The holidays are approaching, which means a slower news cycle awaits us. As a result, Under The Radar will go on hiatus until the new year. Sports media brands and employees who have news to share during the next two weeks can still send information along via email to JBarrett@hvy.tcp.mybluehost.me. If it’s urgent, please include that in the subject title.
In the meantime, here are a few stories that you might have missed.
670 The Score in Chicago has elevated Rick Camp to full time content producer. As part of his daily responsibilities, Camp will be working with Mully and Hanley, and Spiegel and Goff. Camp recently celebrated his five year anniversary at The Score.
Houston sports radio veteran Robert Henslee has been let go from Sports Radio 610 KILT after the station recently elected to eliminate its morning and afternoon headlines packages. Henslee will continue working as the network engineer on Texans radio broadcasts, but is looking for a full time opportunity. He’s spent the past 24 years working in Houston radio. 8 of those years were with KILT. The other 16 were at KTRH 740 AM.
Longtime talk show host Gerry Vaillancourt is out at News Talk 99.5 WRNO in New Orleans. The station is inserting “Walton and Johnson” into the morning slot which had been previously occupied by Vaillancourt. Gerry V, as he’s known to his audience, moved to New Orleans from Charlotte when the Hornets switched cities and became the Pelicans in 2002. He served as the team’s color analyst on radio broadcasts for twenty two years before being let go in 2012. Prior to relocating to New Orleans Vaillancourt spent a decade hosting in Charlotte on WCNT, WFNZ, and WBT.
Congratulations is in order for Joe Bell, who was recently named the new market manager for Beasley Broadcasting in Philadelphia. One of the sports radio brands which Bell will oversee is 97.5 The Fanatic. The station is programmed by Matt Nahigian. Bell is no stranger to working with successful sports radio brands. He oversaw WQAM in Miami for 10 years during a period of time when the station was under Beasley’s control. CBS acquired WQAM in 2015.
1010XL, the flagship radio station for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has hired Hays Carlyon as its Jaguars beat reporter. Carlyon most recently covered the Jaguars for the Florida Times-Union. She’s expected to cover the team across the radio station and its digital platforms, and contribute to the afternoon drive show with Frank Frangie.
Is former UFC fighter turned analyst Chael Sonnen blowing smoke or do his latest comments contain some degree of truth? During a recent podcast interview, Sonnen hinted that Jim Rome could be in play as the future lead announcer for UFC broadcasts, replacing Mike Goldberg alongside Joe Rogan. The UFC and Rome have yet to comment on the story.
ESPN has signed MMA analyst Brett Okamoto to a new contract. Okamoto, will continue as a breaking news reporter, feature writer and analyst, host of 5ive Rounds, ESPN’s weekly MMA-centric podcast, and a one-on-one interviewer, for MMA content across linear and digital platforms. He’s been a member of ESPN since 2010.
Former WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic on-air host Brian Startare has changed career paths and is now working as a multi-media account executive for Philly.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News. Startare started his new job in November.
WEEU morning host Mike Keller has been named the new in-arena host of the Reading Royals minor league hockey team. Keller makes his debut this Wednesday, December 21st.
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.
