The static on 98.7 FM caught a lot of people off guard last summer. For years, if you were sitting in Manhattan traffic or grabbing a slice in Astoria, that frequency was the heartbeat of the city's sports soul. It was the home of the "Kay Show," the place where Giants fans vented after a brutal Sunday, and where the Knicks’ perennial hope lived. Then, the signal just... changed. If you tune in today, you aren't hearing Don La Greca losing his mind over a bad trade. You're hearing something else entirely.
Basically, the era of ESPN Sports Radio New York existing as a massive, powerhouse FM signal is over. But that doesn't mean the station is dead. Far from it. It’s just living in a world where "the dial" matters a whole lot less than the app on your phone.
The Big FM Divorce: Why Good Old 98.7 Went Away
It’s all about the money. Honestly, that’s the short version. For about twelve years, ESPN (via Disney) leased the 98.7 FM signal from a company called Emmis Communications. It was a massive deal, worth millions annually. But in a post-pandemic world where everyone has a podcast and Bluetooth in their car, paying eight figures just to rent a signal started to look like a bad bet.
In late 2023, the news dropped that Good Karma Brands, which operates the station, wouldn't be renewing that lease. On August 31, 2024, the plug was pulled.
The move was a shock to the system for older listeners. You’ve probably got an uncle who still tries to find the game on the FM dial and gets frustrated when he hears contemporary Christian music or whatever else has filled the void. It’s a shift in how New York consumes its misery and triumph. The station moved back to its roots on 1050 AM—a signal that, let’s be real, can be a bit fuzzy if you’re standing too close to a microwave or driving through a tunnel.
Who is Still Standing? The Lineup Shuffle
Even with the frequency change, the voices stayed. That’s the important part. If you’re looking for ESPN Sports Radio New York, you’re looking for the personalities.
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Michael Kay is still the kingpin here. Despite constant rumors about retirement or him wanting to just stick to Yankees play-by-play on YES, he’s still the anchor. His show with Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg remains the flagship. It’s weirdly comforting. They fight like a family at Thanksgiving, which is exactly what New Yorkers want.
- The Morning Show: DiPietro & Rothenberg. Dave DiPietro, the former Islanders goalie, brings that "pro athlete who actually knows how to talk" energy. Rick Rothenberg is the high-octane fan. They’ve managed to build a massive following that arguably rivals the legendary "Boomer and Gio" over at WFAN.
- The Midday Gap: This is where things get interesting. National programming often bleeds in here, but the local flavor is what keeps the lights on.
- The Afternoon Drive: As mentioned, the Kay Show is the heavy hitter. They have to compete with Mike Francesa’s ghost and the new guard at "The Fan," and honestly, the rivalry is what makes it fun.
The station's identity is currently a mix of "we’re a digital powerhouse" and "please remember we’re on 1050 AM." It’s a tough tightrope to walk.
The Digital Pivot: It’s All About the App
If you want to hear ESPN Sports Radio New York clearly nowadays, you don't use a radio. You use the ESPN New York App. This isn't just a corporate talking point; it's a survival tactic.
By ditching the FM lease, Good Karma Brands saved a fortune. They’re betting that you, the listener, are tech-savvy enough to tap a screen rather than turn a knob. They’ve gone all-in on "The App." They track "starts," "average time spent listening," and "digital reach." To them, a listener in a car on the Jersey Turnpike using the app is just as valuable as someone using an old Sony Walkman. Maybe more so, because the data is better.
The station also relies heavily on its YouTube presence. Watching Don La Greca’s face turn a specific shade of purple during a rant is half the fun. You can't get that on 1050 AM.
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The Local vs. National Tug-of-War
One thing that has always plagued ESPN Sports Radio New York is the "National" problem. Because it’s an ESPN affiliate, there’s always pressure to carry national shows like Unsportsmanlike. But New Yorkers? We’re provincial. We don't want to hear about the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line for three hours unless they’re playing the Giants this week.
The station has had to fight for its right to stay local. When they go local, the ratings usually spike. When they switch to national feeds at night or during certain windows, the "New York-ness" fades. This is the eternal struggle of the station. It’s a New York heart beating inside a Bristol, Connecticut, body.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Move
A lot of folks think the station is "failing" because it left FM. That’s a massive misconception.
Think of it like this: If you’re paying $10,000 a month to rent a storefront on 5th Avenue, but 90% of your customers are buying from your website, why keep the store? You move to a smaller warehouse (1050 AM) and double down on the website. That’s the business logic. They didn't leave 98.7 because nobody was listening; they left because the rent was too high for the era of the smartphone.
The WFAN Rivalry: Still the Biggest Game in Town
You can't talk about ESPN Sports Radio New York without mentioning "The Fan." WFAN is the older brother, the one who started the whole "sports talk" thing back in the 80s. For decades, it was the undisputed champ.
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When ESPN launched 1050 (and later 98.7), it was an insurgency. It was the "corporate" ESPN trying to take down the "local" WFAN. The battle for the "Afternoon Drive" crown between Michael Kay and Mike Francesa was legendary. Even though Francesa is gone and the lineups have changed on both sides, the heat is still there. Fans are loyal. You’re either a "Fan" person or an "ESPN" person.
Interestingly, ESPN New York has always felt a bit more... "produced." WFAN feels like a guy yelling from a barstool. Both have their charms.
How to Actually Listen Without Getting a Headache
If you’re frustrated by the 1050 AM signal—which, let’s be honest, can sound like it’s coming from the bottom of a well depending on where you are in the Bronx—you have options.
- Smart Speakers: Just say "Play ESPN New York." It usually defaults to the digital stream.
- The App: The ESPN New York app is actually pretty stable. It doesn't drain battery as much as it used to.
- DAB/HD Radio: If your car has HD radio, you can often find the digital secondary channels that carry the feed in high fidelity.
- Podcasts: Almost every local show is chopped up into podcast segments about an hour after they air.
The Future of Sports Talk in the City
Is the era of "Live Radio" ending? Sorta.
The "live" part isn't going anywhere. People want to react to a trade the minute it happens. They want to call in and scream about the Jets’ quarterback situation in real-time. But the "Radio" part—the actual waves in the air—is becoming a legacy technology.
ESPN Sports Radio New York is the canary in the coal mine. They are the first major New York station to say, "We don't need a premium FM signal to exist." If they succeed over the next three years, expect others to follow. Imagine a world where the FM dial is just for music again, and all the talk is moved to the cloud.
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated Listener
- Audit Your Presets: Delete 98.7 from your car's favorites. It’s gone. It’s not coming back. Replace it with 1050 AM if you must, but honestly, just set up your phone to auto-connect.
- Get the Dedicated App: Don't just use the general ESPN app. The "ESPN New York" specific app has better local integration and fewer hoops to jump through to get to the live NYC stream.
- Follow the "Dropping the Gloves" Moments: If you miss a show, follow their social media clips. The best parts of the Kay Show or DiPietro & Rothenberg are usually captured in 2-minute video bursts on X (Twitter) or YouTube.
- Check the Event Calendar: The station does a ton of live remotes. From beach bashes to "Hard Knocks" viewing parties, they are trying to be more "in person" to compensate for being "less on the dial." It's a great way to meet the hosts and realize that Don La Greca is actually a very nice guy when he’s not yelling about the Rangers.
- Support Local Sponsors: If you want local sports talk to stay local, pay attention to the guys buying the ads. It’s the only way we keep New York voices on the air instead of a national feed from Bristol.