Grant Napear’s afternoon drive show on FOX Sports Radio Sacramento is over. The program launched in September 2025 and ran for less than eight months.
What We Know: Napear was notified of the cancellation just before Monday’s broadcast. He had hosted weekday afternoons from 3–6 p.m. on Lotus Communications’ FOX Sports Sacramento. Before this run, Napear spent more than three decades as the television voice of the Sacramento Kings and was a top-rated host at SacTown Sports until 2020. He continues to host his podcast on social media platforms — a likely landing spot going forward.
What They Said: Grant Napear on how his program ended on FOX Sports Radio Sacramento: “We were notified earlier today. About 30 to 45 minutes before the start of today’s radio show, that the show was not going to continue. To be honest, I’m not shocked. The reason why I’m not shocked is the radio business, even, since I last did it in 2020, is so different.”
Napear on Lotus’ position in the Sacramento market: “They were trying to win the Indy 500 with a four cylinder engine, and you can’t do that. They were trying to win a sixty minute hockey game playing five on four the whole game, or an NFL game with ten men on the field. That’s the reality of this situation.”
Napear on the state of the radio industry: “It’s a business, quite frankly, that is close to becoming extinct. Because of formats like this [podcasting], satellite radio, and everything else that is competition. That’s where we’re at.”
What Remains Unclear: No official statement from Lotus or FOX Sports Sacramento has emerged. It’s also unclear whether the entire station faces changes or if this was a standalone programming decision. Meanwhile, Napear’s podcast remains active, and the future format could expand significantly.
What It Means: Napear’s return to sports radio came with controversy. His ousting from SacTown Sports and the Sacramento Kings over social media comments sparked outrage among the fan base. While his name still carries weight in the market, his return to traditional sports radio did not produce enough results to last. Ultimately, digital growth is likely his best option if he chooses to remain in the Sacramento market.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
