710 ESPN Expands Lineup

710 ESPN announced two new shows that will expand the opportunity for newer voices on the air while also providing some additional live, local content.

Seattle Sports at Night, up until now an occasional show hosted by producer Curtis Rogers, will air Monday to Thursday from 7-9pm, or immediately after live events that cross into the time slot.  Rogers will be joined by the station’s Seahawks Insider, Stacy Rost, and Jake Heaps, the former quarterback who already makes appearances across the station’s various shows.

Seattle Sports Saturday will air from 9am-noon.  The show will be co hosted by Lydia Cruz, a producer who also hosts the hour long lead in show to the morning drive Brock & Salk Show.  Joining Cruz will be Taylor Jacobs, who’s produced and done special assignments for the station and Rogers.  This show takes the place of the John Clayton show, which moves up an hour to 8am and runs until 9am.   While less air time for Clayton, he’s carried quite a load since he started his two hour mid morning show as part of 710’s regular programming.

Rogers gains the most air time in these moves, but it’s a plus for all of these folks to get the chance.  Using evening and weekend air time to give fresh voices an opportunity is not a new trend in sports radio, but it’s not done enough.  It’s relatively risk free for the station and a live, local show on the weeknights might stand a better chance of gaining some listeners who’d otherwise not be inclined to tune in to national programming.  And other listeners can catch up to these new shows via the podcasts.

Rival 950 KJR has at various times programmed weeknight and weekend shows.  We’ll see if these moves cause the station to reconsider its off hours lineup.  Whatever happens, more local shows is good for the Seattle sports fan.