Fox Sports and Premiere Radio Networks announced
yesterday that they will launch an all-sports radio network
on August 28, with at least 50 stations "picking up some or
all of its programming," according to David Barron of the
HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Premiere President Kraig Kitchin said he
expects the network to grow to at least 300 affiliates.
Premiere Radio Networks is owned by Clear Channel
Communications, which will own 830 radio stations after its
acquisition of AMFM Inc. Kitchin and Fox Sports TV Group
Chair David Hill said that the network will "take advantage"
of FSN's rights deals with NBA, MLB and NHL teams to provide
"regional programming on radio, much as it does on
television." While final decisions on talent have not been
made, the network will include sports talk personality Tony
Bruno and Cris Collinsworth, but Barron reports that the
network will not include Premiere's "top sports personality,
Jim Rome." Premiere will "continue to syndicate and market
Rome's show under the Premiere Radio Networks umbrella
rather than Fox Sports Radio Network" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
3/15). But USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes that Rome will
be one of the hosts on the 24-hour network. Hill, on the
network: "I haven't heard ESPN Radio, but I imagine they're
a national service. Our regional service will fit nicely
with our regional cables" (USA TODAY, 3/15).
IF THEY CAN MAKE IT THERE: Kitchin said that he wants a
presence in the N.Y. market, but NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay
writes that potential stations "don't include" WFAN-AM or
WJWR-AM, the area's two all-sports stations (NEWSDAY, 3/15).
Kitchin is also interested in the Atlanta market: "Atlanta
is probably radio's hottest market in terms of demand for
listeners and advertising" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/15).
