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A Rocky Start For Kevin Slaten and The New KFNS

Jason Barrett

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Throughout his career, Kevin Slaten has found himself in the middle of numerous controversies. Some of those issues have been larger than others.

The afternoon drive host for 590 The Fan (KFNS-AM) was back in the middle of turmoil  once again, but this time it was with new station ownership.

Local businessmen Randy Markel and Scott Gertken are attempting to resuscitate 590 The Fan (KFNS-AM) after it experienced a couple of rough years under previous ownership. The early reviews on their approach are positive from those involved.

But this past week, the station unveiled its revamped lineup, except the first day didn’t go as planned thanks to Slaten not hosting his afternoon show on Monday and Tuesday.

Prior to Kevin’s Monday show, there was an argument between him and Markel. Randy was considering hiring a behind-the-scenes producer that Slaten despises. After the conversation escalated, it led to Slaten not appearing on his program for the first 2 days of the week. He did return however for Wednesday and Thursday’s shows.

For now, Slaten and Markel chalk it up to a big misunderstanding and claim that the matter has been settled. But if the past is any indication, this may not be the last time that Kevin and station management have issues to sort through.

Credit to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who originally published this article

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Arizona Sports Extends Deal With Coyotes

“We look forward to an exciting season delivering Coyotes coverage on-air, online and on the Arizona Sports app.”

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Arizona Sports Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes fans can keep their presets the same. The team has extended its relationship with Bonneville in Phoenix.

The new deal is a one-year extension to keep the Coyotes on the company’s two Phoenix-area radio stations, 98.7 Arizona Sports and ESPN 620 AM and on the statiations’ website and app.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Arizona Coyotes and the Meruelo Group,” Bonneville Phoenix senior vice president and market manager Ryan Hatch said in a statement. “We look forward to an exciting season delivering Coyotes coverage on-air, online and on the Arizona Sports app.”

As part of the extension, Burns & Gambo will welcome Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez and general manager Bill Armstrong for weekly segments. Wolfe & Luke will be joined weekly by head coach André Tourigny.

“We are very pleased to extend our partnership with Bonneville Phoenix and are thrilled to have Arizona Sports 98.7 and ESPN 620 broadcast all Coyotes games this season,” Gutierrez added. “There is a tremendous amount of excitement about our team, and we look forward to Arizona Sports 98.7, the Valley’s sports leader, providing our fans with outstanding Coyotes coverage all season long.”

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670 The Score Auctioning Off Producer Experiences for Charity

“The proceeds go to help patients suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia.”

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There is internal competition brewing at 670 The Score. A charity auction has items to entice bidders that will get the winner inside the station’s Chicago studios. One is a producer for a day role in afternoons with Parkins & Spiegel. The other is the same role in middays with Bernstein & Holmes.

The auction benefits Laugh Your Face Off, a charity event started by WGN sports anchor and comedian Pat Tomasulo. The proceeds go to help patients suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia.

On Thursday, Tomasulo joined Parkins & Spiegel to talk about the dueling auctions and stoke some competitive fire between the two shows.

“I will be hurt if theirs goes for more money,” Danny Parkins admitted.

Both packages include the chance for the winner to sit on on their show’s pre-show meeting and contribute to show prep. When the show goes on the air, they will then spend an hour in the producers’ studio observing.

Chris Tannehill, Parkins & Spiegel’s sound engineer, promised that if their offering earned more than Bernstein & Holmes, he would even let the winner do his job and contribute sound drops to the show. Executive producer Shane Riordan noted that the winner can also screen phone calls for the show.

“That sounds like 1500 to 2 Gs for [Bernstein & Holmes],” Parkins said. “Ours feels north of 3 Gs. I mean beers! You’re not having beers for breakfast.”

The bidding for both prizes opened at $1500. Offers can be made until 9 pm on Saturday.

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99.1 The Sports Animal to Coordinate First Tennessee Vols Spanish Broadcast

“We have explored various models to increase Spanish broadcasts across several of our sports in future years and felt this will be a great test run to start the process and expand our Vol Nation footprint.”

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99.1 THE SPORTS ANIMAL in Knoxville

The University of Tennessee will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the first ever Spanish-language broadcast of Volunteer football. Fans will be able to hear Carlos Lopez, Juan Reveiz and Brian Rice call the game on the athletic department’s website UTSports.com.

While there will be no terrestrial radio distribution of the broadcast, the school’s broadcast partners are assisting. Learfield and flagship station 99.1 The Sports Animal in Knoxville will coordinate and produce.

“This unique opportunity to continue to grow our fan base is exciting,” athletics director Danny White said in a press release. “We have explored various models to increase Spanish broadcasts across several of our sports in future years and felt this will be a great test run to start the process and expand our Vol Nation footprint.”

Both Lopez and Reveiz are South American-born kickers with ties to the state of Tennessee. Lopez played high school football in the state and his college football career included stops at Carson-Newman and Middle Tennessee State. Reveiz twice earned All-SEC honors as a Vols kicker. He then enjoyed an eleven-year NFL career that included stints in Miami, San Diego and Minnesota.

Reveiz also has a lot of radio experience. He has hosted shows locally in Knoxville with 99.1 The Sports Animal and with the now-defunct AM 850 Rocky Top Sports.

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