Zach Bye is leaving his position as co-host of “Big Board Sports” with Rodger Wyland on ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team in Albany, NY, for an on-air opportunity with 104.3 The Fan in Denver. He will join forces with former NFL wide receiver Brandon Stokley weekdays from 12p-3p MT.
According to the Albany Times Union, Bye signed his contract with The Fan on Friday. His final day at 104.5 The Team will be March 16th. His on-air debut with Stokley on the new “Stokley and Zach” show is expected to take place on March 31st.
“It’s more than a good opportunity,” said Bye. “I don’t even have the adjectives to describe it — top-20 market, one of 10 American cities with four pro sports teams, No. 1 station in the market. It’s insane. It’s absurd, is what it is.”
During the process, the radio station had the two hosts do an off the air audition together. Bye says that convinced him that this was the right professional situation for his career.
“It felt right,” Bye added. “It really did. It felt easy. He was humble and kind and considerate and doesn’t carry himself like a diva. He’s a normal guy. There was a natural back-and-forth with him.”
Stokley spent 14 years in the NFL, enjoying stops in Baltimore, Indianapolis, Seattle, New York and Denver. He had previously been working alongside Charles “CJ” Johnson before Johnson left the station for an opportunity outside of the radio industry.
One benefit of the new opportunity in Denver is that it reconnects Bye with program director Armen Williams. Williams had previously programmed and hosted for 104.5 The Team, and although the two men did not work together at the station, it’s where they first became familiar with one another.
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.
