97.3 The Fan midday host John Kentera will depart the San Diego sports talk station after Friday’s program.
The John Kentera Show was heard from 10 AM-2 PM on the Audacy-owned station. Kentera told The San Diego Union-Tribune that he was let go.
“I’m stunned. Extremely disappointed,” Kentera said. “This has been very hard on me as well as my family…This is a gut punch.”
Kentera claimed he was told by station management that they wanted a “less caller-driven show” than what he currently features in the timeslot.
“I prepare like crazy. I think my show is good, well-received, so I was stunned when I was told I was being fired,” Kentera said.
John Kentera has hosted sports shows in San Diego since 1987. He worked at The Mighty 1090 from 2003 to 2015, before joining 97.3 The Fan in July 2019.
Ratings didn’t appear to be an issue for the program. During the summer ratings book, the show saw an impressive increase, jumping from a 5.8 share in the spring, good for 4th, to an 8.2 share and the number one show in the market during its timeslot.
The longtime San Diego host told the newspaper he had no plans to retire anytime soon, claiming “I’m not done yet”.
