Audacy’s KNX will replace news on 97.1 FM with a sports talk format
Audacy’s Los Angeles news radio station, KNX, is ending its simulcast on 97.1 FM, which will move to a sports talk format on May 11.
The New York-based audio company announced Tuesday that the frequency will be rebranded as Fan, becoming the first all-sports FM station in the Los Angeles market.
Sports talk listeners are currently served by KLAC, an AM station co-owned by iHeartRadio and the Dodgers, ESPN LA 710 and KLAA at 8:30, owned by the Los Angeles Angels.
KNX will continue its all-news format on its AM frequency 1070. The station will also be heard on 97.1 HD2, primarily available in vehicles equipped with digital radios.
Chris Oliviero, Audacy’s chief business officer, said the moves are aimed at providing more local content to listeners in the Los Angeles market. The Fan will feature on-air talent well-known to area teams.
“We’re going to provide twice as much local, original Los Angeles content as before,” Oliviero said. “We take these two broadcast frequencies and squeeze more out of them. »
KNX’s news format has benefited from FM simulcasting, with audience share up more than 25% since its launch in December 2021. Oliviero said Audacy remains committed to the format, which has a significant number of listeners through the station’s app and other streaming platforms.
Audacy has a proven track record in sports radio, which attracts advertisers. Los Angeles was the only market in the top 10 where the company did not have a station carrying the format.
Oliviero noted that the upcoming sports calendar, which includes the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, will likely increase listeners’ appetite for the station.
The Fan will launch without any live play-by-play from the Los Angeles teams. KLAC owns the audio rights to the Dodgers, NBA Clippers, NFL Chargers and UCLA football.
Oliviero said Audacy would consider acquiring the audio rights for the Los Angeles teams as soon as they become available. He noted that the Fan will air local daytime hosts when KLAC features syndicated hosts Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd. KLAC features a popular local team, Petros and Money, in the afternoons, and a Dodgers-focused talk show in the evenings.
In addition to KNX, Audacy owns classic hits station KRTH-FM (101.1), rhythmic hits station KTWV-FM (94.7), adult hits station KCBS-FM (93.1) and KROQ-FM (106.7), which has an alternative rock format. The stations broadcast from studios on the Miracle Mile.
Audacy has owned KNX since 2017, when it merged with CBS Corp.’s radio division. The company was known as Entercom at the time of the transaction.
