Cleveland's WKRK Radio 92.3 Changing to Sports "92.3 The Fan"

On Twitter: @longisland495

Cleveland Rocks! Cleveland...Talks?!

As was hinted a few weeks ago, there was talk that CBS Radio was planning on expanding their "WFAN Radio Network" into more cities. Now we know that they want to.

Nathan Obral and the Ohio Media Watch website have done a superb job tracking this story as developments continue to come in. Here's "for the most part" the gist of the story:

CBS Radio has expanded sports talk stations into several cities over the past few years. Dallas-105.3 The Fan KRLD-FM. Washington, DC-106.7 The Fan WJFK-FM. Baltimore 105.7 The Fan WJZ-FM. Detroit 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM. Boston-98.5 The Sports Hub WBZ-FM. Pittsburgh KDKA-FM 93.7 The Fan.

There are plenty of others as well. The sports binge that CBS has been on is a result of their failure that was Free FM. Several of the ex-Free FMers changed to sports talkers after their Hot Talk era ended.

There are similar developments where CBS is planning on putting an existing sports talker at 610 WIP-AM in Philadelphia to 94.1 where a Mainstream Rock station WYSP-FM is right now.

In Cleveland, the story is that struggling Alternative Rock station WKRK "Radio 92.3" (once under the iconic K-Rock brand) is about to change formats to another "Fan" station. This one is serving as a double-edged sword. Not only does this reflect the growing trend of sports talkers on FM, but 2011 hasn't been a banner year for Alternative & Active Rock stations. Flips have occurred in Portland, San Francisco, New York, & Chicago among others.

FM Sports outlets have also debuted this year in San Francisco, Boise, and other cities.

The station has already tapped Adam "The Bull" Gerstenhaber for PD duties. One of the shows that'll be on the new station will be a reunion of a former Fox Sports Radio show. Kevin Kiley will co-host a show with Cleveland native Chuck Booms.

The Fan is expected to be a Fox Sports Radio affiliate. It already has Facebook and Twitter pages with its logo decked out in Browns colors. With its debut imminent for late August/early September, it'll most likely be Browns-Ohio State football-centric.

Of course, the station is debuting without being the flagship of a Cleveland sports team, but they are acquiring the entire NCAA/NFL Westwood One sports lineup from 850 WKNR. That's a huge development since it is effectively stripping ESPN 850 of about 30-40% of its programming.

ESPN 850 is more of a sports voice for Cleveland as opposed to being a real sports station for C-Town. They did just announce that they'll be doing a slew of Browns coverage on 850 even featuring Browns players.

92.3 has the potential to be a real station especially if they get rights to one team. The Indians and Browns could be possibilities. The Browns' contract ends in 2013 and CBS has connections to Tribe brass.

Their sports target for now is 850 WKNR since they have no local flagships and will probably focus on national coverage. They eventually will turn their attention over to Clear Channel's WTAM 1100 which has rights to all 3 C-Town area teams. The Browns rights are shared with WMMS 100.7 The Buzzard and scheduling conflicts between teams are settled by putting one of the teams on C-Town's Buzzard.

Another possibility is that this could've been motivated by what Clear Channel did with WHLK-FM 106.5 The Lake which has surged near the top of Cleveland's ratings in almost no time. Could the Lake move in a more Alternative direction with their Variety Hits format.

Another sticking point of speculation for many in Ohio is if this is setting up an eventual move of 92.3 to 98.5 where Classic Rocker WNCX is. There were domains registered for a Fan station at 98.5 to the point where Radio 92.3 wouldn't even get touched. Or, WNCX would move to 92.3's inferior signal. 'NCX has recently been underperforming even with its superior stick.

There was also some talk that The Maxwell Show (formerly of WMMS, now on WNCX) would be on this new sports station. MWL's contract, though, with CBS ends in October and there's a chance he won't be renewed. Similar drama is unfolding in Philadelphia with Danny Bonaduce. If they were to put The MWL Show on a sports station, then he'd have to thank Toucher & Rich in Boston at the Sports Hub. A Rock-based morning show making a smooth transition to be a sports talker.

Who knows, 92.3 may "take its talent to South Beach". Miami could use a good-sounding Alternative Rocker itself. lol

Your Opinion...?

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[Pookatube]

If 92.3 The Fan is in Clevland, I would not doubt it will be 92.3 The Fan in NYC in the not too distant future!

[longisland495]

@Pookatube More 102.7 than 92.3 at this point. 92.3 Now just put a lotta money into Nick Cannon and gave him a syndie countdown show.

[KayserIllumina]

Is PPM to blame for the decline of jazz and alternative rock stations? I'd say that the problem is that Rock and Jazz haven't had any major evolutions, unlike Top 40, Rhythmic/Urban or even Country :)

Wonder if 92.3 will keep rock on HD2, or if it'll put WFAN and KDKA-FM on HD2/HD3...

[longisland495]

@KayserIllumina I guess PPM is to blame. That is true somewhat about Rock formats recently that Modern Rockers have been the same since the 90's since Rock now is the same as it was in the 90's. lol

92.3 HD2 probably will get the Rock station. HD3 will probably be WFAN. I can only imagine a Cleveland HD3 airing a Pittsburgh sports station. We can only imagine.... :-)

[bucky468]

98.5 NCX will never go off the air. It's still there and it's here to stay 4ever!!

[bucky468]

@longisland495 Nick Cannon is a joke. He's only famous for who he married. Golddigger!!

[bucky468]

@KayserIllumina Rock radio is still alive and well these days. Classic rock stations still rule the airwaves. And they're here to stay.

[STONEfan999999]

Dude you are on top of things. Good job!

[King1Liner]

Good stuff