Waukegan radio station converting to Spanish-language sports format

WKRS AM-1220 in Waukegan will shift to ESPN Radio’s all-Spanish format.

ESPN Deportes Radio’s syndicated programming will be aired on the station long known for Lake County high school sports, news and talk shows. The switch to the Spanish-language sports format is expected Feb. 1.

Karl Wertzler, general manager of NextMedia Group-owned WKRS, could not be reached Monday.

Gabriela Nunez, an ESPN Deportes spokeswoman, confirmed WKRS will be added as a network affiliate.

Nunez said ESPN Deportes Radio has 45 affiliates in the United States. She said the network reaches more than 64 percent of the Hispanic market in the country.

“We can say that there are many English-language station owners that would like to get into the Hispanic space and look toward ESPN Deportes Radio as a way to instantly be relevant and competitive in their market, even if there are already many other Spanish language stations,” Nunez said.

WKRS will have ESPN Deportes Radio’s weekday lineup that currently offers a Spanish-language “Sports Center,” the “Jorge Ramos y su Banda” talk show and a look ahead to the next World Cup called “Destino Brasil 2014.”

Live sports programming not typically heard on mainstream English-language stations is part of ESPN Deportes Radio. For example, the network will carry the FC Barcelona-Real Madrid CF soccer match on Wednesday afternoon,

WKRS most recently has been a mix of local programming and syndicated shows with hosts such as Dave Ramsey and Laura Ingraham. WKRS aired all Lake County Fielders independent baseball games in 2011 and 2010.