A Change That Finally Makes Sense at XTRA

In its eight years of existence, the all-sports station that began as KIIS-AM (1150) and is now XTRA (1150 and 690), has made many changes.

There have been name changes, lineup changes, management changes, and a change in ownership. And there were plenty of odd moves along the way. The most recent: placing its programming on two frequencies.

Now comes a move that actually makes sense.

Beginning Feb. 3, XTRA’s all-sports lineup will be heard on 570. With the Lakers staying put, that means the team will be on a sports station.

“I think most sports fans are saying, ‘It’s about time,’ ” said Greg Ashlock, regional vice president for Clear Channel, the parent company of the stations involved in the moves. “The final piece to the puzzle is now in place.”

The switch has been in the works for some time. It was reported in this space in September that it was likely to happen.

UCLA will move to 570 as well, but the Clippers will remain on 1150.

KLAC’s pop music format will move to 690, and 1150 will have a new format, possibly talk.

Ashlock, joined by co-vice president Roy Laughlin, made the announcement at a staff meeting Thursday in the station’s new, modern studios in Burbank. It was actually more like a party. Laker girls were there, pizza and ice cream cake were served, and “KLAC 570” sweatshirts were handed out to employees.

Ashlock and Laughlin also announced that Don Martin, the station’s program director, would assume duties of station general manager. Martin came to XTRA from KOA in Denver two years ago.

“One thing I want to make clear is 570 is one of the most powerful radio signals in all of Southern California,” Martin said. “We will be loud and proud all the way from L.A. to San Diego.”

The current on-air lineup will remain the same.

One addition will be David Vassegh, the producer of the “McDonnell Douglas Show” on KSPN (710). He will join XTRA as an on-air reporter Jan. 24. Vassegh and Isaac Lowenkron will work on investigative projects.

Elsewhere, Bob Koontz, formerly director of sales for ABC Radio’s cluster of L.A. stations, has been promoted to station manager and general sales manager at KSPN, as well as sister station Radio Disney (1110).

Back to Tape Delays

Basketball purists may not like this, but Channel 9 has decided to return to tape-delaying Laker games played in the East. Five games, beginning Feb. 9 at New Jersey, will be shown delayed at 5:30 p.m.

But XTRA (570) will broadcast the games live.

Channel 9 is going back to tape-delays because of complaints from viewers who work 9-to-5 jobs, and also because of sagging ratings.

Moon Shots

Maybe the only way Randy Moss’ touchdown celebration last Sunday could have gotten more media attention is if he had actually pulled down his pants. The reaction over the moon has been over the top.

Moss could have defused a lot of the criticism had he explained in his postgame interview with Fox’s Chris Myers that Green Bay fans traditionally moon the opposing team’s bus.

CBS’ Phil Simms said, “I think if I would have known that, and if I was doing that game, it would have changed my reaction to it dramatically.”

As it was, Joe Buck and the Fox crew working the Vikings’ game at Green Bay blasted Moss, which was their prerogative. Minnesota Viking owner Red McCombs was out of line when he asked Fox to remove Buck from the broadcast team covering Sunday’s playoff game between the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.

“It’s like Fox asking McCombs not to play Moss this weekend,” Fox’s Cris Collinsworth said. “It was completely ridiculous.”

ESPN erred by not showing Moss’ stunt on its postgame shows Sunday night, and Fox should have shown replays of it during its game coverage.

ESPN production chief Mark Shapiro admitted his network made a mistake by talking about it without showing it.

“We got caught up in the reaction to this post-Janet Jackson conservative decision-making era,” Shapiro said.

Short Waves

FSN West will televise Matt Leinart’s news conference today at 2:30 p.m. ... Fox football commentator Tim Green will be the host of a new version of “A Current Affair” this spring. The syndicated half-hour show will be carried by Fox-owned stations. ... Stephen A. Smith will have his own afternoon show on ESPN2, “Quite Frankly,” beginning in June.

Avenger radio broadcasts, which will be moving to 570, will also be carried nationally on Sirius satellite radio. The Arena Football League team, which opens its season Jan. 30 at Las Vegas, has a new deal with Spanish-language KWKW (1330) to carry 10 games. ... Avenger owner Casey Wasserman’s media group has partnered with Grand Prix Entertainment to purchase American broadcast rights to four Formula One races and place them on CBS. The first of the four races is the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy April 24.

Dick Enberg, on loan from CBS, is working on ESPN2’s Australian Open tennis coverage, which begins Sunday. The assignment is his second for ESPN and completes a career Grand Slam for Enberg, who has worked tennis’ three other majors. ... A number of the Southern California’s best high school football players, including USC-bound quarterback Mark Sanchez of Mission Viejo, will be playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on NBC on Saturday at 10 a.m.