By: Liz Farmer

When 105.7-FM made the switch to full-time sports talk radio last November, some were skeptical that Baltimore could support five sports talk radio stations.

And us sports radio listeners are set in our ways — people-talking belongs on the AM dial; if I want music I switch over to FM.

But after the latest quarterly ratings, the folks at CBS Radio’s 105.7 couldn’t be happier. I imagine they’re resisting shouting “I told you so!” from the rooftops.

The station is now in 3rd place overall among its “bread and butter” demographic, men aged 25-54, going from a 3.9 to a 6.1 share since the winter. It has also placed 1st in that same demo in afternoons and 2nd with the 35-54 demographic with the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks show and 4th with the 25-54 demo in mornings with Ed Norris.

“We’re thrilled to say the least that it’s doing this well,” said Dave Labrozzi, the station’s vice president of programming. “For us to be where we are and as quickly as we are is amazing. All along we thought there was a big hole for this kind of opportunity.”

Labrozzi noted the switch to FM, as station execs had hoped back in November, exposed more listeners in their target demographic to the station.

“A lot of people who are younger, their habits never included AM so they [are now] exposed to something I think they had forgotten about,” he said.

Labrozzi was mum on whether there would be any station announcements/adjustments in the future. I guess if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

But you can always replicate it — CBS last week launched an FM sports talker in Washington through its affiliate WJFK. The station is now also branded 106.7 The Fan. If the D.C. station does well, how long before the others (Fox Sports Radio, Sporting News Radio, etc.) jump on the FM bandwagon?