Change is ahead for the talk-radio market that should benefit Valley sports fans.
On Sept. 15, all local content on KTAR-AM 620 will be heard exclusively on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, where those shows already are being simulcast. KTAR-AM, meanwhile, will be a full ESPN Radio affiliate, carrying that network’s complete lineup of national shows.
“We’re doubling down on sports,” said Ryan Hatch, vice president of content and operations.
The new setup will accomplish several things. In addition to giving radio listeners more options, it will help with conflicts.
Arizona Sports 98.7 will be the flagship for the Cardinals, Suns, Diamondbacks, Coyotes and Arizona State. Outside of a conflict situation, a game would move to 620 only if it was on a weekday and before 6 p.m. In case of a conflict among three teams, news station 92.3-FM would be in the mix.
It also will increase the presence of major national sporting events on local radio that sometimes have been hard to find.
The lineup of local shows on 98.7 will remain the same: “Doug and Wolf” from 6 to 10 a.m., “Bickley and Marotta” (featuring the azcentral sports columnist Dan Bickley andVince Marotta) from noon to 2 p.m., and “Burns and Gambo” from 2 to 6 p.m.
ESPN’s “The Herd” (featuring Colin Cowherd) also will continue in the 10 a.m. to noon slot on 98.7.
KTAR’s all-ESPN Radio lineup starts with “Mike and Mike,” followed by The Herd, “SVP and Russillo” (Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo), “The Dan Le Batard Show,” “Sedano and Stink” (Jorge Sedano and Mark Schlereth); and “The Freddie Coleman Show.”
Occasional local programming will appear on KTAR. The Cardinals-centric “Big Red Rage” will run on Thursdays during the football season from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by “The Todd Graham Show,” featuring the ASU football coach, from 7 to 8 p.m.
For more visit AZ Central where this story was originally published
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
