Los Angeles is finally getting its first FM all-sports radio station. Audacy announced the launch of 97.1 The Fan, debuting May 11 at 6:00 a.m. PT. The station promises an all-live, local weekday sports lineup — the only one in the market.
“Los Angeles is the epicenter of the sports world, and 97.1 The Fan is its new voice,” said Jeff Federman, Regional President, Audacy West. With the FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics approaching, LA’s sports footprint is only growing. Audacy wants to own that conversation.
97.1 The Fan becomes Audacy’s 22nd FM sports station. The company now claims FM sports presence across all top 10 U.S. markets.
Its portfolio includes over 40 owned-and-operated sports stations and 160 digital sports channels.
Chris Oliviero, Chief Business Officer at Audacy, didn’t shy away from the big picture.
“This launch further strengthens Audacy as the unrivaled leader in sports audio, reaching more sports listeners than our eight closest competitors combined,” said Oliviero. “Adding Los Angeles—one of the most passionate and influential sports markets in the country—completes our presence across the top 10 markets and meaningfully expands our reach and scale. It allows us to deliver even greater impact for listeners and partners through premium content, unmatched distribution, and deeper fan engagement.”
Adding LA is the final piece of a major strategic puzzle.
Andrew Williams takes the helm as Brand Manager. He previously built the BetMGM Network’s national video and podcast distribution strategy. His resume includes senior roles at SiriusXM and Chicago Fire FC.
The programming lineup drops in the coming weeks.
KNX News 1070 will lose their 97.1FM signal as part of the announcement. However, KNX will continue its all-news format on its AM frequency 1070 and also be heard on 97.1 HD2.
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Does this mean Jim Rome will finally have an on air presence in his home market again, after all these years?