Two XTRAs Merging Into One (November 2, 2002)

In what could be a sign of the times, Clear Channel is folding one San Diego radio property into one of its Los Angeles radio properties, namely, XTRA Sports 690's hosts and programming will be folded into that of Fox Sports 1150 up in Smell A land.

San Diego will no longer be the headquarters of the largest and most popular all-sports radio station in Southern California.

Well "f--k a doodle doo", as some of the soon to be pink-slipped employees at "Cheap" Channel San Diego might be saying when they find out that they're surplus and no longer needed in the radio market.

According to the North County Times, Clear Channel Radio executive Kevin McCarthy on Thursday night confirmed a merger of XTRA (690 AM) and Los Angeles' moribund KXTA (1150 AM).

The merger, which would take place in January, is designed to boost ratings and advertising sales in the Los Angeles area, where sports talk radio has failed miserably. Programming would be simulcast on both stations.

So what will be happening to the on-air hosts at the two XTRA's? One upside is that Jim Rome's radio show, which is live in Los Angeles, and tape delayed in San Diego, could possibly be on both stations live once again from 9am until noon or in another time period.

All of XTRA 690's on-air hosts that are being retained, except one which would still be based in San Diego (Lee Hamilton), would move to Los Angeles. The staff running the shows would be pared down accordingly, reassigned to other CC properties, or let go by Clear Channel.

Hamilton hosted XTRA's first sports talk show in 1987 when the station was known as XTRA Gold. There were several format changes before the all-sports format was born in October 1990.

The North County Times says that KXTA now runs Fox Radio programming. One theory has XTRA picking up Fox's Tony Bruno for the mornings but keeping "The Loose Cannons" --- Steve Hartman and Bill Werndl --- and Jim Rome. The Cannons and Rome would work late mornings or early afternoon shifts. Lee Hamilton would continue in his 4-8 p.m. time period. The night show could fall to XTRA's John Kentera with a much more national slant.

The San Diego Union suggests that Lee Hamilton's popular afternoon show will continue from San Diego, likely from 3-7 p.m., but the remainder of the operation will be based in L.A. The rest of the programming lineup has not been determined except for Jim Rome. After airing on a four-hour delay in San Diego for the past three years, Rome's syndicated show will be live from 9 a.m. to noon. Sources said Tony Bruno's morning show, currently on 1150-AM, will continue from 5-9 a.m., but McCarthy would not confirm that. As for XTRA's other on-air talent, sources said the "Loose Cannons" show with Steve Hartman and Bill Werndl will be considered strongly for the noon-3 p.m. slot, and that Scott Kaplan and Billy Ray Smith, who host the "Vast Morning Wasteland," might be retained. It's considered unlikely that John Kentera, who began hosting a prep show at XTRA in 1991 and currently handles nights, will have a show at the new station, sources said.

The two XTRAs have taken a regional approach to sports to best serve the interests of their respective radio markets. How will the one XTRA do that for both in the San Diego and Los Angeles Outlands? Surely, the tastes for sports must differ. Surely enough, San Diego has an interest in the Los Angeles LAKERS, not their former NBA team The Clippers, now based in L.A. San Diegans follow the Dodgers, whether they like to root for them or to root for the other team to beat them. Los Angeles follows the Oakland Raiders and to an extent the San Diego Chargers. San Diego is cold on hockey (The Ducks from Anaheim on 690 produced ice cold ratings last year). Would taking about Los Angeles hockey turn off the San Diegans here? Does Los Angeles really care about the low-rated Padres? Do they prefer the Chargers over their former home team The Raiders? We'll have to wait and see.

It would seem natural that the programming would focus more heavily on teams in the larger L.A. market, especially if nearly all the on-air personnel is based there.

Clear Channel officials met with the Padres about extending the team's contract on KOGO (600 AM). There had been talk of the Padres moving to XTRA, but that will not happen now.

XTRA currently carries San Diego State football and basketball. KXTA carries UCLA and the Clippers. The Lakers are on KLAC (570 AM) from Los Angeles, another Clear Channel station. McCarthy said Clear Channel would hold discussions "to do the best we can to do right by each (property) ... The most compelling content is going to prevail." XTRA Los Angeles recently lost the rights to the Los Angeles Dodgers, which are moving over to KFWB-980, owned and run by Infinity Broadcasting.

Advertisers were hesitant to consider XTRA anything more than a San Diego station despite its reach into L.A., McCarthy said. With the simulcast, ratings for 690 and 1150 will be identical in L.A., and "buyers will have to acknowledge that as complete coverage" of the larger market, he said. In other words, Clear Channel will be able to charge the going rate for advertising in L.A. rather than San Diego.

The Reaction: From the U-T: XTRA staffers were told of the decision in a series of meetings yesterday. They were told not to talk to reporters, but several spoke on the condition of anonymity. "This is unbelievable that 690 is gone," said one. "San Diego just lost their sports station. It's the end of an era."

From sdradio.net: As the news broke, the staff was told not to talk with the media, including SDRadio. As the day wore on, Email filled SDR's box today. "I can't believe it. I'm here, doing what I do best, and soon, I'll be another person out of the radio biz looking for a job!" said one staff memeber to me. "It's a shame: Here Noble built one of the largest sports stations in the WORLD, and now, it's being dismantled in favor of Los Angeles," wrote another. "We'll be out on the street ringing the Salvation Army bell by December 1," the staff member said. In all cases, the email requested that the name not be used, so they can finish out their time.

What About ESPN Radio 800

The change could be good news for ESPN Radio 800, which began broadcasting national programming here in July. Dave Palet, director of operations and programming for the station, expressed regret for the XTRA employees who could be losing their jobs but said his station could serve advertisers who only want to pay San Diego rates.

"Our biggest problem is our signal (only 1,000 watts compared to XTRA's 77,000) and we're working on that daily," Palet said. "We hope to have local shows on as soon as possible."

The signal hole from am 1150 has been a problem for listeners in parts of Orange County, where XTRA 690 can still be heard there. Likewise, there are places where XTRA 690 can't be heard up north. By creating a simulcast, XTRA will get credit for ratings in the L.A. market.

XEMMM's AM 800 signal very much stops once you hit Camp Pendleton when Disney-owned KABC 790 next door on the dial spills into the weak 800 channel slot. Maybe the two ESPN Radio stations could combine operations themselves.

sdradio.com says that XEMMM/ESPN 800 can focus on San Diego, give San Diego sport advertisers a reasonable ad rate, and have quality programming from ESPN Radio. Now is the time for programming chief Dave Palet to pitch and bring on Jeff Dotseth and partnering up in a prime-time daytime talkshow. It'll give local fans an outlet; and San Diego county a voice in sports. The move should be made NOW. (XEMMM's nighttime signal is hectic at best, hence the hint at a day-time talk show. Station officials at ESPN 800 have told SDR that the Mexico-based ownership is working with the broadcast officials in Mexico and the U.S. to increase range and power.).

In some areas at night, people in the unincorporated county parts can get El Paso's AM 800 XEROK better than the 800 from Tijuana.

Earlier this year, we reported on KSPN in Los Angeles, currently on AM 1110, moves to 710 AM for better reception, and Radio Disney, KDIS 710, moves to 1110 AM. 710 AM will be the new home of the World Series MLB Champion the Anahiem Angels. Disney owns the Angels, Mighty Ducks, ESPN Radio, KSPN, KDIS, KABC, and KLOS-FM. Their baseball team simply walked to Disneyland after they won the World Series Sunday; their team also walked Barry Bonds...back to San Francisco!