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ESPN New York’s ownership is changing hands, but a listener probably won’t notice much.
For fans of the station, that means programs like “The Michael Kay Show” and “DiPietro and Rothenberg” will continue, alongside ESPN’s national offerings, like “Keyshawn, JWill & Max.”
For those that want to see ESPN New York finally go all local to compete head-to-head with WFAN, that’s not happening.
When the FCC approves the deal early next year, Good Karma Brands will take over the ESPN New York 98.7 FM signal, while assuming ownership of 1050 AM in New York, as well as ESPN LA (710 AM) and ESPN Chicago (1000 AM).
The two sides have been talking about this deal for 19 months. Now, Good Karma Brands will handle the advertising and marketing sides of the business, according to sources.
While personalities like Kay and DiPietro will continue as ESPN employees, Disney will drop, between New York and Los Angeles, around 40 non-programming folks off the books, transferring them to Good Karma Brands.
Good Karma is expected to add sales people in New York. ESPN will still have a lead voice on what is on the air.
The deal is a little complicated, but there is one long-term sidebar that is ticking. ESPN will still continue to pay the around 2 ¹/₂ years left on its lease with Emmis Communications for the rights to the 98.7 FM signal, which, according to sources, is for nearly $13 million a year. That is a hefty price tag.
When that deal is up, Good Karma will have to re-up with Emmis for 98.7 or find a new home for the station. That’s an issue for 2024.
For now, the move will also likely mean a new local app for ESPN New York. Currently, 98.7 FM is lost in a nearly impossible to find maize on ESPN’s app. Good Karma, in Chicago, made its own app for its station. The same is expected for 98.7.
On Monday, in a call with ESPN New York employees, Good Karma confirmed details of The Post reports of the impending deal and said it will be able to answer questions after the FCC approval that it hopes to have in February, according to sources. It later announced the deal in a press release.
As for the ESPN New York-WFAN ratings game, that will likely continue. While Good Karma doesn’t subscribe to Nielsen Audio in some markets — like Cleveland — it tends to in bigger markets, such as Chicago.
For now, the expectation is ESPN New York’s schedule should stay virtually the same with DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg on from 5-8 a.m., followed by national shows from 8 a.m. until noon when the hybrid national/local program featuring Bart Scott and Alan Hahn comes on. The Kay Show will be on in the afternoons with Chris Carlin at night and the combo of Larry Hardesty and Gordon Damer in the late-night slot.
While ESPN Radio still exists, its importance to Disney continues to wane. With podcasts, Spotify and SiriusXM among the competition, ESPN Radio is losing significance in Bristol, as well as with Disney, as both become even more focused on direct-to-consumer streaming.
Clicker Book Club
Papa Clicker has returned to his favorite sport, tennis, with a review of Christopher Clarey’s “The Master,” the biography of Roger Federer. The author follows the tennis great from his childhood to his current legendary status while describing his relationships with his wife, Mirka , family, his peers (including Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick), his support team (agents and coaches) and celebrities. Tennis fans, in particular, will enjoy this interesting study of this great player. It receives 4.2 out of 5 clickers.
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