Major League Baseball players and owners have yet to agree on financial terms for starting their season, but San Diego’s XEPRS 1090-AM is ready to go when they are. Station investor Bill Hagen told The Times of San Diego, he’s hoping to launch The Mightier 1090 in conjunction with baseball’s comeback.
“We would love to return to the airwaves at the same time as baseball,” Hagen said. “Hopefully, that return comes around the Fourth of July.”
After going dark more than a year ago, The Mighty 1090, which used to be San Diego’s top-rated sports station is gearing up for a relaunch as The Mightier 1090. Last month, Hagen announced he has a five-year lease with the Bichara family, who owns the station transmitter.
The station’s lineup has not been announced, but it will feature at least one local sports radio star. While most of The Mighty 1090’s weekday shows have since moved on to other San Diego radio stations, the popular Scott Kaplan remained a free agent. Instead of joining another station, Kaplan transitioned to hosting a daily live podcast, available on multiple platforms including a video stream on YouTube. Kaplan has agreed to be part of the new 1090, which will focus on sports and lifestyle programming.
“Scott is the all-star of sports radio in San Diego and Southern California,” Hagen told Rick Griffin of The Times. “We couldn’t be happier that we came to an agreement with Scott.”
Kaplan has compared his new partnership with The Mightier 1090 as a syndication deal, bringing his YouTube show to terrestrial radio.
While a set date has not been announced, the return to terrestrial radio for Kaplan and The Mightier 1090 could come as early as five weeks from now.
“Every day we make progress towards the relaunch,” Hagen said. “Things have taken longer than first anticipated because of the challenging circumstances in the world due to the coronavirus. But, everything is positive. We’re on track.”
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
