WNDE launching morning sports-talk show with Q95 personalities

Indianapolis’ sports-talk radio market has a new player—make that two new players.

WNDE-AM 1260 officials announced Tuesday that they are launching a local sports-talk show weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The show, tabbed “Flagrant Foul,” will be hosted by Don Stuck and Dave "Gunner" Gunn, both long-time local disc jockeys who can also be heard on WNDE’s classic rock sister station, WFBQ-FM 94.7. The first show is expected to air Feb. 6.

Though Indianapolis is a crowded sports-talk market—with three stations—"Flagrant Foul" will be the only live, local morning sports talk show in central Indiana. WFNI-AM 1070 airs ESPN's popular "Mike & Mike" show while WXNT-AM 1430 airs CBS Sports Radio syndicated content.

The program will cater to fan bases for both professional and college teams in the market, including the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana University, Purdue and Butler, said Mike Killabrew, senior vice president of programming for iHeartMedia Indianapolis, WNDE’s parent company.

Indiana RadioWatch Publisher Blaine Thompson thinks the show will have an impact in the local radio market.

"It's an interesting move," Thompson said. "Local content attracts listeners, which should then attract local advertisers. Don Stuck and Gunner established themselves in the market, and if they do a compelling and engaging sports-talk show, advertising money will follow.  Compelling local content remains the key ingredient to attracting ears to their morning show."

While Stuck and Gunn are relative newcomers to sports-talk radio, they said they’re avid sports followers.

“Stuck and I have talked sports on bar stools for years," Gunner said in a written statement. "Now, we’re excited to move our stools in front of microphones.”

It will be difficult for "Flagrant Foul" to match the ratings of "Mike & Mike," which are now more than quadruple what WNDE and WXNT score locally during the morning drive-time slot, according to Nielsen Audio. "Mike & Mike" airs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

WNDE has aired a number of syndicated shows in the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. time slot. "Flagrant Foul" will replace the nationally syndicated show, "Outkick the Coverage" with Clay Travis. That show, local media buyers said, hasn’t resonated well with central Indiana radio listeners.

"Flagrant Foul" will be followed by "The Dan Patrick Show," which airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon on WNDE.

"Flagrant Foul" will be the second locally produced regular weekday show on WNDE, which is anchored by its local afternoon drive-time show hosted by Jake Query and Derek Schultz.