A recent job posting for a WGR sports talk show host has rekindled the speculation that Howard Simon, the sports station’s morning co-host, is trying to leave to take a job with the University at Buffalo.
However, Greg Ried, the vice president and general manager for all Entercom stations in Buffalo, had this to say about the job posting: “We are thinking of adding additional hours of local talk to both WGR and WBEN at some point in the future.”
In August, when the speculation first surfaced about Simon leaving, Ried said that Simon was under contract. The sports host has been with the station for 11 years and has had several other radio stops in the market.
According to a website that focuses on radio, all.access.com, WGR program director Allan Davis said the job is for a sports opening at WGR.
“His ideal candidate,” wrote the website, “ would have three to five years’ sports talk experience with a deep knowledge of sports and the business behind it, plus a strong list of sports contacts, excellent writing and social media skills, and should work well on a team and be reliable and disciplined.”
That certainly sounds like the person hired would have an important role and wouldn’t come cheap.
WGR has a pretty full sports programming roster, partly due to its associations with the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills. Additionally, radio groups aren’t known to throw around money for extra hires. So it is only natural that some people in the media are speculating that Simon still may be leaving at some point in the future.
Reached via email, Simon declined comment, as he has done throughout the speculation that he might leave WGR.
According to sources, UB is looking to expand its sports-related coverage and presence and is looking for someone with Simon’s skills to do so.
Credit to the Buffalo News 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.
