If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-90 after a soul-crushing Browns loss, you know the sound. It’s the sound of collective catharsis. It is loud. It’s often angry. Sometimes, it’s surprisingly rational. Usually, it’s just 92.3 The Fan (WKRK-FM) booming through the speakers, serving as the heartbeat of a city that lives and dies with its sports teams. Cleveland is different. We don't just "watch" sports here; we obsess over the depth chart of the backup offensive line in mid-July. That’s why Cleveland sports radio The Fan isn't just a station—it’s a 24/7 town square for the most passionate (and stressed out) fans in the country.
The Shift from Rock to Talk
It's weird to think about now, but 92.3 wasn't always the home of sports. Older listeners remember it as "92.3 Extreme Radio" or the alternative rock station that played Nirvana and Pearl Jam on loop. Then, in August 2011, CBS Radio (now Audacy) flipped the switch. People thought they were crazy. Cleveland already had WKNR 850 AM, the "ESPN Cleveland" powerhouse with deep roots. But The Fan had an advantage: the FM dial. Crystal clear signal. No AM static. No fading out when you drove under a bridge.
The station launched with a lineup that felt fresh. They brought in Kevin Kiley and Ken Carman. They snagged Bull and Fox from other markets or local slots. It was a gamble that paid off because it tapped into a younger demographic that was tired of the "old school" AM format. Today, it's the dominant force in the market. If you’re talking Cleveland sports, you’re likely listening to The Fan.
Ken Carman and the Morning Grind
The morning show is the engine. Ken Carman and Anthony Lima have this chemistry that’s hard to fake. Ken is the "voice of the fan"—a guy from Canton who sounds like he could be your cousin sitting at the end of the bar. Lima is the professional antagonist. He asks the annoying questions. He pokes the bear. It works.
They don't just talk about scores. They talk about the feeling of being a Clevelander. They understand that being a Browns fan is a burden we all share. When the team blew that lead to the Jets in 2022? The morning show the next day was a therapy session. Ken’s "rants" are legendary because they aren't scripted; they are the raw, unpolished frustration of a guy who actually cares. That’s the secret sauce of Cleveland sports radio The Fan. It feels authentic because the people behind the mic aren't just reading stats. They're hurting with us.
The Midday Transition and the "Bull and Fox" Legacy
For years, the afternoon was defined by Adam "The Bull" Gerstenhaber and Dustin Fox. It was the classic "New York loudmouth meets former Buckeye pro" dynamic. When Bull left in 2022, it felt like the end of an era. Honestly, people were worried. You can’t just replace that kind of energy. But the station pivoted, bringing in Nick Wilson to pair with Fox.
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Dustin Fox brings the "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust) that Google loves, even if he’s just talking into a microphone. He played the game. He won a National Championship at Ohio State. He played in the NFL. When he says a cornerback blew a coverage, he isn't guessing. He knows. That technical insight balances out the emotional speculation that fills the rest of the broadcast day.
Why 92.3 The Fan Wins the Ratings War
It isn't just about the personalities. It’s about the access. The Fan is the flagship station for the Cleveland Browns. That is massive. In this town, the Browns are the sun, and every other sport is just a planet orbiting them. Even when the Guardians are in a playoff hunt or the Cavs are making moves in free agency, the Browns dominate the airwaves.
Having the official broadcast rights means they get the coaches. They get the players. They get the "inside" info that the AM station sometimes struggles to match. Plus, they’ve embraced the digital shift. They aren't just on your radio. They’re on the Audacy app. They’re on Twitch. They’re clipping segments for Twitter (X) within minutes of them happening.
The "Afternoon Drive" Battle
The 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM slot is the battleground. Currently, The Next Level or whatever iteration of afternoon talk is running has to compete with the heavy hitters. This is where the station either keeps you in your car or loses you to a podcast. The current landscape involves a mix of rotating guests and heavy hitter hosts like Jonathan Peterlin, who often handles the evening shift with a level of solo-hosting skill that’s rare in the industry. Solo hosting is hard. Try talking to a wall for four hours and making it interesting. Peterlin does it by being incredibly prepared and slightly eccentric.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cleveland Sports Radio
A lot of outsiders think Cleveland sports radio is just people complaining. "Why are they so negative?" "Why do they hate their teams?"
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That's a shallow take.
If we didn't care, we wouldn't call. The phone lines at Cleveland sports radio The Fan are constantly full because the passion is there. It’s not "hate." It’s a high standard. After decades of "The Drive," "The Fumble," and 0-16, the fans have earned the right to be skeptical. The hosts reflect that. They aren't cheerleaders. If the Browns front office makes a questionable trade, the station will rip them for it. That honesty builds trust. You know you aren't being sold a corporate line.
The Digital Frontier: Podcasts and Streaming
The traditional radio model is dying, right? Not really. It’s just evolving. The Fan has leaned hard into the podcasting world. Every show is chopped up and uploaded almost instantly. If you missed Ken Carman’s opening monologue at 6:00 AM because you were actually sleeping like a normal human, you can find it by 9:00 AM.
They also have "The Kevin Jones Podcast" or various niche shows that dive deeper into the Guardians or Cavs than the main airwaves might allow during the height of football season. This multi-platform approach is why they stay relevant. They are wherever the fans are.
Real Talk: The Challenges Ahead
It’s not all sunshine and high ratings. The station faces real pressure from national outlets and independent creators. Why listen to local radio when you can listen to a national NFL podcast?
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The answer is "locality."
A national podcaster doesn't know what it’s like to walk down Euclid Avenue in January. They don't know the specific pain of a Cleveland municipal tax. Cleveland sports radio The Fan survives because it is hyper-local. They talk about the local high school scores. They talk about the weather. They talk about the best places to get a bratwurst at the Muni Lot. That’s the moat that protects them from the "big" national media companies.
Actionable Ways to Engage with The Fan
If you're new to the area or just starting to tune in, here is how you actually get the most out of the station without getting overwhelmed by the noise:
- Download the Audacy App: Stop trying to find the signal on your drive to Columbus or down to Akron. The stream is high-quality and includes a "rewind" feature that is a lifesaver if you missed a segment.
- Follow the Producers: Sometimes the best content isn't from the hosts. The producers like "Casper" or "B-Dot" (and others over the years) often provide the best behind-the-scenes look at the station's culture on social media.
- Don't Call Just to Yell: If you want to get on the air, have a specific point. The screeners are ruthless. If you call up and say "The Browns suck," you're getting hung up on. If you call up and say "The Browns suck because their RPO blocking scheme is failing against a 3-4 defense," you might get a five-minute segment.
- Listen During the Off-Season: This is when the real "theatre of the mind" happens. When there's no actual news, the hosts get creative. Some of the funniest, most human moments on the station happen in the "dead" months of June and July.
- Check the Twitch Stream: Seeing the hosts' faces and their reactions to callers adds a whole different layer to the experience. You realize just how much work goes into the production side—the board ops, the timing, the ad breaks.
Cleveland sports radio is a chaotic, beautiful, frustrating mess—much like the teams it covers. But as long as there’s a kid in Northeast Ohio dreaming of a Super Bowl parade, there will be a radio station at 92.3 FM documenting every single step of the journey. Whether you're a die-hard caller or a "long-time listener, first-time caller" type, the station remains the definitive voice of the 216.
To stay truly updated, set your presets, follow the local beat writers who frequently guest on the shows (like Mary Kay Cabot or Tony Grossi), and don't be afraid to disagree with the hosts. That’s what they’re there for. They provide the spark; we provide the fire.