Washington is most news-oriented city in the country, and it has the most successful all news radio station in the country in WTOP (FM 103.5). It not only is the area ratings leader, it leads the country in the most important statistic — billing — bringing in a staggering $57 million in 2011 according Radio Ink Magazine. More people get their sports news each morning from WTOP sports director Dave Johnson than from sports outlets ESPN 980 and 106.7 the Fan combined. So sports in an all news world is important in Washington.
CBS Radio knows that, and it is hoping to get into the action by launching its all news competitor to WTOP. WNEW (FM 99.1) will debut Jan. 19. It will count on its sister station 106.7 the Fan to supply its sports reports.
Chris Kinard, the Fan’s program director, talked about the alliance.
How will the WNEW-106.7 the Fan relationship work?
Kinard » “Sports coverage on 99.1 WNEW will be provided by the staff of 106.7 the Fan. We will have sports news on WNEW at [25 minutes] and [55 minutes] after the hour and will continue to have sports updates on 106.7 the Fan at the top of the hour and 30 minutes past the hour.”
Who can fans expect to hear on the air?
Kinard » “We have not announced the full staff yet and will add at least one more name soon. I can tell you that Frank Hanrahan has joined us full time as morning anchor for both stations. His first report will be at 5:25 on WNEW, and he’ll appear twice per hour on both stations until noon. We will have local sports news around the clock on both stations. Grant Paulsen continues as our Redskins beat reporter and will be heard on both stations. Sky Kerstein also continues in his role as Capitals beat reporter. And I’m very excited that Liz Drabick will be expanding her duties. Liz will still be heard some doing updates, but her primary role will be covering the Wizards and Nationals as our beat reporter. Having our own full-time coverage of each team will really give us a strong news brand and the ability to break sports news.”
How extensive will the sports coverage be?
Kinard » “We will cover D.C. sports 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will have reporters at every practice and every game. We will have a strong sports news brand on both WNEW and the Fan.”
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!, on washingtonexaminer.com.
