KZYM 1230 AM the Fan, an ESPN radio affiliate, will be switching formats. The Zimmer Radio Inc. owned operation will know be known as AM 1230 The Talker, switching to a talk radio format.

Oddly, or ironically, Zimmer already had a talk radio station in Joplin on KZRG 1310 AM.

Calls to Chad Elliott, Operation Manager and Director of Programming for the Zimmer Radio Group in Joplin have not been returned on two occasions, but the company has already switched over 1230 the Fan’s website promoting the new talk radio station, which starts on Aug. 3.

The station will have radio shows of Rick and Bubba, Dave Ramsey, Dr. Laura, John Gibson and Dennis Miller.

With no return calls from Zimmer, it is hard to figure out why an area chalk full of sports fans will no longer have a sports station. According to stationratings.com, from Fall 2007 to Spring 2008, there has actually been a slight increase in listeners.

Also, the affects on Joplin High School and St. Louis Cardinals games are not known yet.

However, Missouri Southern play-by-play announcer Kevin Greim did comment on this story and said the Lions basketball and football will remain on 1230 AM.

“It’s not much of a change, it will be the same station, it just won’t be a sports talk format,” Greim said. “I don’t think for our perspective it matters, a sports talk format would be great, but it’s more about the fans knowing where to tune in.”

More on the station conversion will be addressed if Zimmer returns a phone call, but as of now, it seems like most of the sports fans of ESPN will have to find a new outlet to listen to their favorite shows.