10 DECEMBER 14-20, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | like Meta is for Facebook and Instagram.” Bonneville was exerting more infl uence behind the scenes as well as online. Since the mid-2010s, its Denver properties — The Fan, plus country juggernaut KYGO, easy-listening staple KOSI and ESPN 1600, which simulcasts the national sports channel’s content on the AM dial — had been managed by Bob Call, a Denver broadcasting giant; he was KYGO’s fi rst program director and oversaw the station for more than forty years. But after he retired in late 2021, he was replaced by Katie Reid, who had previously served as vice president and general manager of Cox Media Group’s radio stations in Jacksonville, Florida. None of those outlets deployed a sports-talk format. In the beginning, Reid mostly left the running of The Fan to Sharan. But the fi rm’s fi ngerprints were all over the September fi rings — a reac- tion to its 4.5 summer ratings share, a drop of more than 40 percent from the fall of 2020. Jeff Clewett, the person who took over as director of sales from Brennan, his ousted predecessor, came from Bonneville’s cluster in Phoenix. After the canning of McKee, Jackson, Brown and Franklin, Sharan explained the move in corporate terms. “I love D-Mac, and his contributions to this radio station are amaz- ing, as are Orlando’s and Chad’s and Nate’s, as well,” he said. “It’s just that we had the oppor- tunity to look at the entire picture and make strategic moves while making sure we were in sync with Bonneville’s mission and values.” Prior to September, The Fan’s front-rank weekday shows were three hours in length, but the tweaked schedule expanded them to four hours, thereby eliminating an entire program — and the need to pay another set of hosts. In denying this move was economically motivated, Sharan again cited the mothership: “Going with three four-hour shows rather than four shorter shows is something we’re doing at some of the other sports properties at Bonneville. I think it’s going to create a more consistent listening experience.” Fanning the Flames But more dubious personnel moves simply created a more confusing listen- ing experience. Most puzzling, the station broke up Zach Bye and Brandon Stokley, a receiver who ended his playing career with the Broncos before becoming half of The Fan’s fi nest sports-talk duo. Stokley is now coupled with Josh Dover, who jumped over from Altitude — a switch that’s a wash at best. Bye, meanwhile, was moved into the after- noon driver’s seat alongside Phillip Lindsay, another alum of the Buffs and Broncos who is beloved in these parts. Unfortunately, Lindsay is struggling to come up with interesting things to say and isn’t meshing with Bye, rendering their airtime all but unlistenable. Another issue on the ho- rizon could be possible dis- comfort at Bonneville over the sharp tone that’s long been a hallmark of The Fan. In September, Sharan said that Lindsay and Dover had “a positivity to them” and stressed that “our purpose at Bonneville is to build up, in- form, connect and celebrate families and communities.” And while Sharan got the boot, that emphasis on positivity remains. Brown, Sharan’s successor, is now tasked with fi nding a way to simultaneously achieve Bonneville’s kinder, gentler goals and lure back listeners. She’s also a newcomer to Den- ver, moving here from Los Angeles, where she oversaw that city’s ESPN affi liate. That makes her another out-of-towner put in the position of needing to act like a homer in a sports-crazy town — which means she won’t have an easy time returning the station to its former glory. And while she’s currently keeping her turnaround plans for The Fan under wraps, her fi rst step is clear: Someone needs to fi nd a fi re extinguisher. Email the author at [email protected]. Dropping the Ball continued from page 8 Former Bronco Phillip Lindsay (above) is currently at The Fan; former Denver defensive lineman Derek Wolfe was a partner on The Drive for less than a year. BONNEVILLE INTERNATIONAL BONNEVILLE INTERNATIONAL A special advertising feature Heyday Skincare ‘Tis the season to sparkle and glow! Treat yourself or a loved one to the gift of radiant skin available at Heyday’s Tennyson, Lowry, or University Hills locations. 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