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Industry murmurs hint that Clear Channel’s forthcoming all-sports FM station could be among the contenders. This week, Clear Channel, the national radio company whose local properties include former Carolina Panthers flagship WRFX-FM, disclosed plans to start an all-sports format on its lower-powered 98.7 frequency by Aug. 28.

Jeff Kent, program director of the station clumsily labeled by its owner as The New Fox Sports FM 98.7, said any deal with the NBA Hornets “would be speculation at this point. We would be very interested in discussing (a contract with the team).”

The Hornets, last heard on WFNZ-AM, have made no commitments for 2014-15, the franchise’s first season with the Hornets name since 2002. Through last season, the Charlotte team was known as the Bobcats.

“We haven’t decided what direction we’re going in for next season yet,” Pete Guelli, Hornets chief marketing officer, told me Wednesday.

What can be ruled out, according to industry sources, is WBT-AM. The news-talk station served as the Hornets’ flagship from 1988 through 2002. When the Bobcats arrived two years later, WBT passed on the NBA. The two sides discussed a Hornets-WBT pairing this summer, but talks have ended, industry sources told me this week.

That leaves WFNZ, the CBS all-sports AM station, as a possibility, along with the Clear Channel newcomer, all-sports ESPN 730 AM and not much else. Perhaps the Hornets hope to attract another FM station, but such deals are increasingly rare. Sports teams rarely command rights fees on radio anymore, in many cases settling for a share of advertising sales and in others buying some or all of the air time needed for the play-by-play broadcasts and pre- and post-game shows.

amcoolio wrote:I'm not sure how WFNZ still exists. You can't even get reception in Huntersville.

A new FM, high power sports station for Charlotte would be ideal. Crazy how pathetic our sports coverage is locally compared to other cities.

Nowadays I just have bluetooth on my car radio and stream ESPN Radio from my iPhone.

BlackOutBobcat wrote:Yeah sometimes I can get FNZ out here in Burlington. Their problem is even though it's available to listen to, the content tends to make it unlistenable.

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amcoolio wrote:At least Primetime with the Pacman you could listen to. Nowadays I swear its a 35/25 format - in an radio hour, 35 minutes of program and 25 minutes of advertising. Maybe even more advertising. Its unbearable.