Legendary LA radio station axes news show leaving 1M listeners in the dark
KNX 97.1 FM, a popular Los Angeles news station with over 1 million listeners, will rebrand as 97.1 The Fan on May 11, 2026, shifting to a 24/7 sports format. The change reflects Audacy's strategy to expand its sports radio presence in Los Angeles despite the lack of current live play-by-play broadcast rights. While the FM simulcast ends, KNX news content will continue on AM 1070 and digital platforms.
- ▪KNX 97.1 FM will rebrand as 97.1 The Fan on May 11, 2026, becoming the first FM all-sports station in Los Angeles.
- ▪The new station will offer live, local weekday sports programming but will not initially have rights to broadcast games for major LA teams.
- ▪KNX news will continue on AM 1070 and through digital platforms, with Audacy promising increased local content output.
- ▪Audacy cited declining ad revenue in traditional media and growth opportunities in sports broadcasting as key reasons for the format shift.
- ▪The KNX FM simulcast had grown its audience by over 25% since launching in December 2021.
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Metro Legendary LA radio station ends popular simulcast to pave the way for new sports station By Brian Gallagher Published April 28, 2026, 6:28 p.m. ET A beloved FM radio news station that boasted over 1 million listeners will be undergoing a drastic rebrand starting in May. The Audacy-owned KNX, which broadcasts at 97.1 FM, will be rebranded as the sports-centric The Fan, starting on May 11, according to a press release. The new station will be the, “first-ever FM all-sports audio brand in Los Angeles history,” covering the region’s professional and college sports teams, “including the market’s only all-live, local weekday sports lineup.” 5 The Audacy-owned KNX, which broadcasts at 97.1 FM, will be rebranded as the sports-centric The Fan, starting on May 11, according to a press…
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