Courtesy St. Louis Post Dispatch

(May 7, 2010) Changes are a given in the local sports-talk radio business, where shuffling of lineups is about as common as Rams losses. But major shake-ups are possible at the top that could lead to new ownership at KSLG (1380 AM) and/or KFNS (590 AM), with sources saying there is the possibility of a format change for at least one of them, and a remote chance of a consolidation of the outlets.

"It's a convoluted mess,'' a source said. "All of it could fall through, multiple different options could go through or there could be nothing at the end of it.''

It has created a buzz at the stations.

"I wake up and don't know who is going to own the station in a month,'' said KSLG morning drive-time show co-host Tim McKernan, adding that he already has an offer for the program to move to KFNS should he want to leave. "It's a crazy time.''

Most indications are that a major change would be more likely at KSLG than KFNS. That's because although KFNS still is owned by Atlanta-based Big League Broadcasting, it is operated by Grand Slam Sports, a local company headed by Dave Greene and James Oelklaus. Greene said part of the agreement, which runs through 2012, gives Grand Slam the option to buy the station and said it is close to finalizing a deal.

"I believe it will be done very soon," Greene said. "It's moving right along. I have the legal bills to prove just how active we are."

So it appears that there is a better chance of an outsider gaining control of KSLG, which is owned by Utah-based Simmons Media and run locally by John Helmkamp.

Multiple individuals and groups have been said to be interested in buying into AM sports talk, with Entertainment Media Trust, better known as Insane Broadcasting Company, mentioned frequently. The fact it recently bought the two local stations that had been airing syndicated sports programming — KRFT (1190 AM) and WFFX (1490 AM) — helps fuel those flames. But Bob Romanik, who says he is a consultant for Insane Broadcasting, pooh-poohs the talk of that company's involvement.

"I think we're trying to buy the White House," he said sarcastically. "That's next on the list.'' He said he has spoken with management at the sports stations, but about broad topics.

"I'm discussing radio in general, what everybody can do to help each other out,'' he said. ''That was my big thing, trying to make a concerted effort to keep local radio alive until the economy'' recovers.

He did acknowledge that Insane Broadcasting, which is run by his son, always has its sights on a good business opportunity.

"I look at every station that may be on the market,'' he said, adding, "If you can't steal 'em, why get 'em?''

Insane Broadcasting dropped the sports format at both the jock-talk stations it acquired, but Romanik said the company isn't anti-sports.

He said KRFT and WFFX weren't bought "to knock sports off the air. If you can make money with sheep baaing back and forth and if we can market it and people like to listen to sheep baa, I'll have the sheep-baaingest station in the country.''

Although Romanik emphatically plays down his interest in being involved with KFNS or KSLG, if he ever did become a part of St. Louis sports-talk radio that would add a colorful twist far different from the many corporate types who have run such stations over the years. He's a former strip club owner, East St. Louis homicide detective and Washington Park police chief who has served time in federal prison and bills himself as "The Grim Reaper of Radio" at KZQZ (1430 AM), one of Insanity's stations.

"I'm the most opinionated guy I know," he has said.

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