks to the surprising time slot dominance of shows like Valenti and Foster, in addition to holding the play-by-play rights for the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Lions and the Detroit Pistons, became the USA's only sports talk radio station to be the highest rated station in their market, according to Portable People Meter rankings. The station relocated to the FM dial in October 2007 after existing on the AM dial for seven years prior, replacing a Free FM "hot talk" station, WKRK. This ratings success has led to WXYT-FM billing itself as the country's best sports station.

WXYT-FM's recent influence has led to CBS Radio installing sports radio stations on the FM dial in Dallas (105.3 The Fan), Boston (98.5 The Sports Hub), Pittsburgh (93.7 The Fan), Washington, DC (106.7 The Fan), Baltimore (105.7 The Fan) and Cleveland (92.3 The Fan), in addition to simulcasting Philadelphia's heritage 610 WIP onto the former WYSP. Other non-CBS stations have also migrated to the FM dial, most notably Clear Channel's KFAN in Minneapolis, Greater Media's WPEN in Pennsylvania and Dispatch Media's WBNS-FM in Columbus, just to name a few.

More recently, a number large number of listeners have begun to make internet radio the primary medium of choice. Major market leaders such as ESPN, NBC, CBS, Yahoo, and Fox have invested in the creation of their own proprietary sports apps for streaming radio distribution on Apple, Android, and Windows devices. Other independent market leaders such as Sports Radio America choose to stream their content through non proprietary apps including Live 365 and Tune In.

Sortable lists of commercial sports talk radio stations:

K
Call sign Branding Affiliation Ownership City State
KBAD Fox Sports 920 Fox Sports Radio Las Vegas Nevada
KBGG 1700 The Champ ESPN Radio Citadel Broadcasting Des Moines Iowa
KBME 790 The Sports Animal Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications Houston Texas
KCKK/K229BS (FM) Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510/FM 93.7 Yahoo! Sports Radio Mile High Sports Denver Colorado
KCSP 610 Sports Entercom Kansas City Missouri
KCTC ESPN 1320 ESPN Radio Entercom Sacramento-Yuba City California
KDKA-FM SportsRadio 93.7 The Fan CBS Sports Radio CBS Radio Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
KDKT Fox Sports Radio 1410 Fox Sports Radio Digital Syndicate Network, LLC Bismarck North Dakota
KEJO 1240 Joe Radio Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications Corvallis Oregon
KESN 103.3 FM ESPN ESPN Radio (O&O) Disney/ABC Radio Dallas/Fort Worth Texas
KFBC 1240 AM Sports and talk MRN Radio Locally owned Cheyenne Wyoming
KFNC ESPN 97.5 The Ticket ESPN Radio GOW Communications, LLC Houston Texas
KFXN-FM 100.3 KFAN The FAN Sports Radio Network Clear Channel Communications Minneapolis-St. Paul Minnesota
KFXX ESPN Sports Radio 1080 The FAN ESPN Radio Entercom Portland Oregon
KGIR ESPN Radio 1220 ESPN Radio MRR LICENSE LLC Cape Girardeau Missouri
KGME XTRA Sports 910 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Phoenix Arizona
KGMZ 95.7 The Game ESPN Radio Entercom San Francisco-Oakland California
KGOW 1560 The Game Yahoo! Sports Radio (O&O) Gow Communications, LLC Houston Texas
KHTK CBS Sports 1140 CBS Sports Radio CBS Radio Sacramento California
KHAT ESPN Sportsradio 1210 ESPN Radio Appaloosa Broadcasting Company, Inc Laramie Wyoming
KHHO Fox Sports Radio 850 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications Tacoma Washington
KILT Sports Radio 610 CBS Radio Houston Texas
KIRO 710 ESPN Seattle ESPN Radio Bonneville International Seattle Washington
KJR Sports Radio 950 and 92.7 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications Seattle Washington
KKFN Sportsradio 104.3 The Fan Lincoln Financial Group Denver Colorado
KLAA AM 830 KLAA Los Angeles Angels and ESPN Radio Los Angeles Angels Anaheim California
KLAC AM 570 KLAC Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Los Angeles-Fresno California
KLSD XTRA Sports 1360, "San Diego's Sports Station" Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications San Diego California
KMSR Sports Radio 1520 ESPN Radio KMSR, Inc. Grand Forks and Fargo North Dakota
KNBR The Sports Leader CBS Sports Radio Cumulus Media San Francisco-Sacramento California
KOZN 1620 AM The Zone Fox Sports Radio NRG Media Omaha Nebraska
KPLY Fox Sports Radio 630 Fox Sports Radio Disney Reno Nevada
KQPN 730 Fox Sports Fox Sports Radio Simmons-Austin, Ls, LLC Memphis Tennessee
KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan Fox Sports Radio CBS Radio Dallas Texas
KSEK 99.1 The Ticket ESPN Radio SKIL Pittsburg Kansas
KSPI Sports Talk 780 CBS Sports Radio Stillwater Radio LLC Stillwater Oklahoma
KSPN 710 ESPN, "Experience Sports!" ESPN Radio (O&O) Disney Los Angeles California
KSTP 1500 ESPN ESPN Radio Hubbard Broadcasting Minneapolis-St. Paul Minnesota
KTAR Sports 620 ESPN Radio Bonneville International Phoenix Arizona
KTCK "The Ticket" Yahoo! Sports Radio Cumulus Media Dallas Texas
KTTG ESPN Sports Radio 96.3 ESPN Radio Pearson Broadcasting Mena Arkansas
KUJZ Sportsradio 95.3 CBS Sports Radio Cumulus Media Eugene Oregon
KVET "AM 1300 The Zone" iHeartMedia Austin Texas
KXFN Team 1380 Simmons Media Group St. Louis Missouri
KXTG 750/102.9 The Game NBC Sports Radio Alpha Broadcasting Portland Oregon
KXNO Des Moines' Sports Station Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Des Moines Iowa
KZNS 1280 The Zone Simmons Media Group Salt Lake City Utah
W
Call sign Branding Affiliation Ownership City State
WARF Fox Sports 1350 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Akron Ohio
WAUK 540 ESPN ESPN Radio Good Karma Broadcasting Milwaukee Wisconsin
WAXY 790 The Ticket ESPN Radio Lincoln Financial Group South Miami Florida
WBBL The Ball ESPN Radio / Yahoo! Sports Radio Citadel Broadcasting Grand Rapids Michigan
WBNS 1460 ESPN ESPN Radio Dispatch Broadcast Group (RadiOhio) Columbus Ohio
WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan ESPN Radio Dispatch Broadcast Group (RadiOhio) Columbus Ohio
WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub Fox Sports Radio CBS Radio Boston Massachusetts
WCCF The Sports Ministry 1580 AM TSM Radio Network Clear Channel Port Charlotte Florida
WCKY ESPN 1530 ESPN Radio Clear Channel Cincinnati Ohio
WCMC-FM 99.9 the Fan ESPN Radio Capitol Broadcasting Company Raleigh North Carolina
WCNN 680 The Fan CBS Sports Radio Dickey Broadcasting Company Atlanta Georgia
WDAE 620 WDAE The Sports Animal Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Tampa Florida
WDFN 1130 AM WDFN: The Fan Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Detroit Michigan
WDNC 620 the Buzz ESPN Radio Capitol Broadcasting Company Raleigh North Carolina
WDUZ Sports Radio 107.5 and 1400 The Fan ESPN Radio Cumulus Media Green Bay Wisconsin
WEEI ESPN on WEEI ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Boston Massachusetts
WEEI-FM WEEI Sports Radio Network WEEI/ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Boston Massachusetts
WEEX SportsRadio 1230 and 1320 ESPN Radio Nassau Broadcasting Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
WEPN-FM ESPN New York 98.7 FM ESPN Radio (O&O) New York City New York
WFAN Sports Radio 66 and 101.9 FM WFAN: The Fan CBS Radio New York City New York
WFAN-FM Sports Radio 66 and 101.9 FM WFAN: The Fan CBS Radio New York City New York
WFNI 1070 The Fan ESPN Radio Emmis Communications Indianapolis Indiana
WFNZ The Franchise CBS Radio Charlotte North Carolina
WFXJ Sports Radio 930 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Jacksonville Florida
WGAM 1250 The Game Absolute Broadcasting Manchester New Hampshire
WGFX 104.5 The Zone Nashville Tennessee
WGR WGR Sports Radio 550 ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Buffalo New York
WHB Sports Radio 810 WHB ESPN Radio Union Broadcasting Kansas City Missouri
WHBO ESPN 1040 ESPN Radio Genesis Communications Tampa Bay Florida
WHBQ Sports 56 Yahoo! Sports Radio Flinn Broadcasting Corporation Memphis Tennessee
• WICK NEPA Sports Radio THE GAME Fox Sports Radio Bold Gold Media Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania
WIP-FM Sports Radio 94 WIP CBS Radio Philadelphia Pennsylvania
WJOX Jox 94.5 Fox Sports Radio Citadel Broadcasting Birmingham Alabama
WJOX-FM Jox 94.5 ESPN Radio Citadel Broadcasting Birmingham Alabama
WJFK-FM 106.7 The Fan Fox Sports Radio CBS Radio Washington, DC Washington DC
WJXL 1010 XL ESPN Radio AM: Seven Bridges Radio
FM: River City Broadcasting
Jacksonville Florida
WJZ ESPN Radio 1300 ESPN Radio CBS Radio Baltimore Maryland
WJZ-FM 105.7 The Fan Fox Sports Radio CBS Radio Baltimore Maryland
WKRD Cards Radio 790 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Louisville Kentucky
WKNR ESPN 850 WKNR
ESPN Cleveland[5]
ESPN Radio Good Karma Brands Cleveland Ohio
WKRK-FM 92.3 The Fan CBS Sports Radio CBS Radio Cleveland Ohio
WLLF ESPN 96.7 ESPN Radio Cumulus Media Mercer Pennsylvania
WLOP 1370 The BUZZ Fox Sports Radio Jesup Broadcasting Jesup Georgia
WMFS ESPN 92.9 & 680 ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Memphis Tennessee
WMFS-FM ESPN 92.9 & 680 ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Memphis Tennessee
WMVP ESPN Radio 1000 ESPN Radio (O&O) ESPN Chicago Illinois
WNDE Sportsradio 1260 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Indianapolis Indiana
WNML The Sports Animal CBS Sports Radio Cumulus Media Knoxville Tennessee
WNSR Sports Radio 560 Southern Wabash Communications of Middle Tennessee, Inc. Nashville Tennessee
WNST Sports Talk 1570 WNST Nasty 1570 Sports, LLC Towson
Baltimore
Maryland
WOYK WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic ESPN Radio Greater Media Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania
WPOP Fox Sports Radio 1410 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications Hartford Connecticut
WPRT-FM 102.5 The Game Cromwell Group Nashville Tennessee
WQAM Sportsradio 560 ESPN Radio Beasley Broadcast Group Miami Florida
WQXI 790 The Zone ESPN Radio Lincoln Financial Media Atlanta Georgia
WRNL Sports Radio 910 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Communications Richmond Virginia
WSAI Fox Sports 1360 Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Cincinnati Ohio
WSCR Chicago Sports Radio 670 The Score Yahoo! Sports Radio CBS Radio Chicago Illinois
WSFZ SuperSport 930 Sportsrad, Inc. Jackson Mississippi
WSJK ESPN 93.5 Stevie Jay Broadcasting Champaign-Urbana, Illinois Illinois
WSPZ Sports Talk 570 ESPN Radio Red Zebra Broadcasting Bethesda Maryland
WTEL CBSSportsRadio 610AM CBS Sports Radio CBS Radio Philadelphia Pennsylvania
WTEM ESPN 980 ESPN Radio Red Zebra Broadcasting Washington, DC Washington DC
WTKA The Leaders and Best Cumulus Media Ann Arbor Michigan
WTLX FM 100.5 ESPN ESPN Radio Good Karma Broadcasting Madison Wisconsin
WTMM-FM 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio Townsquare Media Albany New York
WUCS 97.9 ESPN ESPN Radio Clear Channel Communications Hartford Connecticut
WUMP SportsRadio 730 The UMP ESPN Radio Cumulus Media Huntsville Alabama
WUUB ESPN 106.3 ESPN Radio Good Karma Broadcasting West Palm Beach Florida
WVEI SportsRadio 1440 WEEI WEEI/ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Worcester Massachusetts
WVEI-FM SportsRadio 103.7 WEEI-FM WEEI/ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Providence, Rhode Island Rhode Island
WVSP-FM ESPN Radio 94.1 ESPN Radio Max Broadcast Group Holdings, Inc. Virginia Beach Virginia
WWBU SuperSports 101.7 Fox Sports Radio Cumulus Media Radford Virginia
WWEI SportsRadio 105.5 WEEI-FM WEEI/ESPN Radio Entercom Communications Springfield Massachusetts
WWGK ESPN 1540 KNR2
ESPN Cleveland[5]
ESPN Radio Good Karma Brands Cleveland Ohio
WWTX 1290 The Ticket Fox Sports Radio Clear Channel Media & Entertainment Wilmington Delaware
WXFN Fox Sports Radio Backyard Broadcasting Muncie Indiana
WXLW XL 950 Yahoo! Sports Radio Raven Broadcasting Indianapolis Indiana
WXOS ESPN 101.1 ESPN Radio Hubbard Broadcasting East St. Louis/St. Louis Illinois/Missouri
WXYT-FM 97.1 The Ticket Yahoo! Sports Radio CBS Radio Detroit Michigan
WYTK "93.9 THE SCORE" ESPN Radio Valley Broadcasting Rogersville/Florence, AL Alabama

Satellite

Sirius XM

Internet Sports Radio

Networks

Brazil

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Defunct networks

Notable syndicated programs

Canada

United States

See also

References

  1. "What About Sports-Talk Radio? How’s That Doing?". Radio InSights. 2011.
  2. Best, Neil (June 16, 2011). "First time, long time for Bill Mazer". Newsday. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  3. "WSOU Celebrates 50 Years of ‘Hall Line’ on the Air".
  4. Obodo, Kate (March 30, 2012). "Nigeria: As a Child, My Swimming Pool Was the Murky Waters of the Village - Izamoje". allafrica.com. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  5. 1 2 WKNR/WWGK branding - Good Karma Brands.com
  6. 2013 Termination info from KRAE wiki article.
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