A reliable source tells DCRTV that there is “serious drama” involving the new “Man Cave” show on Red Zebra sports talker ESPN 980, WTEM. And it won’t debut Monday morning, as scheduled. In fact, we’re told, the show will never air on the station.
Apparently, Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who also owns Red Zebra and WTEM, or someone else within Snyder’s organization has a grudge against former Washington Post sports columnist Jason Reid, who was to be paired with DC radio veteran Chris Paul. We’re also hearing about a related management shake-up at WTEM, with Program Director Chuck Sapienza getting fired.
Sources tell DCRTV that ESPN 980, which airs ESPN Radio’s syndicated “Mike And Mike” in mornings, was never competitive in that key daypart with the “Sports Junkies,” which air on rival CBS sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan. And that WTEM’s management wanted a locally-based morning show that would focus on the large African-American male demographic in the DC area.
A station insider tells DCRTV that the last-minute demise of the “Man Cave” is “a total disaster. Last week, Jason and Chris attended our sales meeting and we talked about how this move was a game changer for the radio station and the company. Here we are one week later and we have no morning show and no program director. Sapienza stood up for his guys and it cost him his job. We have no idea who’s calling the shots at the station.”
Credit to DCRTV who originally published this article
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
