The partnership was announced live and on the air Tuesday by KROD announcer Steve Kaplowitz during his Sports Talk show.

"We're thrilled with the opportunity to represent sports in El Paso," KROD station manager Brad Dubow said. "It really fit into the package that we are trying to bring together."

Shows such as Sports Talk, Crunch Time with Mando "The Monster" Medina, Friday Night High School Football and the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns football networks will remain on KROD. They will be joined by popular ESPN shows Mike & Mike, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Scott Van Pelt Show and The Doug Gottlieb Show.

KROD also will carry ESPN sports broadcasts of Major League Baseball, NBA and next season's college bowl games.

"We are returning to an all-sports format that we once had," Kaplowitz announced on his show.

The move will result in current KROD programs, such as Glen Beck, Dave Ramsey, Dennis Miller and other non-sports shows being dropped.

ESPN Radio's Mike Golic, former professional football player and personality on the Mike & Mike Show, was on hand for the announcement. Golic was impressed that KROD had a weekly live show with Dallas.

"It's fantastic how the Cowboys fly in ever week," Golic said.

Golic, a former Notre Dame player, is also in town to watch the Fighting Irish and his two sons play Miami on Friday in the 77th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl. He added that he was pleased with the new tie to KROD.

"What a great way to get your name out there than to be with ESPN," Golic said. "The four letters do a lot to get you recognized."

ESPN was previously affiliated with Clear Channel Radio's KHEY-AM 1380. KROD is owned by Townsquare Media of El Paso, which includes KLAQ-FM 95.5 and KSII-FM 93.1. Dubow said this move will give the station an identity and brand.

"We felt it was a good way to position the station," he said. "There is only one Mike & Mike and now it is on 600."