Jim Rome to stay on KEPN 1600 (The Zone) in Denver, will also be on KFKA 1310 AM Ft. Collins/Greeley after his switch to CBS Sports Radio Network on January 2nd

[Rob]

After his switch to the CBS Sports Radio Network on January 2nd, the Jim Rome Show will be staying on KEPN 1600 AM according to this list of affiliates published today. His show will also be KFKA 1310 AM Ft. Collins-Greeley. This may be a sign that KFKA will be going to an all sports format.

http://www.jimromestations.com/

[DenverDiamondJack]

It is not surprising there is no full-time CBS-Sports Radio Network affiliate in the Denver metro area as the full network launch is mere days away. Rome may be about the only CBS-Sports Radio Network on-air personality Denver listeners can hear over-the-air - although other personalities at that network lack his national presence and stature - for quite some time ahead, unless jarring changes occur. The CBS-Sports Radio Network is all but exclusively carried on CBS and Cumulus stations across the US; Denver lacks either of those networks. One of just a couple exceptions nationally: in Buffalo, CBS-Sports Radio Network is carried on an Entercom station, WWKB 1510 AM. Unless CBS or Cumulus decide to enter the Denver market and purchase the stations of a competitor, it seems unlikely the CBS-Sports Network will enter the Denver market on any kind of even a part-time, let alone a full-time basis, anytime soon. CBS does own KCNC Channel 4 in Denver, so they do have a presence here in the television media. It can be envisioned CBS could expand their presence here given that, but there is no sign that is a possibility at this time. With Denver radio struggling overall with ratings and revenue due to new technologies being favored by listeners under the age of 35, the moment may be favorable for a CBS move as sports is a strong programming format here and will continue to be. Denver has gone through a relatively long period of quiet on the ownership/affiliate front for much of the last decade; thus a new player in this market may be overdue to shake things up. One other element on the more long-term horizon is the future of the debt-entrenched Clear Channel. Scuttlebutt has it Clear Channel will rid itself of some of its poorer performing stations in a number of markets to get cash before their monstrous loan obligations become due in 2014, so that could provide an opening for CBS to enter into the Denver radio market. But at this point that is just speculation. Nevertheless, expect CBS Sports Radio to be aggressive in acquiring live sports broadcasting rights, which would create demand for that programming in Denver which we could be without with should CBS not opt to place a full-time CBS-Sports Radio Network station here. 2013 could be interesting in a number of respects, especially in this regard concerning the possible future of CBS Sports Radio Network and the Denver radio market.

[Rob]

I think that CBS Sports Radio will be expanding to other stations beyond just CBS/Cumulus-owned stations. They have a pretty good line-up and sports radio is one of the hottest formats right now. It a matter of contracts and seeing if their new shows will get ratings. Once they launch, you may see more of their programs on KEPN 1600 AM, while KKFN 104.3 FM will carry more of the Fox Sports stuff...