A beloved FM radio news station that boasted over 1 million listeners will be undergoing a drastic rebrand starting in May.
The Audacy-owned KNX, which broadcasts at 97.1 FM, will be rebranded as the sports-centric The Fan, starting on May 11, according to a press release.
The new station will be the, “first-ever FM all-sports audio brand in Los Angeles history,” covering the region’s professional and college sports teams, “including the market’s only all-live, local weekday sports lineup.”
“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 legendary franchises and global events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, the time was right to bring our industry-leading sports programming to this market,” he added.
“The Voice of LA Sports will be a 24/7, multiplatform home where fans are part of the conversation every day, building on the same commitment to local connection that has made KNX News a trusted cornerstone in Los Angeles and strengthening our overall offering,” Federman said.
KNX launched as a simulcast of Audacy’s AM all-news station 1070, in December 2021, with the AM brand still continuing as the FM counterpart goes through an overhaul.
KNX’s Alex Silverman also took to the station’s Instagram on Tuesday to explain the format change to listeners in a video.
“It’s no secret that business has been tough in traditional media for a number of years. Ad dollars are spread very thin, companies are doing everything they can to try and capture more of them,” he began.
“Audacy has sports stations in many markets. They haven’t had one here in Los Angeles and they see that as an opportunity to expand that platform to L.A.”
The KNX FM simulcast saw its audience grow by more than 25% since the launch, with the FM brand still available on 97.1 HD2, which can typically be found in vehicles with digital radios.
Chris Oliviero, chief business officer for Audacy, said the company is still dedicated to KNX, which has a significant portion of listeners through the station’s app and other streaming platforms.
“We’re going to be providing twice as much original local L.A. content than we were previously,” Oliviero said. “We are taking these two broadcast frequencies, and getting more out of them.”
Oliviero added that major sporting events coming to Los Angeles, such as the World Cup this summer and the Summer Olympics in 2028, will likely help drive listeners to the station.
The launch will not be without some challenges, though, since The Fan will not have any rights to broadcast live play-by-play coverage for Los Angeles teams.
KLAC currently holds the audio rights for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Chargers and UCLA football.
Oliviero added that The Fan will be looking to acquire radio rights to teams as they become available, and they are looking to challenge some prominent morning radio hosts as well.
They will bring on local hosts for morning broadcasts to counter KLAC’s syndicated hosts Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd, and KLAC’s Petros and Mooney in the afternoons, though the hosts have yet to be announced.
The Fan also solidifies Audacy’s position as a leader in sports radio, adding a key piece to their portfolio as well.
Los Angeles was the only top-10 radio market where Audacy did not have a sports-talk radio station, which will change on May 11 when The Fan launches.
“This launch further strengthens Audacy as the unrivaled leader in sports audio, reaching more sports listeners than our eight closest competitors combined,” Oliviero said.
“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,” he concluded.
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