KRBZ (ALT 96.5)/KC Flipping To Sports

• Audacy announced plans to launch a new FM Sports-Talk station in Kansas City — KFNZ (96.5 The Fan) will debut on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6am CT. Programming previously carried on KCSP-AM (610 Sports Radio) will now be heard on 96.5 The Fan — marking Kansas City’s first full-time FM Sports station. KCSP-AM will change calls to KFNZ-AM and rebrand as The Fan AM 610.

Now for the bad news — 96.5 The Fan will replace KRBZ (ALT 96.5). As a result, longtime ALT 96.5 afternoon drive show, Church of Lazlo, starring Lazlo, Slimfast and Snowcone, will move to afternoon drive on KQRC (98.9 The Rock), starting August 8. Church of Lazlo will continue to simulcast on ALT 96.5 until August 14 at 6pm CT, when the station will sign off, and 96.5 The Fan will launch at 6am the next morning.

96.5 The Fan will be the new radio flagship of the back-to-back defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, and will air all pre, regular and postseason games. Chiefs games will also be simulcast on WDAF (106.5 The Wolf) for the 2024 season. 96.5 The Fan will also serve as the play-by-play home of the Kansas City Royals, Kansas State University and University of Missouri men’s basketball and football.

96.5 The Fan will launch with the following shows — 6-10am: Fescoe and Dusty with Bob Fescoe and Dusty Likins; 10am-2pm: Cody & Gold with Cody Tapp and Alex Gold; 2-6pm: The Drive with Carrington Harrison. 96.5 The Fan’s weekday programming and play-by-play content will also be heard on the new Fan AM 610, with select Royals games airing exclusively on The Fan AM 610.

“Kansas City has the most passionate sports fans in the country, and they deserve a one-stop destination for premium sports content year-round,” said Roxanne Marati, SVP/Market Manager, Audacy Kansas City. “This is an exciting time for KC sports, and our exclusive partnership with the World Champion Chiefs, local content and engaging personalities with unrivaled sports knowledge will fuel fandom, bring listeners closer to the action and keep them connected to their favorite teams.”