Some 53 months and two weeks ago, in the middle of the song “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee, Audacy pulled the plug on the Top 40 format and “NOW” branding for an FM radio station in Los Angeles in favor of a simulcast of its Class A 50kw all-News AM.
Now, the company has decided to end the simulcast by directly going after iHeartMedia.
KNX News branding now reflects only 1070 kHz, as KNX-FM 97.1 has put the wheels in motion on a May 11 format change to Sports Talk, as “97.1 The Fan.”
The move extends the “Fan” brand pioneered in New York to Los Angeles, and a big FM signal for the first time. It puts KLAC-AM 570, operated in partnership between iHeartMedia and the Los Angeles Dodgers, on notice.
While the MLB baseball team is arguably Southern California’s hottest pro sport today,
“The Fan” says it will provide in-depth coverage of the area’s professional and college teams, breaking news, and “engaging sports conversation, tailor-made for the Southern California sports fan, including the market’s only all-live, local weekday sports lineup.”
Andrew Williams has been named Brand Manager of the forthcoming station, and will oversee the station’s debut programming lineup, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Williams previously led the BetMGM Network, serving as the architect for their national video and podcast distribution strategies. An industry veteran who began his career in local radio, Williams also held senior leadership roles at SiriusXM and Chicago Fire FC.
“Los Angeles is the epicenter of the sports world, and 97.1 The Fan is its new voice,” said Jeff Federman, Regional President of 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. 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.”
Audacy Chief Business Officer Chris Oliviero added, “This launch further strengthens Audacy as the unrivaled leader in sports audio, reaching more sports listeners than our eight closest competitors combined. 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.”
With the pending launch of “97.1 The Fan,” KNX-FM will become Audacy’s 22nd FM sports station.
