SportsMap 94.1 merges into ESPN 97.5 KFNC

As of Februrary 1st, Gow Media stopped leasing the 94.1 K231CN translator station and has moved all of the SportsMap 94.1 FM programming to ESPN 97.5 KFNC.

So that means Charlie Pallilo and the other 94.1 sports crew will now be heard on 97.5.

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Gow Media radio GM Todd Farquharson tells mikemcguff.com the company wanted to centralize its sports radio offerings to just one station. Farquharson says they are working on a booster signal to give 97.5 wider coverage around the Houston listening area. He says that 94.1 was a short term lease.

So what about the SB Nation Radio syndicated programming produced by Gow Media that aired on 94.1? In Houston, you can now listen to that online via the website (click the "Listen Live Now" link) or app.

This now leaves Houston with sports programming on ESPN 97.5, Sports Radio 610AM KILT, SportsTalk 790 KBME and CBS Sports Radio 650AM KIKK.

Don't worry...SportsMap the website is still in operation.

The 94.1 FM licensee has returned the station to a Spanish-language format. The station is now branded as 94.1 Radio Luz which airs Christian programming.

SportsMap 94.1 FM took to the airwaves on October 1, 2017. The new station moved the 1560 AM KGOW programming to the FM band. Around that time, the Sportsmap.com website also launched. This site was to compliment the recently Gow Media purchase of culturemap.com.

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(Thanks Andy)

* this post was updated to address where to listen to SB Nation Radio programming in Houston.

ESPN 97.5 Houston hacked

ESPN 97.5 + 92.5 Houston KFNC was hacked Sunday afternoon, the station posted at 4:34pm.

UPDATE DECEMBER:  FCC Issues Warning To Stations In Light Of Recent Hacking Incidents

"In the past hour, there was audio airing on 97.5 FM signal that didn't come from the radio station.  Our signal had been hacked.  We are actively trying to rectify the problem. We appreciate the many of you who posted to alert us of the issue."

RadioINSIGHT reports that during the Dallas Cowboys vs the Philadelphia Eagles game, the hacker ran, "a loop of fake EAS tones, a racist Country song, and a promo to follow them on social media."

UPDATE:  General Manager Todd Farquharson told the Houston Chronicle's Jason Fochtman that the station switched to backup equipment after a power outage on Saturday. In an investigation, the station found that a bot was hacking the backup equipment. He adds, ESPN 97.5 is taking measures "to prevent this from happening in the future."

- Mike McGuff on ESPN 97.5

Grizzy's Hood News has video of the promo portion of the radio takeover.

In the past hour, there was audio airing on 97.5 FM signal that didn't come from the radio station. Our signal had been hacked. We are actively trying to rectify the problem. We appreciate the many of you who posted to alert us of the issue.

— ESPN 97.5 Houston (@espn975) November 23, 2025

ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 Houston 2021 schedule changes

ESPN 97.5 KFNC and 92.5 announced sports talk show host schedule changes starting Monday, August 16th, 2021.

The new lineup includes:

7a-10a - The Bench with John Granato & Lance Zierlein

10a-12p - The Charlie Pallilo Show

12p-3p - The Killer B's with Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham

3p-7p - The Wheelhouse with Jake Asman, Cody Stoots & Brad Kellner

Weekday evenings - Patrick Creighton's Late Hits and weekly show Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis

"We're thrilled about the new local lineup", KFNC General Manager Todd Farquharson said in a release. "We've added some new voices to a lineup of proven all-stars. It's going to be great sports talk with a lot of fun."

While "The Blitz with Fred Faour and Friends" is no longer on the new 2021 ESPN 97.5 afternoon slot schedule, Faour still remains with as the KFNC sports betting analyst. 

"Fred has a deep connection with our listeners, and will continue to be an important part of our on-air team," added CEO David Gow.  "He will also lead the development of a new online offering that we'll be launching soon."