The "increasingly competitive" Denver sports talk radio scene is "shaking yet again with the addition of a long-expected power player: Altitude, the Stan Kroenke-owned regional media outlet," according to Daniel Petty of the DENVER POST. Altitude Radio will "debut on Friday -- the day of the Rockies' home opener" -- on KRWZ-AM. KSE Radio Ventures, a division of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, "purchased the frequency from Entercom Communications in December." Mile High Sports Radio President James Merilatt will "serve as program manager while maintaining his role" as owner of independent radio station KDCO-AM, though he will "step back from day-to-day operations." Kroenke and Mile High Sports have "worked together" since '10. The station's lineup "includes a stable of other top Denver sports radio talent." The network will "broadcast play-by-play of its owner's teams" -- the Nuggets, Avalanche, Rapids and the NLL Colorado Mammoth. Asked how pointed hosts will be in their criticism of the bigger three teams, all of which have repeatedly missed the playoffs in recent years, Merilatt said, "We're going to be taking the same approach with every single team. We're free to be critical, so long as it's fair. It's going to be the same for the Rockies and Broncos. We're not going to make the criticisms personal." Petty notes Kroenke in October "purchased three FM radio stations from Wilks Broadcasting, which could open the door for Altitude to jump or simulcast" (DENVER POST, 4/5).
