Connect with us
Jim Cutler Demos

Sports Radio News

Under The Radar – October 3, 2016

Jason Barrett

Published

on

The sports media world never stops making news and we’re here to make it easier for you to consume all of it. A quick reminder, if you have a story, promotion, personnel move or valuable piece of information to share, you can pass it along via email at [email protected]. Now on to the news we go.

Stephen A. Smith has changed agents, dropping Headline Media in New York City for CAA in Los Angeles. Smith re-signed with ESPN last year for a little more than 3 million dollars per year. CAA, which represents Skip Bayless and Colin Cowherd, and helped both men land deals with FS1 for more than 5-6 million annually, are being tasked with helping SAS earn a bigger payday.

The sports radio scene in Nashville continues to be dominated by 104.5 The Zone. In the September book, The Zone delivered a 13.3 in mornings, 14.3 in middays, and 12.2 in afternoons. All three of their shows, the Wake-Up Zone, Midday 180 and 3HL finished #1. Local competitor 102.5 The Game was far behind in the ratings but the station recently underwent lineup changes which they hope will make a bigger difference in the future.

In Boston, the battle between 98.5 The Sports Hub and WEEI remains a tight one. The Hub won the summer book (July-Sept.) with Men 25-54. All of their weekday shows finished 1st overall and popped double digit ratings. They sit comfortably ahead by 2-3 ratings points in each weekday slot. WEEI was 2nd in morning and afternoon and 4th in middays. However, WEEI finished ahead of The Hub with Men 18+, Men 25-64, Men 35-54 and gained 26% with Men 25-54 year to year. The Hub lost 12% with Men 25-54 during the past 12 months. The Hub though was 1st overall with Men 18-44 and Men 25-44. The two stations continue to thrive and make Boston the top rated sports market in America.

101 ESPN continues to go through the audition process searching for a third host for their afternoon show “The Fast Lane“. So far a number of talented individuals have received a look. Former football players Isaac Byrd, Cam Davis, TJ Moe and Michael Young, former hockey player Cam Janssen and broadcasters Katie Felts and Jonathan Platek have all been in. Chris Rongey is in this week for a couple of days and a few others will appear in upcoming weeks before the station makes a final decision. “The Fast Lane” is consistently one of the top rated spoken word programs in the St. Louis market.

Kent Sterling has been elevated to Program Director of CBS Sports 1430 in Indianapolis. Sterling, currently hosts afternoons on the radio station. He’s previously programmed 101 ESPN in St. Louis and 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis.

It’s the end of an era in Atlanta. Entercom has sold radio station AM 790 (WQXI) to Atlanta Radio Korea for $850,000. Over the past two decades, 790 The Zone broadcast sports talk on that signal and became a very successful brand. Led by Steak Shapiro and Andrew Saltzman, the radio station produced big revenues and launched successful talents including Shapiro, Chris Dimino, Nick Cellini, Mike Bell, Matt Chernoff, Chuck Oliver, David Pollack and the 2 Live Stews. The station was eventually sold to Lincoln Financial who then sold it to Entercom. The station most recently simulcasted programming from Star 94.

Sports Radio 94WIP has added a new producer. Ben Livingston has been added following a successful run producing 93.7 The Fan’s morning show in Pittsburgh which features Colin Dunlap, Jim Colony and Josh Miller. Livingston is originally from Philadelphia.

97.1 The Fan in Columbus has a new Web/On-Air Producer. Brandon Beam has been tasked with producing “Tim and Beanie” and overseeing the management of The Fan’s web and mobile sites. He’ll work with the staff on creating fresh stories, video, and podcasts, along with providing analytics.

Hockey season is just around the corner and TSN 1050 in Toronto is strengthening their coverage with the addition of Patrick O’Sullivan as a Maple Leafs analyst.

Derek Fogel has left 103.5 ESPN in Southern Illinois to join Sports Radio 610 KILT in Houston as a sports anchor and weekend/fill-in host. Fogel will also write for CBSHouston.com.

College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein is following in the footsteps of Jon Heyman and joining the FanRag Sports Network. Rothstein will write and report for the website. Although he will no longer write for CBS Sports, he will continue to appear on the CBS Sports Network’s studio shows and serve as a sideline reporter on game broadcasts.

Evan Daniels has signed on with FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 as the network’s new College Basketball Insider. Daniels began his new role on October 1st.

The folks at 1500 ESPN in Minneapolis have added a new podcast. Phil Mackey confirms he’ll be hosting “Hardball Society“, a baseball themed podcast focusing on stories and opinions from baseball insiders. The first two episodes feature Aaron Boone and Jim Brower as guests.

Jake Brown has launched a new podcast on CBS Radio’s Play.It network. “The Jake Brown Show” will feature a mixture of sports and entertainment.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Sports Radio News

Charley Steiner Injured; Tim Neverett to Handle Dodgers Radio Play-by-Play

“This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes.”

Published

on

photo of Charley Steiner
Courtesy: Los Angeles Dodgers

As the Los Angeles Dodgers get set to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in their first home game on Thursday, team play-by-play voice Charley Steiner has revealed he will not be doing games at the beginning of the season due to a severe back injury.

Through the Dodgers, Steiner posted a statement which said, “Over the winter, I landed on the Injured List with three compound fractures in my back. (I don’t recommend it.) With the start of the baseball season upon us, the Dodgers are ready to go – but I’m not. This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes. I look forward to returning to the mic later this season. In the meantime, go Dodgers!”

TrueBlueLA.com reports Tim Neverett will handle play-by-play duties while Steiner recovers. Neverett called the first two regular season games with Rick Monday as the Dodgers started the season in South Korea. Neverett and Monday did not travel with the team, however, they called those games in a studio back home.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports Radio News

Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi Put a Bow on The Ronnie & TKras Show After Nearly 10 Years

“Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

Published

on

Photo of Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi
Courtesy: iHeartMedia

After nearly 10 years, The Ronnie & TKras Show with Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi came to an end today as the duo broadcast their final show on remote with many listeners, friends and co-workers on hand. Earlier this month, WDAE announced changes to its programming lineup which will take place starting tomorrow. Ronnie Lane will take on a new role as host of the Tampa Bay Rays pre-game show The Inside Pitch. Tom Krasniqi will continue on in afternoon drive with producer Chris Mathis for The Drive.

Their final show kicked off with station voice Jim Cutler saying, “…Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

And with that went three very fast hours of looking back on a nearly decade-long run for Lane and Krasniqi. “It seems kind of surreal, doesn’t it?” said Lane.

Mathis had several special guests lined up for the final show and many others left voice messages which were played coming out of breaks. Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford took part in the final show. Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks also called in and, at first, identified himself as “Pete from St. Louis” before asking what the hosts thought of the Rays bullpen.

“I’m telling you man, when I hear all of these tributes it really brings a tear to my eye, Ronnie,” said Krasniqi. “It’s a surreal moment…It makes me feel so fortunate and blessed to be in this position sitting next to you all these years. This is one of those moments where I am almost speechless and just so incredibly overwhelmed by the support and the love that everyone has shown here today.”

Lane responded, “…Our time together is really coming to an end. I might get a little emotional before this show is over, but we have had a great time and been through many ups and downs…This business is crazy and for us to be able to do what we are doing and doing it on our terms…And for a company that believes in both of us to give us this opportunity to go in different directions with the same company is truly amazing…It doesn’t happen like this always in this business, usually it’s an ugly goodbye.”

As the show came to an end, Lane reminded everyone, “It has been a blast, but we’re not freakin’ leaving!”

“We’re not leaving folks,” ‘TKras’ said. “Thanks very much for being a part of our lives and thanks for having us as part of yours. Onward and upward. You are dismissed.”

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports Radio News

Tyler Murray Added to WEEI Red Sox Radio Bench

“Coming up on 13 seasons in [minor league baseball], it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.”

Published

on

Photo of Tyler Murray and logos for WEEI and the Boston Red Sox
Photo Credit: Ashley Green

The voice of the Worcester Red Sox, Tyler Murray, has been added to the Red Sox Radio play-by-play bench. WEEI made the announcement on their X account, saying, “On the heels of calling the Hockey East Tourney this weekend [and] adding to his excellent work [with the Worcester Red Sox], happy to announce that Tyler Murray will be helping to build our [Red Sox Network] bench this year! Tyler’s 1st series in the big leagues will be April 5-7 [with Will Flemming].

Murray, who has also called college hockey games on NESN plus college football and basketball games, said on X, “Coming up on 13 seasons in [minor league baseball], it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. Thank you to [WEEI brand manager Ken Laird] and [Audacy Boston Senior Vice President/Market Manager Mike Thomas], and to everyone who has reached out. Your support has honestly been overwhelming, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Murray’s first series will be the Red Sox taking on the Los Angeles Angels on the road, April 5-7.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Advertisement

Upcoming Events

Barrett Media Writers

Copyright © 2024 Barrett Media.