Red Rock Radio has announced the flip of Hot AC “Nu 92” WWAX Hermantown/Duluth to Sports “92.1 The Fan” will take place on Monday, March 2. As expected WWAX will simulcast the programming currently heard on 1490 KQDS with most originating from iHeartMedia’s 100.3 KFXN-FM Minneapolis.
Red Rock Radio is proud to unveil the first-ever FM sports radio station in the Duluth-Superior market. Effective March 2, 2015, WWAX-FM 92.1 will be known as “92.1 The Fan.”
92.1 The Fan will continue to carry programming from KFXN-FM 100.3 in Minneapolis, highlighted by the Powertrip Morning Show (5:30am-9am weekdays), Paul Allen (9am-noon), “The Common Man” Dan Cole (noon-3pm), and Dan Barreiro (3pm-6:30pm).
The Fan will also lead the way in local sports coverage. Starting with the March 6-7 series at Western Michigan, 92.1 The Fan will be Duluth’s radio home of UMD Bulldog men’s hockey. UMD football will move from KQDS-AM 1490 to 92.1 The Fan starting this fall.
92.1 The Fan will also carry a selection of high school sports, including football and hockey, along with Minnesota Wild hockey.
Shawn Skramstad, President of Red Rock Radio says, “This is a major commitment to sports in the Northland. We are very excited to bring a variety of sports products to the FM band and have great confidence in the success of 92.1 The Fan.”
Original Report 2/6: Red Rock Radio will be bringing Sports Talk to the FM band in Duluth, MN/Superior, WI.
The programming of Sports “1490 The Fan” KQDS will soon replace Hot AC “Nu 92” 92.1 WWAX Hermantown. 921TheFan.com was registered by Red Rock on Tuesday.
KQDS is currently the market leading Sports station in the Duluth/Superior market as its 2.7 share in the Fall 2014 Nielsen Audio ratings is well ahead of Townsquare Media’s “ESPN 560” WEBC’s 1.4 and Midwest’s unrated “CBS Sports 970” WGEE. WWAX’s Hot AC format was at a 1.8 share.
Very surprised ESPN on 560 doesn’t do much better, especially when you compare the signals of 560 vs 1490.
No matter what the format, Duluth is a very under-radioed market, with 4 major non-com’s in the commercial band.
For a region of 125,000 in the Upper Midwest, Duluth has most every mainstream format. Duluth is a diary market so the non-coms are not listed in the ratings. Plus there’s a consolidator that doesn’t subscribe.
AM 1490 does okay for a Class C because hockey is a big deal in Minnesota.
Might WWAX-92.1 also become Duluth’s new radio home of the Twins, Vikings, and Timnberwolves??
KQDS-FM has the Vikings. WDSM has the Green Bay Packers. KDAL has University of Minnesota football/men’s basketball along with the Twins.