KOZN
Encyclopedia
KOZN is a sports talk
station
in Omaha, Nebraska
. The station broadcasts at 1620 kHz on the AM
dial. It is owned by NRG Media
, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The station originally signed on as KAZP, an expanded band station of KOIL
1180, owned by Mitchell Broadcasting, in September 1999. KOZN carries Chicago Cubs
baseball, Creighton University
Baseball, Westwood One
NFL Football and NCAA Basketball and Omaha Nighthawks
football. KOZN originates and produces all game broadcasts of the NCAA Men's College World Series
, held each June in Omaha, and distributed nationally by Westwood One. Play by play is provided by seven-time Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year Kevin Kugler
. KOZN streams most of its programming on its website http://1620thezone.com/.
Some of the station's first local hosts were:
The original morning team of John Desjardins and Mike Steele, aka "Louie & The Animal" was called "The Cage". It was replaced by the Bruno-Golic Morning Show when the station debuted the ESPN Radio full time lineup. The current morning show is hosted by Matt Schick and former Creighton basketball standout Nick Bahe, airing from 8 - 11am weekdays.
The current afternoon show, "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" began with Kevin Kugler and Bob Bruce in 2000, and has been on the air continuously since. Mike'l Severe (former reporter for KETV
Channel 7) was added after Bruce left the station.
Kugler is a seven-time recipient of the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year award and is currently the play by play voice for Westwood One
Radio Networks NFL Football, national NCAA College Game of the Week broadcasts and NCAA Basketball.
1620 The Zone broadcasts a number of local shows including the "Great Outdoor Radio Show" with Greg Wagner of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Saturdays from 9:00am to 10:00am; the Huskers Illustrated Radio Show" with Chris Schmidt and former Husker Quarterback Garth Glissman, Saturdays from 7:00am to 9:00am; "Mak and Matt" with former Husker Football national champions Matt Hoskinson and Joel Makovicka at various times during the football season; the "High School Hoops Show" with Dave Shillinglaw and Mark Kraynak, during the high school basketball season; The Cox Communications Golf Hour with Dave Shillinglaw, during the summer; "Friday Night Lights-High School Gamenight" with Aaron Bearenger and James Kewin; and "Slapshot-The Dean Blais Show" with University of Nebraska Omaha Hockey Coach Dean Blais, hosted by Terry Leahy and Dave Ahlers, during the college hockey season.
As of February 1, 2011, 1620 The Zone discontinued its affiliation with ESPN Radio
. It is now an independent station picking up a lot of programming from Fox Sports Radio
, Compass Media Networks, Westwood One Radio Networks and The Jim Rome Show
. Both the morning show "Schick and Nick", from 8:00am to 12:00 noon, and "Unsportsmanlike Conduct", from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, will remain the foundation of the Zone's weekday schedule.
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. The station broadcasts at 1620 kHz on the AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
dial. It is owned by NRG Media
NRG Media
NRG Media is a media company headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was founded on March 1, 2005, as a result of a merger of NewRadio Group and the radio assets of Waitt Media. At its inception it was the seventh largest radio company in the USA. NRG owns and operates 54 radio stations in four...
, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The station originally signed on as KAZP, an expanded band station of KOIL
KOIL
KMMQ is a radio station licensed to serve Plattsmouth, Nebraska, USA. The station is owned by NRG Media and the license is held by Waitt Omaha, LLC.KMMQ broadcasts a Regional Mexican music format to the Omaha metropolitan area....
1180, owned by Mitchell Broadcasting, in September 1999. KOZN carries Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
baseball, Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
Baseball, Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
NFL Football and NCAA Basketball and Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
football. KOZN originates and produces all game broadcasts of the NCAA Men's College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, held each June in Omaha, and distributed nationally by Westwood One. Play by play is provided by seven-time Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year Kevin Kugler
Kevin Kugler
Kevin Kugler is a radio personality at 1620 the Zone in Omaha, Nebraska, co-host of the afternoon program "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" from 2:00pm to 6:00pm Central Time. He is also the lead play-by-play announcer on the Westwood One/NCAA Radio Network for college football and college basketball. He...
. KOZN streams most of its programming on its website http://1620thezone.com/.
Some of the station's first local hosts were:
The original morning team of John Desjardins and Mike Steele, aka "Louie & The Animal" was called "The Cage". It was replaced by the Bruno-Golic Morning Show when the station debuted the ESPN Radio full time lineup. The current morning show is hosted by Matt Schick and former Creighton basketball standout Nick Bahe, airing from 8 - 11am weekdays.
The current afternoon show, "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" began with Kevin Kugler and Bob Bruce in 2000, and has been on the air continuously since. Mike'l Severe (former reporter for KETV
KETV
KETV, digital channel 20 , is the ABC affiliate television station in Omaha, Nebraska and is owned by Hearst Television...
Channel 7) was added after Bruce left the station.
Kugler is a seven-time recipient of the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year award and is currently the play by play voice for Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
Radio Networks NFL Football, national NCAA College Game of the Week broadcasts and NCAA Basketball.
1620 The Zone broadcasts a number of local shows including the "Great Outdoor Radio Show" with Greg Wagner of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Saturdays from 9:00am to 10:00am; the Huskers Illustrated Radio Show" with Chris Schmidt and former Husker Quarterback Garth Glissman, Saturdays from 7:00am to 9:00am; "Mak and Matt" with former Husker Football national champions Matt Hoskinson and Joel Makovicka at various times during the football season; the "High School Hoops Show" with Dave Shillinglaw and Mark Kraynak, during the high school basketball season; The Cox Communications Golf Hour with Dave Shillinglaw, during the summer; "Friday Night Lights-High School Gamenight" with Aaron Bearenger and James Kewin; and "Slapshot-The Dean Blais Show" with University of Nebraska Omaha Hockey Coach Dean Blais, hosted by Terry Leahy and Dave Ahlers, during the college hockey season.
As of February 1, 2011, 1620 The Zone discontinued its affiliation with ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
. It is now an independent station picking up a lot of programming from Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
, Compass Media Networks, Westwood One Radio Networks and The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
. Both the morning show "Schick and Nick", from 8:00am to 12:00 noon, and "Unsportsmanlike Conduct", from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, will remain the foundation of the Zone's weekday schedule.