98.5 The Sports Hub has signed Fred Toucher to a contract extension. The new agreement will keep Toucher in morning drive with the Boston sports radio station according to a Beasley Media Group press release.
“I am thrilled to be able to work with my Beasley family over the coming years,” Toucher said in a statement. “I will continue my record of immense competence and brilliance.”
Toucher has been at The Sports Hub since it launched in 2009. He has been co-hosting with Rich Shertenlieb in Boston since 2006. The duo remained on top in the market for morning drive in this summer’s ratings book despite Toucher’s absences from the program earlier this year due to a cancer scare and mental health issues.
“We are thrilled that Sports Hub listeners will be able to hear Fred’s unique brand of humor each weekday morning for years to come,” Beasley vice president and market manager Mary Menna said.
Rick Radzik echoed the sentiments of Menna in that locking Toucher into a deal for the foreseeable future is a net positive.
“Fred has been entertaining Sports Hub listeners each morning since 2009 with his compelling viewpoints and opinions on a wide range of topics,” he said. “We are very pleased that he will continue on with us for years to come.”
While it’s clear that Toucher will continue on in morning drive for 98.5 The Sports Hub, it’s still sort of foggy what Shertenlieb’s future holds. The press release announcing Toucher’s extension didn’t contain any mention of Shertenlieb or Toucher and Rich.
The Boston Globe this week wrote that while Fred Toucher is locked into a contract extension, Rich Shertenlieb is not. It was also mentioned that Shertenlieb changed the handle for the Toucher and Rich Twitter/X account this week, potentially signaling the end of the tandem’s run together.
