Tony Pike is back on the Cincinnati airwaves. The former University of Cincinnati quarterback and future Bearcats Hall of Famer has returned to host Cincy 360 on ESPN 1530 today just weeks after being laid off by iHeartMedia.
Pike made the announcement on X, sharing that his popular midday program would return to its familiar noon to 3 p.m. slot. He will also rejoin his colleague Mo Egger for the afternoon drive show from 3 to 6 p.m. according to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Tony is back and all is right with the world,” Egger told The Enquirer following the announcement.
The move marks a quick turnaround for Pike, who had become one of Cincinnati’s most recognizable local sports voices before being caught up in iHeartMedia’s company-wide reductions earlier this month. During his appearance with Egger on Monday, Pike opened up about the experience from being laid off till today.
“It felt different last week,” said Pike. “You think for so many years, my Mondays during football season have been this, and then they weren’t. I didn’t know what to do about it. And thankfully, I’m back here.”
Pike shared his thanks to everyone who reached out after news of his departure had surfaced, and was thankful to make a return to ESPN 1530.
“If there was any good that could have came out of what happened, it was getting a little bit of the gratification that at least what I had been trying to do was working,” said Pike. “People have enjoyed listening, and now that they can continue to enjoy listening.”
Pike admitted he leaned on his family following his departure from the station, and was thankful for their support during that time.
“I’ll shout out to my dad. We went to my parents house and kind of just had a pizza night, and we’re just kind of hanging around, and pizza gets delivered,” said Pike of the night following being laid off from the station. “I was in a rough spot for a few days, and as the pizza guys leaving, my dad yells at him, says, Hey, sir, we’re all sitting right. So you guys hiring? So there was a point I thought about maybe reinventing the pizza delivery game.”
On October 8, Pike posted on X that his position had been eliminated, ending his daily hosting duties on ESPN 1530, as well as his regular appearances on Egger’s show and his work with Bengals pregame coverage on 700 WLW.
“It’s not something I ever hoped to say, but my current time with iHeart has come to an end,” Pike wrote in the post. “I’m deeply thankful for the opportunity they gave me and for all the experiences that came with it.”
Even during his brief hiatus, Pike remained connected to the Cincinnati sports scene. He continued to serve as the color analyst for UC football broadcasts, operating as an independent contractor. His on-air chemistry and deep ties to Bearcats athletics have made him a staple in the city’s sports media landscape.
Pike’s return was welcomed on air and online by ESPN 1530 talent and listeners. His show, Cincy 360, offers a mix of local sports talk, listener interaction, and Bengals, Reds, and Bearcats coverage — all presented with the familiarity of a hometown voice.
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A great decision!