The Dodgers will change radio partners next season
after signing a five-year deal with KIIS-AM, according to
Tom Hoffarth of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. KIIS offered an
"aggressive presentation to the Dodgers, promising extended
sports talk shows before and after each game." Sources for
the Dodgers current carrier, KABC, said that declining
ratings in recent years "are one reason why the station did
not fight the Dodgers' decision." KABC has carried the team
for the past 23 years (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/30). KABC is
owned by Walt Disney Co., which also owns the Angels. KIIS
was purchased last year by Jacor Communications, which has
been "aggressive in sports programming" (Jeffrey Jolson-
Colburn, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/30).
ROYALS: Fox Sports Rocky Mountain has offered ABC
sports commentator Roger Twibell the Royals play-by-play
job. He would work with Paul Splittorff (K.C. STAR, 1/30).
JAYS: In Toronto, Stephen Brunt notes the Blue Jays are
close to signing a five-year TV deal with TSN with financial
terms close to their last TV deal. Brunt: "Consider where
baseball was then, consider where the franchise was, and
consider everything that's happened in the interim. In
light of all that, maintaining the broadcast status quo is
remarkable" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/30).
