Revisiting the Sports Radio Landscape (Or, Another Excuse to Mention Krystal Fernandez in This Blog)
Let's start with this item from the Daily News (interesting, isn't it?) from April 29, 2005:
In a strangely worded press release sent out this week by Fox Sports Radio, 570-AM general manager Don Martin announced that "The Morning Extravaganza" show from 5-8 a.m. weekdays featuring Van Earl Wright, Andrew Siciliano and Krystal Fernandez would be replaced by a nonsports entertainment show syndicated out of Chicago and hosted by Mancow Muller starting May 20.
The press release started by acknowledging that the "Extravaganza" has increased its ratings in Los Angeles by 22 percent since Wright joined last October, replacing Tony Bruno, but Martin continues: "There are times when a radio station chooses to focus its programming in a new direction."
Hence, "Mancow's Morning Madhouse," a sort-of Don Imus kind of program, bumps the "Extravaganza," which will continue to air on Fox's Antelope Valley affiliate KAVL-AM (610) and XM Satellite channel 142. Says Wright: "All of us are proud that we've been able to dramatically improve our ratings, but Don Martin, who strongly encouraged me to make the switch from TV to radio for this job, apparently sees a better opportunity with syndicated 'guy talk' that gives zero attention to sports. As our listeners know, we've only had fun with sports but devoted a large part of our national show to the Southern California sports scene."
So, for all of those who thought that Tony Bruno's departure would kill the Extravaganza - you were wrong, and you were right. Ratings have increased 22 percent, but KLAC is ceding the morning sports radio audience to...Tony Bruno.
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