The winds of change are blowing through ESPN 98.7FM – again!
In its seemingly endless quest to topple WFAN in the ratings race, 98.7 suits are shaking up their midday lineup.
Night time (7 p.m.-10 p.m.) mouths Alan Hahn and Rick DiPietro will move into the midday slot, replacing Daily News columnist Mike Lupica’s 1 p.m.-3 p.m. show. Sources said Dave Rothenberg, who currently works the noon-1 p.m. shift with Ryan Ruocco, will replace Hahn and DiPietro on the night side.
ESPN will also introduce Dan Le Batard into the lineup, replacing Colin Cowherd who split for Fox Sports, from 10 a.m. to noon as a lead-in to Hahn-DiPietro.
Lupica worked three different time slots in four years at 98.7, the last putting him up against Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa, who continues to dominate ESPN-98.7 in the afternoon drive, which includes “The Michael Kay Show.”
While the winds were blowing through 98.7, the radio home of the Knicks, Madison Square Garden honchos were exhaling. Lupica, a vocal critic of MSG boss James Dolan, is now being replaced by Hahn, who works for Dolan’s MSG Network as a Knicks studio analyst.
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.
