SoCal’s Iconic Radio Station Is Finally Back!
The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio Celebrates 2nd Anniversary by adding NFL, Notre Dame and St. John Bosco football
Southern California, August 15 2022
Southern California’s sports radio leader, The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio, celebrates the 2nd Anniversary of going “on the air” by adding two NFL games every Sunday during the season, continuing with Notre
Dame football for the 3rd season in a row and adding St. John Bosco High School football.
“We launched this station in the middle of a pandemic with virtually no live sports being played on
August 17, 2020. It has been a long journey to get where we are two years later, but I am very happy
with the radio station we built from scratch,” stated operator, Bill Hagen. “We continue to add new
programming and talent while other stations keep cutting.”
The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio will air select St. John Bosco football on Fridays, all Notre Dame football games each Saturday and two NFL games each Sunday.
“Adding the NFL to 1090 was a no-brainer. The NFL is king, and it is yet another key and exclusive
building block for the station. We were very happy to sign for a third year with Notre Dame football as
well. The largest Notre Dame Alumni base is in southern California. Adding St. John Bosco High School
Football is another great local addition,” said Hagen. “In the last 6 months, we have become the only
ESPN Radio affiliate and brought “The Jim Rome Show” back to The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio. Now,
we add a ton of live football! I love our momentum!”
Rome Comes Home.
The Jim Rome Show, the longest running nationally-syndicated long-form sports talk program in America, is returning to its San Diego and Southern California roots starting today
Southern California, June 2, 2022
The Jim Rome Show, the longest running nationally syndicated long-form sports talk program in America, is returning to San Diego and Southern California at its new home, The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio, starting today. The show will air from 12-3 p.m. PT daily.
“You know the saying, “You can never go home again.”? Lie. I’m calling B.S. on that. You can. And I am! And I am hyped beyond belief for the opportunity. The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio is getting after it on the daily in San Diego and when Bill Hagen and Scott Kaplan asked me if I wanted to be part of this, I asked, “When the hell do we start?!” San Diego is where the Jungle really took hold. It’s where I met my wife. And where I experienced some of the greatest moments of my entire life. There is no better town, no better market and you absolutely CAN go home. And that’s what I plan on doing. And I can’t wait. Let’s do this!” said Jim Rome.
“If there’s any market where The Jim Rome Show belongs in this country, it’s right here where it all started in San Diego and Southern California,” said Bill Hagen of The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio. “When it comes to Jim Rome, you’re talking about one of the most iconic hosts in sports talk radio history and for “Clones” throughout Southern California there’s no better fit for The Jim Rome Show than right here at The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio.”
Rome has long been one of the most popular and consistent voices on radio. He began his sports talk radio career in the early 1990s as a weeknight host at San Diego’s all-sports station, XTRA Sports 690, the predecessor to The Mightier 1090. Early on, the show was nicknamed “The Jungle” by Rome and his loyal listeners. The Jungle later moved to middays in San Diego and Southern California and became known as The Jim Rome Show. It was first syndicated in 1996 from XTRA Sports 690.
The Jim Rome Show has been off the air in San Diego since February 2022. Its new home, The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio, is Southern California’s newest ESPN-Radio affiliated station. It has one of the strongest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for more than 80 years.
An inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2019, The Jim Rome Show is heard on more than 300 stations in North America. Throughout his daily three-hour show, Rome welcomes his loyal fans, known as Clones, to The Jungle, where he offers his views on the day’s latest sports headlines and interviews players, coaches, and prominent figures from across the world of sports.
A highly respected voice in the world of sports broadcasting, Rome is one of the leading opinion-makers of his generation. Best known for his aggressive, informed, rapid-fire dialogue, Rome has established himself as the top choice of athletes and fans for sports news and commentary beyond the scoreboard. In addition to his radio hosting role, Rome also serves as a commentator for the “NFL on CBS,” and he provides analysis and coverage for CBS Sports and CBSSports.com.
In addition to his extensive sports broadcasting career, Rome has made cameo appearances in several movies, including a role alongside Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey in “Two For The Money,” another alongside Adam Sandler in “The Longest Yard,” and one opposite Michael Jordan in “Space Jam.” Rome also appeared in a Blink 182 music video and on HBO’s series Arliss. He released “Welcome to the Jungle,” a CD featuring memorable sound bites from frequent callers and the hip music regularly played on his radio show.
The Mightier 1090am becomes ESPN Radio
affiliate in Southern California
Southern California, January 10, 2022
Southern California’s long-time sports leader, The Mightier 1090, is now even mightier as it becomes SoCal’s newest ESPN-affiliated radio station. Effective immediately, the station will now be known as The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio.
The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio, which just completed its second season broadcasting Notre Dame Football, will add ESPN Radio’s live NFL, MLB and NBA broadcasts, including Sunday Night Baseball, to its already impressive lineup.
The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio will also add two of ESPN’s top-rated talk shows to its daily queue:
Keyshawn, JWill and Max and #Greeny. Featuring Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman, Keyshawn, JWill and Max will air daily from 3-7 a.m. PT, and #Greeny, with Mike Greenberg, will follow from 7-9 a.m. PT. They’ll join a potent lineup at The Mightier 1090 that includes The Rich Eisen Show, Scott Kaplan’s Kaplan & Crew Show, The Arash Markazi Show and additional local and national shows.
“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time, and it’s incredibly satisfying to finally see it come to fruition just in time for the start of the new year,” said Bill Hagen, of The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio. “This is another very important step in us getting the Padres back home on 1090 as well.”
Scott McCarthy, vice president, ESPN Audio, added, “We’re thrilled to have The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio join our affiliate network in a key southern California market and provide fans with our can’t-miss national morning studio show lineup as well as a marquee live event schedule throughout the year.”
More information, along with the new and complete The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio lineup, including overnights and weekends, can be found at themightier1090.com.
About The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio – The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio has one of the strongest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for more than 80 years. For more information, visit themightier1090.com.
About ESPN Radio – ESPN Radio, which launched January 1, 1992, provides more than 9,000 hours of talk and event content annually, reaching more than 32 million listeners per week on approximately 500 stations – including more than 400 full-time affiliates and clearance in the top 25 markets. ESPN Radio national programming is also available on SiriusXM and via digital distributors Apple Music, iHeartRadio and TuneIn.
Notre Dame Football To Air On Southern
California’s The Mightier 1090AM
Southern California, September 2, 2021
Notre Dame Football is returning to the Southern California airwaves on The Mightier 1090am (XEPRS) via Skyview Networks. The Mightier 1090am will be the exclusive radio home for the entire 2021 season in Southern California starting on Sunday, September 5, 2021, against Florida State at 4:30pm PT.
“This is another big win for 1090. We are honored to have Notre Dame Football back on the big stick for another season. Most other stations are cutting and cutting, and we continue to add great programing,” said The Mightier 1090am’s Bill Hagen.
“We are pleased, once again, to bring the legacy and thrill of Notre Dame Football to Southern California with our partner, The Mightier 1090am,” said Steve Jones, President and COO of Skyview Networks. “While entering its 100th year on the radio this season, the excitement of another championship run will have Notre Dame alumni and fans tuning in coast to coast.”
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
The Mightier 1090am Launches
Two New Local Show
Southern California, August 19, 2021
Southern California’s iconic radio station, The Mightier 1090am, recently returned to the airwaves in August 2020 and today announced that they are launching another two new local shows.
The LA Football Show will debut on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 5pm. Listen in as USC great and NFL stud Frostee Rucker and LA Football Network founder Ryan Dyrud discuss the rich history, exciting present, and the bright future of Los Angeles Football. With the Rams, Chargers, USC, UCLA, SoCal Prep, and more, they keep you up to date and in the know on all things LA Football, bringing one-of-a-kind expert insight and analysis.
Host Ryan Dyrud is the founder and CEO of the LA Football Network. After living in Los Angeles for a decade, he realized that the airwaves, TV broadcasts, and print media were dominated by NBA and MLB talk, leaving football fans looking for obscure blogs and podcasts.
Co-Host Frostee Rucker is a two-time National Champion at the University of Southern California and a 13-year NFL Veteran. He grew up in Tustin, CA and played football at Tustin High School. He is still very active in Tustin and the Orange County community and is the founder of the Stay Ready Football Camp.
Silver & Black Tonight will debut on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 6pm. It is the longest running “all-Raiders” talk show having launched in 2018. The show is a mix of A-list national guests and the latest news out of Raider Nation covering one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises.
Host Scott Gulbransen is the founder and publisher of the all-Las Vegas sports news website VegasSportsToday.com and Silver and Black Today and covered the Raiders relocation to Las Vegas since 2017.
Co-Host Maurice "Moe" Moton has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and the entire NFL since 2014. Now, a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and Vegas Sports Today, he writes deep-dive articles on roster moves and news around the league and also provides insight on fantasy football decisions.
“We are very excited to add another two local shows to the station. While almost every other radio station in SoCal is cutting local shows, we keep adding and adding them to the lineup,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen.
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
The Mightier 1090am Celebrates
1st Anniversary Back On The Air
Southern California, August 17, 2021
Southern California’s iconic radio station, The Mightier 1090am, recently returned to the airwaves on August 17, 2020, and is celebrating one year back on the air today. It was a relaunch of the popular SoCal staple, The Mighty 1090am, right in the middle of a pandemic with no “live” sports. The new and improved The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for nearly 80 years.
The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio
legend Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing it is being on The Mightier 1090. I absolutely love San Diego. Everyone has done an incredible job making the station roar back to fruition. I know for a fact SportsGrid enjoys the partnership immensely. Continued success and dominance in Southern California is certain,” said Scott Ferrall, Host of the 1-3pm and 7-9pm Monday-Friday shows on The Mightier 1090am.
“What a year, it flew by. So proud of our team for keeping the show alive. Special thanks to the Great
Friends for their continued support. Shout out to the sponsors who believe in what we do! And to my partner Bill Hagen, who re-opens a sports radio station in the middle of a pandemic? Looking forward to our growth over the next year! 1090 is back,” said Scott Kaplan, Host of Kaplan & Crew on The Mightier 1090am Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm.
“This has been a crazy year to say the least. We launched 1090 in one of the most challenging business
environments in recent memory. We jumped over countless roadblocks and did what everyone said could not be done. Over 40 people have helped get The Mightier 1090 on the air and stay on the air, and I am incredibly thankful for each one of them!” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen.
The Mightier 1090am Launches
Another New Local Show
Southern California, June 10, 2021
Southern California’s historic radio station, The Mightier 1090am, recently returned to the airwaves last August, and today announced that they are launching another new local show, “The Charity Stripe” with Joshua Fisher, Alexander Tassopoulos and Nick Kreider. The show will air every Thursday at 6pm PT and start on Thursday, June 10, 2021.
Joshua Fisher isn’t your average sports fanatic. Though a die-hard Boston sports fan, Josh is down to talk any team…anytime…anywhere. He started The Charity stripe in his bedroom, under his blankets, only in his underwear. Since then, with the help of his fellow Longhorn co-hosts (Nick and Tass) Josh hasn’t looked back since, or worn underwear. Josh is a sports statistics junky, labeled “NFL Draft” savant, and former high school class-clown. Through days of studying the game, researching history, and talking sports at any given moment, Josh’s game really is knowing yours.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Alexander “Tass” Tassopoulos has been an avid sports fan and aficionado since he could walk. A decent athlete in his own right, Tass dabbled in basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball in high school and will constantly remind you that he “could’ve played college ball”. Known as the resident basketball expert, Tass brings much appreciated bounce to the three-headed monster that is the Charity Stripe. Just don’t bring up the 2011 NBA Championship around him or you’ll lose an hour listening to why “Dirk is the greatest, AND most loyal, player to ever walk the Earth”.
Nick “Nicky Snax” Kreider split time growing up in both San Diego and Georgetown, TX. As a three sport athlete in high school, Nick helped his football team get to the Texas state championship in Cowboy stadium. He doesn’t tell people, “I could’ve played in college” because he did play in college. In the fall of 2014, Nick walked on as a receiver to The University of Texas football team under coach Charlie Strong. His knowledge of the game comes from his days on the field and rooting for his Chargers. He is faithful to his San Diego Padres through and through each season, only to have his hopes and dreams crushed. Upon graduating with a degree in Advertising with a focus in sports media, Nick moved to LA to pursue a career in acting and sports talk. He gives a solid 7/10 on almost any impression you throw at him.
“Our listeners are going to love these guys. This is not your typical Sports Talk show and it’s a good fit with our non-traditional approach to broadcasting. I am very proud that we are adding yet another local show to our lineup,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen.
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
Kaplan & Crew Tonight TV show set to debut
on March 29 and air on Cox’s regional cable network YurView from San Diego to Santa Barbara
Southern California, March 25, 2021
Kaplan & Crew Tonight, a new one-hour nightly television show hosted by long-time Southern California sports radio personality Scott Kaplan, is set to debut on Cox Communications’ regional cable television network YurViewfrom San Diego to Santa Barbara starting next Monday, March 29.
Kaplan & Crew Tonight will be an extension of the Kaplan and Crew radio show that airs daily on The Mightier 1090(1090 AM) from 3-7 p.m. Kaplan’s co-hosts, John Browner and Alex Padilla, will be prominently featured as well on the new TV show. Viewers will have a chance to watch the two most-popular segments from that day’s radio show, along with additional features wrapped in.
Kaplan & Crew Tonight will air nightly on YurView from 7-8 p.m., and it will be available to viewers on Cox Contour Channel 4 and 1004 in San Diego and Santa Barbara, and on Channel 118 in Orange County and Palos Verdes. YurView is also available on Spectrum in San Diego on Channel 4. YurView is Cox Communications’ regional cable network available as part of the Cox Contour video lineup for households in San Diego, Orange County, Palos Verdes, and Santa Barbara, as well as Spectrum in San Diego
“The idea to do a TV show actually started before we put 1090 back on the air last year,” said Bill Hagen of The Mightier 1090. “Cable TV has a tremendous reach in SoCal and The Mightier 1090 is very excited to partner with Cox Media and YurView on this production. We will reach households throughout Southern California with this new show.” “And Scott Kaplan & Crew were the obvious choice to showcase the all new Mightier 1090. For nearly 20 years,Scott’s been a successful staple in Southern California media, and we expect that this new show will be another big hit as well,” added Hagen.
“Cox has a long history of carrying programming that is hyper local and highlights the people, places and events in our local communities, and we’re excited to bring the best of “Kaplan & Crew” to YurView for our customers,” said Sam Attisha, Senior Vice President and Region Manager for Cox Communications in California.
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
About The Mightier 1090am – The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for nearly 80 years.
The Mightier 1090am Announces Another New Local Show
Southern California, March 5, 2021
Southern California’s iconic radio station, The Mightier 1090am, recently returned to the airwaves last August, and today announced that they are launching another new local show, “The Race & Sports Radio Show with Felix Taverna.” The show will air every Saturday at 9am PT. The show will start on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Race & Sports Radio highlights all the major Thoroughbred Horse Racing and Sports action with a strong opinion on betting and wagering, with some of the best talking heads and opinions in the business.
Felix Taverna, Producer and Host of the show is known for his smooth and professional broadcasting style, humor and knowledge of Thoroughbred Horse Racing and his keen memory of sports and wagering platforms.
The program covers and reports from the major league venues of Del Mar, Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Gulfstream, Saratoga and wherever marquee races are being run, and bringing the Triple Crown Races (The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, The Belmont Stakes) to life.
Race & Sports Radio zeroes in on all the latest Sports action including College & Professional Football and Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Golf, NASCAR and a variety of other sports with a flavorful approach to betting and wagering.
“Here we go! We love adding yet another local show to our ever expanding lineup,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen. “We continue to grow each and every month in bringing this historic radio station back to Southern California.”
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
About The Mightier 1090am – The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for nearly 80 years.
The Mightier 1090am Announces Another New Local Show
Southern California, January 26, 2021
Southern California’s iconic radio station, The Mightier 1090am, recently returned to the airwaves last August, and today announced that they are launching another new local show, “The Browner & Burt Show.” The show will air every Tuesday at 6pm PT. The show will start on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.
John Browner, also known to “Kaplan & Crew” listeners as “Brown Man,” was born and raised playing street ball on the South Side of Chicago. A few years after graduation, after pursuing a brief rap career as the artist formerly known as “Snatch,” Brown Man caught the attention of a college basketball recruiter after he was spotted at a local pickup game. In less than a week, John was signed to the basketball roster at Benedictine College. John has several years of San Diego sports radio experience. Most recently, he is part of the team of “Kaplan & Crew” with Scott Kaplan on The Mightier 1090am, Weekdays, 3-6pm.
Burt Grossman is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Before becoming a professional, Grossman played college football at the University of Pittsburgh where he was a three time All-ECAC selection. In 1989, he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. Grossman played six seasons in the NFL: five for the San Diego Chargers (1989–1993) and one for the Philadelphia Eagles (1994). As an NFL player, Grossman's accomplishments include 45 quarterback sacks and three safeties.
“We are excited to add yet another local show to our ever growing lineup,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen. “John and Burt will bring a very unique and entertaining show to the big 1090 stick!”
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time Southern California sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows, and Notre Dame Football for Southern California.
About The Mightier 1090am – The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for nearly 80 years.
The All-New Mightier 1090am Announces
New Local Show
Southern California, December 8
Southern California’s iconic radio station, The Mightier 1090am, recently returned to the airwaves last August and today announced that they are launching another new local show, The “Let’s Talk Hookup” Fishing Show from 7am-9am Saturday and 7am-9am Sunday. The show will start on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
“Let’s Talk Hook Up” covers freshwater and saltwater fishing in Southern California and Baja. From fly fishing for trophy rainbow trout to saltwater fishing for 400-pound tuna, “Let’s Talk Hook Up” is formatted to excite all Southern California anglers. Every show contains reports and special expert guests from various regions. The show features live reports from Baja, call-ins from on-the-water skippers, as well as a private boater report and current news from local landings.
“Our fans have asked for it, and now it is happening! Now into our 30th year of broadcasting, Let’s Talk Hookup remains the most listened to and longest running sports fishing radio talk show in North America. Moving back to The Mightier 1090am will bring back that massive radio signal many of our listeners have missed,” said Pete Gray, show host.
“We are really excited to have one of our original shows back on 1090,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen. “Each day we continue to build this historic radio station back into something that everyone loves. The biggest winners are our hundreds of thousands of listeners across California that will now be able to hear the show across the entire state.”
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time San Diego prime-time sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show, SportsGrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows and Notre Dame Football for southern California.
About The Mightier 1090am – The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with the ability to reach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles and the Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for nearly 80 years.
Ex-LA Times Columnist Now Sports-Talk Radio Host on ‘Mightier 1090’
Times of San Diego, October 19
by Rick Griffin
Arash Markazi, former sports columnist with the Los Angeles Times, is now hosting “The Arash Markazi Show,” a one-hour, weekday sports talk show from noon to 1 p.m. on XEPRS 1090-AM, The Mightier 1090.
According to an LA Times article, Markazi was placed on paid leave before he resigned in August of this year following an investigation into allegations of plagiarism and ethical impropriety.
The Times article, published Sept. 21, said, “Markazi’s departure was the latest in a series of scandals that has engulfed the newsroom and led to an extraordinary reshuffling atop The Times. Since early last year, six prominent editors have been either pushed out, demoted or had responsibilities reduced because of ethical lapses, bullying behavior or other failures of management.”
Before joining the Times in 2019, Markazi was a senior writer at ESPN for nine years. He grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from USC in 2004, after which he worked as a staff writer for Sports Illustrated for five years.
“Every story has two sides and that is definitely the case with this as well,” said Bill Hagen, station operator, who launched the San Diego-based station in August. The sports-talk station had been off the air since April 2019.
“I had no issues whatsoever of bringing Arash on board at The Mightier 1090. His knowledge of all things sports in SoCal and experience with all types of media channels was a big plus for us. Adding Arash’s show was another important piece of getting our iconic 1090 back to its rightful position as the No. 1 radio station in Southern California.
“Each and every day we continue to build this iconic radio station back into something that everyone will love. Adding another local show with Arash was a huge step in the right direction.”
Markazi told Times of San Diego his brief tenure at the LA Times is “behind me now.”
“It wasn’t a good fit and I sensed from the beginning that I wasn’t wanted,” he said. “I made some mistakes but much of what was put out there about me by my former colleagues simply isn’t true. But, that’s behind me now. I left a great job at ESPN to work at my local newspaper because I still love and believe in print journalism.” Markazi’s role as talk-show host is not new to him. He said he has filled-in as a guest host and been interviewed many times on Los Angeles radio stations ESPN 710-AM and KLAC 570-AM over the past decade.
“I don’t see it so much as a pivot but as an extension and growth of my career,” said Marakazi. “I’ve been involved in sports talk radio in some way shape or form for about 25 years. It has always been my dream to host my own sports radio talk show and I’m thankful that dream has become a reality. I look forward to connecting with fans.”
According to a station statement, Markazi began dreaming of hosting a radio sports talk show as a youngster in elementary school and later at Norte Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.
“When I was in grade school, I would listen to the old Mighty 690 every day and type out faxes to my favorite sports talk radio hosts at the station since I was too young to call in,” Markazi said. “When we were asked to draw our future jobs in school, I drew a picture of me hosting a sports talk show on the old 690. I even created a logo for my radio show in school, but I was too nervous to actually pursue it. So, it remained nothing more than a childhood dream. Well, 26 years later that dream has become a reality.”
Markazi’s interviews on The Mighty 1090 can be heard at his website, TheMorningColumn.com. Recent discussion topics have included Dodgers playoff games, the Clippers hiring Ty Lue as head coach, the Lakers NBA championship and how the Los Angeles Chargers find new ways to lose after blowing a 17-point second quarter lead for two consecutive weeks. The blog post headline read, “Are the Chargers cursed or jinxed?”
Current weekday programming on The Mightier 1090 includes: “The Morning After,” a nationally syndicated talk show with hosts Ariel Epstein and Jared Smith, 6 to 9 a.m.; Rich Eisner, a nationally syndicated talk-show host, 9 a.m. to noon; Scott Ferrall with two shows per day, including “Ferrall Coast to Coast,” 1 to 3 p.m. and “Ferrall On The Bench,” 7 to 9 p.m.; Scott Kaplan, 3 to 7 p.m.; Bill Schmid, 9 p.m. to midnight.
The All-New Mightier 1090am Announces
New Local Show
Southern California, October 6
Southern California’s sports leader, The Mightier 1090, recently returned to the airwaves last August and today announced that they are launching another new local show, The Arash Markazi Show from 12pm-1pm, Monday-Friday. The show will start on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.
Arash Markazi spent the previous 16 years as a sports columnist with the Los Angeles Times and a senior writer at ESPN and Sports Illustrated. He has covered every major sports event from the Super Bowl and the World Series to Wimbledon and the Tour de France.
A Southern California native, Markazi dreamed of hosting a sports talk radio show when he was in grade school, later at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.
"When I was in grade school, I would listen to the old Mighty 690 every day and type out faxes to my favorite sports talk radio hosts at the station since I was too young to call in,” said Markazi. “When we were asked to draw our future jobs in school, I drew a picture of me hosting a sports talk show on the old 690. I even created a logo for my radio show in school but I was too nervous to actually pursue it so it remained nothing more than a childhood dream. Well, 26 years later that dream has become a reality. I can't begin to say how excited I am for the debut of The Arash Markazi Show on The Mightier 1090."
After graduating from USC, Markazi was hired by Sports Illustrated and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Campus. He soon began writing a weekly column for Sports Illustrated's website and his intimate and quirky portraits of athletes promoted the Los Angeles Times to name him one of the Faces to Watch in 2006. After five years at Sports Illustrated, Markazi joined ESPN in 2009 before becoming a sports columnist at the Los Angeles Times in 2019. His first assignment was to cover the Los Angeles Rams playing in Super Bowl LIII.
Located at 1090 AM on the radio dial, The Mightier 1090 features an all-star lineup that includes long-time San Diego prime-time sports-radio staple, Scott Kaplan. The Mightier 1090 is the Flagship radio station for The Rich Eisen Show and Sportsgrid Radio’s Scott Ferrall Shows.
“We are really excited that Arash is joining the team,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen. “Each and every day we continue to build this iconic radio station back into something that everyone will love. Adding another local show with Arash was a huge step in the right direction.”
About The Mightier 1090am – The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with the ability toreach more than 24 million California residents from Baja to San Diego and up to Orange County, Los Angeles andthe Central Coast. The 1090 AM broadcast signal has been active for nearly 80 years.
The Mightier 1090am Announces Local Show in Recently Released Lineup
Southern California, August 20
The Mightier 1090am (XEPRS) has announced that “The Dave Smith Show” will debut on Saturday, August 22, 2020. He will host two shows each week; Saturday 6pm-10pm and Sunday 6pm-10pm. Smith has over 25 years broadcast experience in Southern California and had the #1 rated Afternoon Drive-Time Sports Talk Show in Los Angeles. He is a 5-Time winner of the L.A. Daily News "L.A.'s Best Sports-Talk Show Host” and has been a Pre/Post Game Host for the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, Chargers, USC football, USC basketball, UCLA football and UCLA basketball. Dave Smith is known for a fast paced, topical show with strong opinions and humor which once led to Shaq picking him up in the locker room and holding him over his head!
"When I first heard The Mightier 1090 was returning to the airwaves, I couldn't have been more excited because, as a 25-year listener, I missed the best sports-talk station in Southern California. And when I learned I was going to be a part of the new line-up, it was a highlight of my career; my first job in radio was on The Mighty 690 in San Diego and 25 years later I'm coming back home, “ committed Dave Smith. “Dave is a great addition to The Mightier 1090 All Star Lineup. We are thrilled that we are adding another 8 hours of local content each week as well. Our lineup is an ongoing “work in progress” and signing Dave to 1090 was a major milestone for us,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen.
The Mightier 1090am has crafted a unique combination of a lifestyle and sports format with several notable all-stars of broadcasting.
About The Mightier 1090 The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with almost 80 years of broadcasting history. The signal covers a population of over 24,000,000 people up from the Baja to San Diego to Orange County to Los Angeles and all into the Central Coast.
The All New and Mightier 1090am Running “History of 1090” Audio Loop and Announces “On-Air” Launch Date
Southern California, August 13
The Mightier 1090am (XEPRS) has begun playing a loop over the air that takes listeners on an “audio journey” of the history of this iconic radio station in anticipation of their official launch date.
“Several months of work from a countless number of people have lead us to this week. We are giving The Mightier 1090am back to the millions of listeners of Southern California that have missed it since it went off the air almost 18 months ago. Launching a radio station from scratch, during a pandemic with no ‘live’ sports has been daunting, to say the least, but we made it! I am very proud of the product we are putting on the air,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen.
The Mightier 1090am has crafted a unique combination of a lifestyle and sports format with notable all-stars of broadcasting; Rich Eisen, Scott Kaplan, Scott Ferrall and Tony Bruno lead the primetime lineup weekdays.
The All New and Mightier 1090am goes “LIVE” @ 9:00 am PT - Monday, August 17, 2020.
About The Mightier 1090 About The Mightier 1090am – The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with almost 80 years of broadcasting history. The signal covers a population of over 24,000,000 people up from the Baja to San Diego to Orange County to Los Angeles and all into the Central Coast.
“The Rich Eisen Show” Launches on Southern
California’s “The Mightier 1090 AM” as Flagship Station
Southern California, August 6
The Mightier 1090am (XEPRS) has announced that “The Rich Eisen Show” will be added to their ever-growing primetime lineup in anticipation of getting back on the air in August of 2020. The Rich Eisen Show will air Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 12:00pm and allows Eisen to use his engaging blend of insightful expertise with an offbeat mix of humor and pop
culture while continuing to attract the most recognizable names in sports and entertainment.
“1090 is an iconic and historic station where the entire team understands the type of show we are putting out on a daily basis. I am thrilled to be moving forward with them and being part of the re-launch of ‘The Mightier 1090am’ as they are an absolutely perfect fit,” commented Rich Eisen.
The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen added, “This exciting move is one of the final pieces of bringing The Mightier 1090 back on-the-air. Rich and his show will be a major focal point of the station. We have created a great blend of lifestyle and sports content for this re-launch. We look forward to getting back on the air very soon.”
About The Mightier 1090 The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North
America with almost 80 years of broadcasting history. The signal covers a population of over
24,000,000 people up from the Baja to San Diego to Orange County to Los Angeles and all into
the Central Coast. Visit TheMightier1090.com for more information.
About Rich Eisen Rich Eisen was the first on-air talent added to NFL Network’s roster in June 2003, five months before the network’s launch in November 2003. Eisen is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and earned a Master of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1994. Eisen resides in Los Angeles with his wife and long-time ABC, FOX and TNT sports broadcaster Suzy Shuster. Together, they have three children and two rescue dogs.
Notre Dame Football To Air On Southern California’s “The Mightier 1090AM”
Southern California, July 31
Notre Dame Football is returning to the Southern California airwaves on
The Mightier 1090AM (XEPRS) via Skyview Networks. The Mightier 1090AM will be the exclusive radio home in Southern California for a full season of these highly anticipated games in 2020.
“We are steps away from getting this iconic station back on the air and inking a partnership with Notre
Dame Football and Skyview Networks was another ‘no-brainer’ for us in this goal. Skyview Networks is the home of play-by-play content and they were quick to provide what we were looking for as we
architect the programming for our station. We landed a game package that features the absolute best
matchups that will engage our listeners,” said The Mightier 1090’s Bill Hagen.
“The incredible reputation that has been built around the Fighting Irish is well-known across the nation, and we are confident in the opportunities and benefits our broadcast solutions will bring to the
university. We are eager to help continue expanding the network with quality heritage stations, like the Mightier 1090AM,” added Matt Stys, Vice President of Business Development.
About The Mightier 1090 The Mightier 1090 has one of the largest signals in North America with almost 80 years of broadcasting history. The signal covers a population of over 24,000,000 people up from the Baja to San Diego to Orange County to Los Angeles and all into the Central Coast. It is planning to be back “on-air” Summer of 2020.
