Sports radio


Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and callers. Many sports talk stations also carry play-by-play of local sports teams as part of their regular programming.

History

In 1955, WHN New York launched the first regular sports talk program featuring a broadcaster/journalist roundtable that aired before and after Brooklyn Dodgers games. By the early 1960s, sports talk content, ranging from individual commentary to roundtable discussions, began appearing in major US markets, initially tied to play-by-play broadcasts but gradually developing unique styles and characters. Art Rust Jr. launched New York’s first interactive call-in show in 1960 to limited initial success. Nonetheless, the interactive format spread in the 1960s with Bill Mazer, launching the first successful show in March 1964 at WNBC in New York. Soon after WNBC launched its program, in 1965 Seton Hall University's radio station, WSOU, started Hall Line, a call-in sports radio talk show focusing on the team's basketball program. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary on air during the 2015–2016 season, Hall Line, which broadcasts to central and northern New Jersey as well as all five boroughs of New York, is the oldest and longest running sports talk call-in show in the NY-NJ Metropolitan area, and is believed to be the oldest in the nation.
Enterprise Radio Network became the first national all-sports network, operating out of Avon, Connecticut, from New Year's Day 1981 through late September of that year before going out of business. ER had two channels, one for talk and a second for updates and play-by-play. ER's talk lineup included current New York Yankees voice John Sterling, New York Mets radio host Ed Coleman and former big-league pitcher Bill Denehy.
Emmis Broadcasting's WFAN in New York in 1987 is considered to be the first all-sports radio station, with Philadelphia's WIP a close second. However, that designation is imprecise according to research by Rowan University media scholar Emil Steiner since both stations relied on non-sports content during their initial years in order to survive: It wasn't until WFAN hired Don Imus—a shock jock "who by all accounts despised sports," that the station became financially viable. The prevailing narrative across news coverage was that sports talk radio works when it focuses on entertainment first and information second. This was the model espoused by WIP’s manager of programming Tom Bigby: "'If you do sports talk, it won’t survive,' Bigby says. 'If you do sports entertainment, the possibilities are endless.'" Following The success of the WIP and WFAN in the early 1990s, with hit programs such as Mike and the Mad Dog, drove other stations in United States to try the all-sports talk format. By 1991 there were around 20 stations broadcasting across the country and by 2000 there were over 600. While only one other radio show besides Mike and the Mad Dog attended the 1990 Super Bowl, about 100 attended the 2004 Super Bowl's radio row.

Programming

Sports talk is available in local, network and syndicated forms, is available in multiple languages, and is carried in multiple forms on both major North American satellite radio networks. In the United States, most sports talk-formatted radio stations air syndicated programming from ESPN Radio, SportsMap, Sports Byline USA, Fox Sports Radio, Infinity Sports Network, or NBC Sports Radio, while in the Spanish language, ESPN Deportes Radio is the largest current network. In contrast, Canadian sports talk stations may carry a national brand but carry mostly local programming, with American-based shows filling in gaps. Compared to other formats, interactive "talkback" sports radio poses difficulties for Internet radio, since as a live format it is difficult to automate; most prominent sports leagues also place their radio broadcasts behind a paywall or provide their broadcasts directly to the consumer, depriving standalone Internet stations of potential programming. Pre-recorded sports talk programs can be syndicated as podcasts with relative ease, and sports teams have also launched their own online digital networks with sports talk centered around their own properties.
As with most other radio formats, sports radio uses dayparting. ESPN Radio, for instance, insisted that its affiliates carry Mike and Mike in the Morning during morning drive time to provide as much national clearance as possible; in contrast, it carries less prominent programming in the afternoon drive to accommodate local sports talk, as well as in the evening to allow stations to break away for local sporting events. Somewhat unusually for radio, the late-night and overnight hosts have more prominence on a sports talk network, due to a near-complete lack of local preemption.
Sports radio stations typically depend on drawing an audience that fits advertiser-friendly key demographics, particularly young men with the disposable income to invest in sports fandom, since the format does not have the broad appeal to reach a critical mass in the general public. Prominent sports radio stations typically get their greatest listenership from live play-by-play of local major professional sports league or college sports franchises; less prominent stations may not have this option because of poorer nighttime signals and smaller budgets for rights fees.
Following the 2018 repeal of the United States' Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, a variant of the format focusing upon sports betting began to emerge. In August 2019, SportsMap and Vegas Stats & Information Network launched the BetR Network with affiliates in Las Vegas and Atlantic City at launch, while Philadelphia's WDAS flipped to a sports format featuring local programs involving sports betting. Broadcaster Audacy began to deploy its BetQL Network to more of its stations in June 2021, alongside an expansion of their daily schedule. Stations with such formats may still affiliate with a mainstream sports radio network to fill the remainder of their schedule, with the aforementioned WDAS otherwise carrying Fox Sports Radio, BetR including programming from co-owner SportsMap on its lineup, and BetQL being often carried alongside CBS Sports Radio on its owned-and-operated stations.

Sports talk stations

Terrestrial

Argentina

China

  • Beijing Tiyu Guangbo

    Colombia

  • Antena 2

    Czech Republic

  • ČRo Radiožurnál Sport - national, via DAB+ digital radio

    France

  • RMC - national, broadcast area in France and Monaco; combination of news/talk/sport format

    Greece

  • ERA Sport
  • Bwin Sport FM 94.6
  • Ellada Sports

    Italy

  • Rai Radio 1 Sport - national, via DAB+ digital radio

    Mexico

  • W Deportes
  • RG La Deportiva

    Netherlands

  • NPO Radio 1 - national; combination of news/talk/sport format

    New Zealand

  • Radio Sport
  • TAB Trackside
  • SENZ

    Nigeria

88.9 Brila FM: Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM, owned by Brila Broadcasting Services, is Nigeria's first sports radio station and was launched in 2002.

Norway

  • NRK Sport - national, via DAB+ digital radio

    Philippines

Sports Radio 918 kHz is the first and only sports radio station owned by the Philippine Broadcasting Service.

Spain

  • Radio Marca

    Turkey

  • a Spor Radyo
  • HT Spor Radyo
  • Lig Radyo
  • Radyospor
  • Radyo Gol

    United States

In 2009, Detroit's "97.1 The Ticket" WXYT-FM, thanks to the surprising time slot dominance of shows like Valenti and Foster, in addition to holding the play-by-play rights for the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Lions and the Detroit Pistons, became the United States' only sports talk radio station to be the highest rated station in their market, according to Portable People Meter rankings. The station relocated to the FM dial in October 2007 after existing on the AM dial for seven years prior, replacing a Free FM "hot talk" station, WKRK. This ratings success has led to WXYT-FM billing itself as the country's best sports station.
WXYT-FM's recent influence has led to CBS Radio installing sports radio stations on the FM dial in Dallas, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Cleveland, in addition to simulcasting Philadelphia's heritage 610 WIP onto the former WYSP. Other non-CBS stations have also migrated to the FM dial, most notably Clear Channel's KFAN in Minneapolis, Greater Media's WPEN in Pennsylvania and Dispatch Media's WBNS-FM in Columbus, just to name a few.
K
Call signBrandingAffiliationOwnershipCityState
• KABQFox Sports 1350Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaAlbuquerqueNew Mexico
• KAKKFox Sports 1570/93.7Fox Sports RadioDe La Hunt BroadcastingWalkerMinnesota
• KARNThe Sports Animal 920Infinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaLittle RockArkansas
• KBCN-FMESPN ArkansasESPN RadioPearson Broadcasting of Marshall, Inc.MarshallArkansas
• KBFPFox Sports 970/800Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaBakersfieldCalifornia
• KBGG101.3 FM & 1700 AM The ChampInfinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaDes MoinesIowa
• KBMBTUDN Radio Phoenix 710TUDN RadioEntravision CommunicationsBlack Canyon CityArizona
• KBMESportstalk 790Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaHoustonTexas
• KBOBESPN 1170 AMESPN RadioTownsquare MediaDavenportIowa
• KBTASports Radio 1340Infinity Sports NetworkWhite River NowBatesvilleArkansas
• KBZOTUDN Radio Lubbock 1460TUDN RadioEntravision CommunicationsLubbockTexas
• KCBF820 SportsESPN RadioLast Frontier MediactiveFairbanksAlaska
• KCQLFox Sports 1340Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaAztecNew Mexico
• KCSFXtra Sports Radio 1300Infinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaColorado SpringsColorado
• KCSPThe Fan AM 610Fox Sports RadioAudacy, Inc.Kansas CityMissouri
• KDKA-FMSportsRadio 93.7 The FanInfinity Sports NetworkAudacy, Inc.PittsburghPennsylvania
• KDKTKDKT Sports Radio 1410Infinity Sports NetworkDigital Syndicate Network, LLCBismarckNorth Dakota
• KDXU-FMFox Sports UtahFox Sports RadioTownsquare MediaColorado CityArizona
• KEJO1240 Joe RadioFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaCorvallisOregon
• KFBCKFBC AM 1240Infinity Sports NetworkMontgomery Broadcasting LLCCheyenneWyoming
• KFLCTUDN Radio Dallas 1270TUDN RadioLatino Media NetworkBenbrookTexas
• KFHSports Radio 1240 & 97.5 KFHInfinity Sports NetworkAudacy, Inc.WichitaKansas
• KFNCESPN Houston 97.5ESPN RadioGow Communications, LLCHoustonTexas
• KFNS590 The FanFox Sports RadioMarkel Radio Group, LLCWood RiverIllinois
• KFXN-FM100.3 FM KFAN: The FanFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaMinneapolis-St. PaulMinnesota
• KGAFox Sports 103.5/1510 The GameFox Sports RadioStephens Media GroupSpokaneWashington
• KGBSan Diego Sports 760Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaSan DiegoCalifornia
• KGIRESPN Radio 1220ESPN RadioMRR LICENSE LLCCape GirardeauMissouri
• KGMEFox Sports 910Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaPhoenixArizona
• KGMZ-FM95.7 The GameFox Sports RadioAudacy, Inc.San FranciscoCalifornia
• KGRZSports Talk 1450Fox Sports RadioCherry Creek RadioMissoulaMontana
• KGSOSports Radio 93.9 FM & 1410 AM KGSOFox Sports RadioSteckline Communications Inc.WichitaKansas
• KGYM1600 The Gym,
106.3 South Gym
107.5 North Gym		ESPN RadioKZIA, Inc.Cedar Rapids/Iowa CityIowa
• KHARCBS Sports 590 & 96.7 FMInfinity Sports NetworkAlpha MediaAnchorageAlaska
• KHKACBS 1500Infinity Sports NetworkBlow Up, LLCHonoluluHawaii
• KHTKSactown Sports 1140Infinity Sports NetworkBonneville InternationalSacramentoCalifornia
• KHTYFox Sports 970/800Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaBakersfieldCalifornia
• KIFMESPN 1320ESPN RadioAudacy, Inc.Sacramento-Yuba CityCalifornia
• KIKRSports Radio 1450Infinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaBeaumontTexas
• KILTSports Radio 610Infinity Sports NetworkAudacy, Inc.HoustonTexas
• KIROSeattle Sports 710ESPN RadioBonneville InternationalSeattleWashington
• KJRSports Radio 950 KJRFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaSeattleWashington
• KJR-FMSports Radio 93.3 KJRFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaSeattleWashington
• KKFNSportsradio 104.3 The FanESPN RadioBonneville InternationalLongmontColorado
• KKORESPN 106.3ESPN RadioOhana Media GroupAstoriaOregon
• KKSE-FMAltitude Sports 92.5 FMFox Sports RadioKSE Radio Ventures, LLCBroomfieldColorado
• KLAAAngels Radio AM 830Los Angeles Angels and ESPN RadioLos Angeles AngelsAnaheimCalifornia
• KLACAM 570 LA SportsFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaLos AngelesCalifornia
• KLATTUDN Radio Houston 1010 y 93.3TUDN RadioLatino Media NetworkHoustonTexas
• KLRZESPN 100.3ESPN RadioCoastal Broadcasting of LaroseLaroseLouisiana
• KLWB-FM103.7 The GameESPN RadioDelta Media CorporationCarencroLouisiana
• KMSRSports Radio 1520Fox Sports RadioKMSR, Inc.Grand Forks and FargoNorth Dakota
• KMTT910 ESPN PortlandESPN RadioAudacy, Inc.VancouverWashington
• KMXATUDN Radio Denver 1090TUDN RadioEntravision CommunicationsAuroraColorado
• KNBRKNBR 680 & 104.5Infinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaSan FranciscoCalifornia
• KNBR-FMKNBR 680 & 104.5Infinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaSan FranciscoCalifornia
• KNFLThe Fan 740/107.3ESPN RadioMidwest CommunicationsFargoNorth Dakota
• KNML610 AM: The Sports AnimalInfinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaAlbuquerqueNew Mexico
• KOZN1620 The ZoneFox Sports RadioNRG MediaOmahaNebraska
• KPEL103.3 The GoatFox Sports RadioTownsquare MediaLafayetteLouisiana
• KPLYFox Sports 630Fox Sports RadioLotus CommunicationsRenoNevada
• KPWKFox Sports Radio 1350Fox Sports RadioiHeartMedia, Inc.San BernardinoCalifornia
• KQBU-FMTUDN Radio Houston 1010 y 93.3TUDN RadioUforia Audio NetworkPort ArthurTexas
• KQSM-FM92.1 The TicketInfinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaFayettevilleArkansas
• KQTMESPN Sports Radio 101-7 The TeamESPN RadioTeam BroadcastingRio RanchoNew Mexico
• KRCO92.5 The TicketFox Sports RadioHorizon Broadcasting GroupBendOregon
• KRLD-FM105.3 The FanInfinity Sports NetworkAudacy, Inc.DallasTexas
• KRSK105.1 The FanESPN RadioAudacy, Inc.PortlandOregon
• KRSK-FM105.1 The FanESPN RadioAudacy, Inc.MolallaOregon
• KRZYTUDN Radio Albuquerque 1450TUDN RadioEntravision CommunicationsAlbuquerqueNew Mexico
• KSOOESPN 102.3 FM & AM 1000ESPN RadioTownsquare MediaSioux FallsSouth Dakota
• KSPNESPN LA 710ESPN RadioGood Karma BrandsLos AngelesCalifornia
• KSPZThe Sports Zone 980Fox Sports RadioSandhill Media Group, LLCIdaho FallsIdaho
• KSTPSKOR NorthESPN RadioHubbard BroadcastingMinneapolis-St. PaulMinnesota
• KSVETUDN Radio El Paso 1650TUDN RadioEntravision CommunicationsEl PasoTexas
• KTARESPN Phoenix 620ESPN RadioBonneville InternationalPhoenixArizona
• KTCKSportsRadio 1310 & 96.7 The TicketFox Sports RadioCumulus MediaDallasTexas
• KTCK-FMSportsradio 1310 & 96.7 The TicketFox Sports RadioCumulus MediaFlower MoundTexas
• KTCTKNBR 105ESPN RadioCumulus MediaSan MateoCalifornia
• KTFM94.1 San Antonio's Sports StarESPN RadioAlpha MediaFloresvilleTexas
• KTMZTu Liga Radio 1220TUDN RadioLotus CommunicationsPomonaCalifornia
• KTKRTicket 760Fox Sports RadioiHeartMediaSan AntonioTexas
• KTOPSportsradio 1490 KTOPInfinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaTopekaKansas
• KTOQESPN Rapid CityESPN RadioHaugo Broadcasting, Inc.Rapid CitySouth Dakota
• KTTGESPN Sportsradio 96.3ESPN RadioPearson BroadcastingMenaArkansas
• KTTU100.7 The ScoreESPN RadioRamar CommunicationsLubbockTexas
• KTTU-FMDouble T 97.3Fox Sports RadioRamar CommunicationsLubbockTexas
• KTZNFox Sports 550 The ZoneFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaAnchorageAlaska
• KUJZSportsradio 95.3Infinity Sports NetworkCumulus MediaEugeneOregon
• KVETAM 1300 The ZoneFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaAustinTexas
• KVSFESPN Santa Fe 1400ESPN RadioHutton Broadcasting, LLCSanta FeNew Mexico
• KVWEPanhandle Sports StarESPN RadioAlpha MediaAmarilloTexas
• KWKWTu Liga Radio 1330TUDN RadioLotus Communications Corp.Los AngelesCalifornia
• KWSNSports Radio 1230 & 98.1 KWSNFox Sports RadioMidwest CommunicationsSioux FallsSouth Dakota
• KXSPAM 590 ESPN RadioESPN RadioSummitMediaOmahaNebraska
• KXTG750 The GameInfinity Sports NetworkAlpha MediaPortlandOregon
• KXNO1460 KXNOFox Sports RadioiHeartMediaDes MoinesIowa
• KYRXFox Sports 97.3Fox Sports RadioWithers BroadcastingMarble HillMissouri
• KYWWTUDN Radio McAllen 1530TUDN RadioLatino Media NetworkHarlingenTexas
• KZDCESPN 1250ESPN RadioAlpha MediaSan AntonioTexas
• KZNS1280 The ZoneFox Sports RadioLarry H. Miller Communications CorporationSalt Lake CityUtah