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Sports business insider: Two prominent Denver sports-talk radio voices were laid off in a significant workforce reduction by one of the nation’s widest-reaching media and entertainment companies.
Short version: Alfred Williams and Brandon Krisztal announced Monday on X (formerly Twitter) they are no longer employed by KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM, the flagship radio station for the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and Colorado Buffaloes football/basketball. KOA is an iHeartRadio station.
Long version: Williams is a former CU football edge rusher who played nine NFL seasons, including four with the Broncos (1996-99), before a long career in sports talk. He spent 15 years at KKFN 104.3 FM prior to joining KOA in 2019. Williams recently hosted the station’s afternoon drive sports program with Broncos play-by-play radio voice Dave Logan.
Williams posted on X: “As I step away from iHeart, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to everyone I’ve had the privilege of working alongside over the years. … To my loyal listeners, who tuned in on 94.1 and 850 AM, thank you for being there through every broadcast, for your passion, and for sharing in my love of the game. Your support has meant the world to me, and I am excited to share that this is not goodbye — I’ll be back soon, stronger and ready to bring you the sports insights and stories you’ve come to expect.”
To my iHeart Family and Loyal Fans,As I step away from iHeart, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to everyone I’ve had the privilege of working alongside over the years. To my colleagues at iHeart, thank you for your unwavering support, dedication, and…
— Alfred Williams (@BigAlRadio) November 4, 2024
Krisztal is another longtime sports-talk voice in the Denver market. He joined KOA in 2015. He’s served multiple roles, including as a “Broncos Insider.” Krisztal will continue in his position as host and reporter with Guerilla Sports, a video-forward sports coverage service in Denver.
Game analysis and insights from The Gazette sports staff including columns by Woody Paige and Paul Klee.
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Krisztal posted on X: “I’ve built countless great relationships with colleagues, more than I can count or thank properly. Fortunately, I have the opportunity to embark on a new venture, and I’m looking forward to what’s next!”
Like Big Al, I was part of today’s workforce reduction. I joined iHeart just two days before Christmas in 2015, right before the Broncos clinched Super Bowl 50!My time at KOA Colorado has been filled with incredible experiences, and I’m especially grateful to @daveloganpod for… https://t.co/GUQtXw1xHP
— Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) November 4, 2024
Key context: KOA operates under iHeartMedia, and the global entertainment brand has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in the U.S. with 245 million monthly listeners.
The company is now reportedly implementing a new structure that prioritizes regional operations.
Denver is not the only market impacted. iHeartMedia layoffs have also been reported in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco and many additional large cities.
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Looking ahead: Williams and Krisztal both hinted at new ventures following their KOA departure and it’s likely both will stay in-market as respected sports analysts. KOA remains the exclusive home for live radio broadcasts of Broncos, Rockies and CU football/basketball games. But a constantly evolving sports media landscape means that change is inevitable among your favorite media personalities. The Denver Gazette will keep you up to date on the next big moves in the sports business insider.
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