# 97.1 The Fan

> Ohio sports radio station broadcasting Ohio State, Blue Jackets, and Crew SC. (iPhone/iPad app by WBNS TV, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/971-the-fan/id915052455 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [WBNS TV, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1239409350)
- Category: Music, Music, Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.88/5 from 184 App Store ratings · 68 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 58 MB
- Languages: English, Spanish
- Released: 2014-09-16
- Data updated: 2026-08-22
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/971-the-fan/id915052455/reviews.md

## What is 97.1 The Fan?

For over 25 years, The Fan has dominated Ohio sports conversation. We’re your flagship home for Ohio State athletics, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Columbus Crew SC.

## Key features

- Live sports radio
- Ohio State athletics coverage
- Columbus Blue Jackets broadcasts
- Columbus Crew SC coverage
- Sports conversation

## What do users think of 97.1 The Fan?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Enjoyable content/shows
- 👍 App has improved over time
- 👍 Good content for Buckeyes fans

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Constant stream drops/buffering
- 🐛 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🐛 Ads play over content
- 🐛 App won't open/load
- 🐛 Connection issues (Wi-Fi/cellular switching)
- 🐛 Ads when stream refreshes
- 🐛 Ads during commercial breaks
- 🐛 Ads from out of state
- 🐛 App freezes
- 🐛 Poor audio quality
- 🐛 Issues with car stereo connection
- 🐛 Issues with headphones connection
- 🐛 App messed with phone volume
- 🐛 Ads in German
- 🐛 Random ad drops
- 🐛 Podcasts restart constantly
- 🐛 Alexa/smart speaker integration issues
- 🐛 No offline podcast downloads
- 🐛 App doesn't pause correctly
- 🐛 Issues with older recordings access
- 🐛 Network connection errors
- 🐛 Stream cuts out frequently
- 🐛 Ads play over live broadcast
- 🐛 App doesn't work on iPhone
- 🐛 App is buggy

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Stream drops and buffers constantly
- App fails to open or load
- Ads play over live content
- Connection issues when switching networks
- Podcasts restart frequently
- Alexa integration issues
- App freezes during streams
- App messes with phone volume
- Cannot download podcasts for offline listening
- App doesn't pause correctly
- Cannot access old recordings
- Network connection errors displayed
- App doesn't work on specific iPhone models
- Ads play during non-break times
- Stream cuts out and takes a long time to reconnect

**Most requested features**

- Fix app crashing issues
- Improve stream stability
- Reduce ad frequency/intrusiveness
- Fix ads playing over content
- Allow offline podcast downloads
- Improve Alexa/smart speaker integration
- Fix app not opening/loading
- Fix Wi-Fi/cellular switching ad issues
- Fix app freezing
- Fix app volume issues
- Improve app stability
- Fix connection errors
- Ensure app works on all iPhones
- Improve app updates and bug fixes

## Recent user reviews (10 of 68)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/971-the-fan/id915052455/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Many good improvements

*2025-10-24, version 7.4.4*

This app has come a long way! A couple of years ago it was nearly unusable and now I can have nearly flawless listening, most of the time. Annoying bits are regarding ads whenever the stream/audio is refreshed. So if I’m ever moving from wifi to data, I’m constantly hearing commercials, even when the shows are live.

### 2/5 — The app crashes

*2025-08-29, version 7.4.3*

I used to like this app. I used all the time: while I drove, in the house, while walked.  
Now it is stuck on the black screen and won’t connect in my truck , to my ear buds, or just open listening over my phone.  It needs updated!!

### 1/5 — You can do better

*2025-04-24, version 7.4.3*

Basically downloaded so I could listen to Cincinnati Reds baseball. Have tried two days in a row and the link doesn’t work.

### 1/5 — Somehow it got worse…

*2025-01-02, version 7.4.3*

Inarguably the worst app ever… like we all know it look at the review…. But somehow it got worse…. Even the glitchy jumping to local commercials if u ever think about changing wireless connection, played constantly… now it’s 50:50 if you even start your stream … I know 97.1 doesn’t design the app themselves… so why keep this failure of a app engineer company

### 5/5 — Morning Juice

*2024-07-30, version 7.4.3*

I always enjoy listening to some news for the Buckeyes every week, and Morning Juice is what I mostly listen to hosted by Brandon Beam, & co-hosted by former Buckeye & nfl player Bobby Carpenter.

### 1/5 — Crashing

*2023-11-26, version 7.4.1*

Just installed, rebooted and still crashing and won’t open. On latest iOS release.

### 1/5 — Absolute garbage

*2023-08-27, version 7.4.0*

Sure would be nice to listen to a game on “the home of the crew”. If this was an OSU issue, it would have been fixed by now. But since it’s not, I guess I’ll just have to listen to some crappy ESPN content. Thanks a bunch !!

### 1/5 — Just awful streaming service experience

*2023-05-12, version 7.2.1*

This app delivers an awful streaming service experience. Whenever you switch your phone from Wi-Fi to cellular or vice versa, the app immediately believes you need to hear an advertisement. These ads are annoying, repetitive and too long, while you wait and miss content. Oh, and even when you don’t switch between Wi-Fi and cellular, the app says I think you need another ad! Just random ad drops for no reason.

### 1/5 — Media company can’t write a functional app?

*2023-04-06, version 7.2.1*

Worst app on the App Store? Probably. Issues already addressed by other users but…

Switch from network to WiFi? Frozen, repeated commercials when finally resumes

Leave wifi range and switch to network? Same as above. 

Press pause (well, now it’s a stop button)? Same as above. This usually requires additional step of swiping app closed and relaunching to even get to the commercials. 

No other streaming app has a problem continued service when switching data sources or pausing. 

Oh, almost forgot…connect to car stereo? Same as above. 

Put headphones (AirPods) in, seamlessly continues…take them out? Have to swipe closed and relaunch to get to work again.

### 1/5 — Same complaint as everyone else

*2023-03-06, version 7.2.1*

I’m listening to the app… My cell service drops and the stream cuts out… Then when my phone gets back into service and the stream picks up, I have to listen to an ad again… every.single.time. And yet I still have to listen to ads during the commercial breaks. Please just get this corrected. It’s clearly been going on for years and years. I no longer live in central Ohio, so I have no choice but to use the app on my drive to work. Maybe someday I will return but for now goodbye my 97.1 friends.

## Frequently asked questions about 97.1 The Fan

### What kind of content does this app offer?

This app offers live sports radio content, focusing on major Ohio sports teams. It serves as the flagship home for Ohio State athletics, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Columbus Crew SC, providing extensive coverage and conversation around these teams.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the application is free to use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, suggesting a completely free listening experience for users.

### What sports teams are covered by this app?

The app primarily covers Ohio sports, with a strong emphasis on Ohio State athletics. It also provides broadcasts and coverage for the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) and Columbus Crew SC (MLS).

### Who is the target audience for this app?

The app is designed for sports fans, particularly those residing in or interested in Ohio. It's ideal for listeners who follow Ohio State University sports, the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team, and the Columbus Crew SC soccer team.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 7.4.4 — 2025-09-19

Improvements and Bugfixes build #1094

### 7.4.3 — 2023-12-14

Improvements and Bugfixes build #1024

### 7.4.2 — 2023-11-30

Improvements and Bugfixes build #1020

### 7.4.1 — 2023-11-22

Improvements and Bugfixes build #1017

### 7.4.0 — 2023-08-11

Improvements and Bugfixes build #1006

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| [Classic Country 1070](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-country-1070/id1536474617) | — | Free | Music |

## Related topics

[wbns](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wbns) · [columbus blue jackets](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/columbus-blue-jackets) · [columbus crew sc](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/columbus-crew-sc) · [wcbe](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wcbe) · [ohio state buckeyes](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ohio-state-buckeyes) · [fans first](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fans-first)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-22.*