New York sports fans are a different breed. We're loud, we're impatient, and we usually have a strong opinion about why the backup quarterback should be starting. For over a decade, 98.7 ESPN Radio New York was the place where those arguments happened at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday. But if you’ve tried tuning your FM dial to 98.7 lately, you’ve probably noticed something is different. The signal is gone. The voices are still there, mostly, but the way we listen to them has undergone a massive, slightly confusing shift that signals the end of an era for local broadcasting.
It's weird.
For years, WEPN-FM was the primary challenger to WFAN’s dominance. It was the "classy" alternative, backed by the massive corporate engine of Disney and ESPN. Then, on August 31, 2024, the lights went out on the FM signal. Good Karma Brands, which operates the station, decided to let the lease on the 98.7 frequency expire. It was a business move that felt like a breakup to thousands of commuters who just wanted to hear Michael Kay complain about the Yankees' hitting approach while stuck in Lincoln Tunnel traffic.
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The Big Frequency Gamble
Why would a station just give up its spot on the FM dial? Money. Honestly, it always comes down to the bottom line. The lease for the 98.7 frequency—owned by Emmis Communications—was reportedly costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $12.5 million a year. That’s a lot of 30-second spots for local plumbers and sportsbooks.
The executives at Good Karma Brands looked at the data and realized something: people aren't turning a physical knob anymore. Most of the audience was already listening via the ESPN New York app, smart speakers, or on the 880 AM signal (which they began leasing from Audacy). By dropping the FM signal, they saved a fortune while betting that the "Pinstripe Empire" and "The Michael Kay Show" fans would follow them into the digital wilderness.
It was a gutsy play. Some call it forward-thinking. Others think it’s the beginning of the end for local sports talk as a cultural powerhouse. When you lose that "drive-by" listener—the person who just happens to be scanning the dial and stops because they hear a familiar name—you lose a certain kind of magic.
Where the Voices Landed
If you’re looking for the lineup, it hasn’t vanished into thin air. You can still find the heavy hitters, just not at the same spot on the dial.
- The Michael Kay Show: Still the flagship. Kay, Don La Greca, and Peter Rosenberg are the backbone of the brand. They are still fighting the good fight against WFAN's afternoon drive.
- DiPietro & Rothenberg: Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg remain the morning staples. Their chemistry is basically the only thing getting some people through the morning commute without a second cup of coffee.
- Bart & Hahn: Bart Scott and Alan Hahn bring the pro-athlete perspective and the gritty New York basketball/football talk that the city craves.
They're on the app. They're on 880 AM. They're on your Alexa. But they aren't on 98.7 FM. That frequency now belongs to a totally different format, leaving a "dead air" feeling for those of us who grew up with the FM sports revolution.
The War With WFAN
You can’t talk about 98.7 ESPN Radio New York without talking about "The Fan." It’s the Yankees vs. Mets of the airwaves. For a long time, ESPN New York was the underdog. They tried everything to chip away at the Mike Francesa dynasty, and eventually, they did make inroads. When Michael Kay finally beat Francesa in the ratings, it was a seismic shift in the New York media landscape.
But WFAN has something ESPN doesn't: a permanent home on both 101.9 FM and 660 AM. By retreating from FM, ESPN has essentially conceded the "low-friction" listener to WFAN. If you’re in a rental car or an old truck with no Bluetooth, you’re listening to the Fan. Period.
ESPN is banking on the "high-intent" listener. They want the person who is willing to open an app or seek out an AM signal. It’s a move toward a niche, loyal audience rather than a broad, accidental one. Whether that can sustain the high production costs of New York sports media is the $12 million question.
The Digital Pivot is Real
Think about how you consumed media today. You probably checked a social feed, maybe listened to a podcast, or streamed music. The "appointment listening" of 1995 is dead.
98.7 ESPN Radio New York isn't just a radio station anymore; it’s a content house. They’re leaning into podcasts. They’re leaning into YouTube. They’re leaning into "The Michael Kay Show" being a television product on the YES Network as much as a radio show. This isn't just a New York thing, either. ESPN has been doing this across the country, selling off or changing the management of their local stations in Los Angeles and Chicago too.
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Misconceptions About the "Death" of the Station
There’s a common myth that 98.7 ESPN Radio New York went "bust." It didn't.
It’s actually quite profitable if you remove a $12 million-a-year rent check. The move was a surgical strike on overhead. However, the loss of prestige is real. In the media world, FM is the penthouse; AM is the basement. Moving back to the AM dial feels like a regression to some, even if the digital numbers tell a different story.
Another misconception is that the talent left. Aside from the usual roster churn that happens in every radio market, the core team stayed. They just moved houses. The challenge for Good Karma Brands is making sure the "moving trucks" didn't lose half the furniture along the way. Ratings have fluctuated since the move, and the transition hasn't been perfectly smooth. Transitioning an older demographic to an app-based listening experience is like trying to teach a cat to knit—it’s possible, but there’s going to be a lot of scratching and confusion.
Why It Still Matters
Despite the frequency change, 98.7 ESPN Radio New York (or ESPN New York 880, as it's becoming known) remains a vital part of the city's sports ecosystem.
Why? Because they provide the counter-narrative. WFAN can be very "Old New York." ESPN brings a slightly more national, polished, and diverse set of voices. Peter Rosenberg brings a hip-hop and wrestling background that you just don't get anywhere else on sports talk radio. Rick DiPietro brings the perspective of a former #1 overall pick who actually lived the pressure of being a New York athlete.
They also hold the radio rights to some of the biggest teams. When the Knicks are in the playoffs and the Garden is rocking, you want to hear it on the ESPN airwaves. The broadcast quality and the surrounding coverage provide a level of depth that a generic national broadcast just can't match.
How to Listen Now (The Practical Stuff)
If you're still hunting for the signal, stop looking for 98.7. It's gone. Here is the reality of how you stay connected to the shows you like:
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- The 880 AM Signal: This is your best bet for the car if you don't have a modern infotainment system. It’s got a massive reach, covering parts of the Tri-State area that the FM signal sometimes struggled to hit.
- The ESPN New York App: This is clearly where they want you. It’s free, and it has the cleanest audio.
- Smart Speakers: Just say "Play ESPN New York." It usually works, though sometimes it tries to give you the national feed. Make sure to specify "New York."
- The Website: ESPNNewYork.com still has a live player.
- Podcasts: Almost every show is sliced into segments and uploaded within an hour of airing. If you missed the "One on One" or a specific interview with a GM, it's there.
Actionable Insights for the Displaced Listener
If you’re feeling frustrated by the move, you aren't alone. But the reality is that the "radio" part of sports radio is fading. To get the most out of the current iteration of the station, you have to embrace the digital side.
- Download the app but turn off the generic notifications. Only keep the "Breaking News" or "Live Show" alerts so your phone doesn't buzz every time a backup infielder gets traded in the AL West.
- Check the YouTube channel. A lot of the best banter happens during the commercial breaks of the TV simulcast, and those clips often find their way to social media.
- Don't sleep on the 880 AM signal. If you’re driving through the canyons of Manhattan, AM sometimes penetrates better than the old FM signal did anyway.
The era of 98.7 FM as a sports powerhouse is in the rearview mirror. It was a great run that lasted over a decade, but the business of sports media moved on. The "New York" part of the station is still alive and well—it’s just floating in the cloud now instead of beaming off an antenna on top of the Empire State Building. Adjust your presets, get the app, and get used to the new normal. The arguments about the Jets' offensive line aren't going anywhere; they're just on a different wave.
Next Steps for Fans:
Ensure your vehicle's "HD Radio" settings are updated, as many newer cars can still pull a high-quality digital version of the 880 signal that sounds nearly as good as FM. If you are a die-hard listener, bookmark the specific "Podcenter" page for your favorite show to bypass the clutter of the main ESPN site.