ESPN Audio has reached a long-term LMA with Cumulus which calls for Cumulus to program its ESPN Radio Dallas’ KESN-FM. The station will keep the ESPN name and ESPN’s national programming as part of a long-term affiliation agreement. In addition, ESPN Deportes Radio Dallas 1540 AM will now be programmed by Deportes Media and will retain the ESPN Deportes Radio moniker. ESPN/Disney will continue to own KESN, which is a Class C licensed to Allen, TX on 103.3 with 98 kW @ 1,988’. The primary contour comes in from the north, gets a little over half of the metro.
The Cumulus Media LMA will take effect upon the closing of the pending sale of KTDK-FM, while the Deportes Media affiliation agreement will take effect on 9/1. Cumulus is in the process of spinning its Sports Talk KTDK Sanger/Dallas, TX “The Ticket” to Media Services Group broker Bill Whitley under the license name Whitley Media for only $100 until he can sell it on the open market and pay Cumulus the full amount–minus commissions and fees. KTDK is a Class C3 on 104.1 MHz, but it’s a rimshotter to the far NW of the market. It was being used to broaden the distribution of that format’s anchor station 25-KW, KTCK-AM.
“ESPN Audio is always evaluating business options and opportunities, while continuing to serve sports fans,” said Traug Keller, ESPN SVP/production business divisions. “These two moves are smart for us in the Dallas market as we grow the audio business and draw on the strengths of Cumulus. Sports fans will continue to have access to the best national and local programming that ESPN Radio Dallas and ESPN Deportes Radio Dallas have to offer.”
In addition to Mike & Mike and The Herd with Colin Cowherd, other ESPN national talk programming will be offered as will the preeminent play by play lineup of NBA, MLB, NFL, college football including the BCS championship and much more. ESPN Radio Dallas is also the home of Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks broadcasts and surrounding programming.
The ESPN Deportes Radio programming lineup in Dallas will remain the same, highlighted by the comprehensive lineup of live events, including Texas Rangers baseball, and the news and information content offered across ESPN Deportes Radio network, including Raza Deportiva, the number one morning Spanish-language sports show; and Jorge Ramos y Su Banda, the daily soccer program simulcast on television.
RBR-TVBR observation: Most folks thought Cumulus would be buying another stick in the market to take “The Ticket” on FM over to after KTDK-FM was sold. While that still may happen, it now seems less likely.
