The Shockwave: 5 Things You Need To Know About The New Era Of 610 Sports Kansas City After The Massive FM Move

The landscape of Kansas City sports talk radio has undergone a monumental transformation, rendering the traditional "610 Sports Kansas City" identity a relic of the past, even as its programming thrives on a new frequency. As of December 16, 2025, the heart of the station's popular, locally focused content—the shows, the hosts, and the topical authority—now resides firmly on the FM dial, a move that sent shockwaves through the local media market and solidified the station's dominance in covering the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and the wider sports scene. This dramatic shift wasn't merely a rebrand; it was a strategic maneuver by owner Audacy to transition its premier sports content from the aging AM frequency to a more accessible and higher-quality FM signal, creating "96.5 The Fan." The original KCSP 610 AM frequency still exists, but its role has been redefined, making it crucial for every Kansas City sports fan to understand where their favorite hosts and breaking news updates now live.

The Seismic Shift: Why 610 Sports Moved to the FM Dial

The biggest story surrounding 610 Sports Kansas City is the major frequency change that occurred in August 2024, when the station’s programming officially migrated from the 610 AM dial (KCSP-AM) to the 96.5 FM signal, rebranding as "96.5 The Fan" (KFNZ-FM). This move was a long-term goal realized by Program Director Steven Spector, who had publicly stated his desire to move the station to the FM band to compete more effectively in the modern radio market.

The Strategic Advantage of FM

The transition from AM to FM was a game-changer for Kansas City sports talk radio. AM signals, while historically important, often suffer from poor sound quality and signal interference, especially in urban environments. The move to 96.5 FM provided several key advantages:

• Superior Audio Quality: FM offers a cleaner, higher-fidelity listening experience, which is essential for modern sports broadcasts and talk shows.
• Wider Accessibility: Many listeners, particularly younger demographics, primarily tune into FM radio, making the content more accessible in cars and on mobile devices.
• Market Dominance: By occupying the FM band, 96.5 The Fan became Kansas City’s first full-time FM Sports station, giving it a significant competitive edge over other local sports media outlets.

The 96.5 FM frequency was previously home to the alternative rock station "ALT 96.5" (also known as "The Buzz"), which was discontinued to make way for the new sports format.

The New Voice of KC Sports: Current Lineup and Key Hosts

While the frequency changed, the core talent and topical authority that made 610 Sports a powerhouse remained intact, simply moving to the new 96.5 The Fan branding. The station continues to deliver comprehensive coverage of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and Sporting Kansas City, featuring a lineup of experienced and passionate local hosts.

Morning & Mid-Day Powerhouses

The station’s lineup is structured to dominate the key drive-time and mid-day slots, providing a full day of sports analysis, breaking news, and listener interaction:

• Morning Show: Longtime host Josh Klingler continues to anchor the morning drive show, providing in-depth analysis and interviews, particularly during the critical Kansas City Chiefs season. Klingler is a familiar voice, often serving as part of the Chiefs Radio Network team.
• Cody & Gold: The mid-day slot is commanded by "Cody & Gold," hosted by Cody Tapp and Alex Gold. This show has quickly established itself as a must-listen for the passionate Kansas City fan base, known for their strong local knowledge and engaging dynamic.

The Drive and Evening Programming

The afternoon drive, a crucial time for commuting listeners, is anchored by "The Drive," a show that features host Carrington Harrison. Harrison is a respected voice in the market, often discussing major topics surrounding the Chiefs, including player development and coaching decisions by figures like Andy Reid. The hosts consistently cover LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords and entities crucial to the Kansas City sports conversation, such as:

• Patrick Mahomes’ performance and injury updates.
• Travis Kelce’s usage and development.
• The latest on the Kansas City Royals’ roster changes and farm system.
• Sporting Kansas City (SKC) match analysis and club news.

The KC Sports Landscape: Chiefs, Royals, and the Future of KCSP-AM

While 96.5 The Fan is the new flagship for the sports talk programming, the original 610 AM frequency (KCSP) has not completely disappeared from the Kansas City sports ecosystem; it has simply taken on a secondary, yet still important, role.

The Role of The Fan AM 610

The original KCSP 610 AM frequency, now often referred to as "The Fan AM 610," serves as a complementary channel. Its primary function is to carry overflow sports programming and, significantly, to provide exclusive coverage for select Kansas City Royals games. This dual-frequency approach allows Audacy to maximize its ability to broadcast live sports, ensuring that conflicts between different team schedules—such as a Chiefs pre-game show overlapping with a Royals broadcast—can be managed seamlessly. This flexibility is vital in a city with such a deep passion for its major league teams.

Topical Authority: The Chiefs and Royals Connection

The station’s deep connection to the Kansas City Chiefs remains its strongest asset. The hosts and contributors are fully integrated into the Chiefs media landscape, providing real-time analysis, locker room access, and critical commentary on every game, from the regular season to the playoffs. For example, discussions frequently revolve around the team's strategic decisions, the development of young players like Xavier Worthy, and the overall trajectory of the season. The station also maintains robust coverage of the Kansas City Royals, serving as a key source for baseball news, trade rumors, and post-game reaction. This comprehensive, year-round coverage across the two major professional sports teams grants the station unparalleled topical authority in the Kansas City market.

4 Key Takeaways for the Dedicated KC Sports Fan

For the dedicated Kansas City sports enthusiast, understanding the evolution of 610 Sports is essential to staying current with the latest news and commentary. The change represents a technological upgrade that enhances the listener experience while preserving the local focus.

1. The Main Programming is on FM: All major local sports talk shows—including the morning show, Cody & Gold, and The Drive—are now exclusively on 96.5 The Fan (KFNZ-FM).
2. 610 AM is a Secondary Outlet: The original KCSP 610 AM frequency is still active, primarily used for overflow programming and specific live sports broadcasts, such as select Kansas City Royals games.
3. The Hosts are Unchanged: The familiar voices that built the 610 Sports brand, such as Josh Klingler, Cody Tapp, Alex Gold, and Carrington Harrison, are the core talent on 96.5 The Fan.
4. The Coverage is Fresher: The move to the FM dial was a strategic decision to deliver a better, clearer audio product, ensuring that breaking news and analysis of the Chiefs, Royals, and Sporting Kansas City are delivered with superior quality.

In conclusion, the "610 Sports Kansas City" of the past has successfully evolved into "96.5 The Fan," a modern, high-quality sports talk station that continues to serve as the definitive source for local sports news. This strategic FM migration ensures the station's dominance and relevance for years to come, keeping Kansas City fans connected to their beloved teams with the most up-to-date analysis and commentary.