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Scott Masteller Named Program Director at 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia

BSM Staff
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Scott Masteller Named Program Director at 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia

Beasley Media Group announced today that Scott Masteller has been named the new Program Director at 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia.

A veteran programmer, Masteller has more than 45 years’ experience in the radio industry serving as a PD, an On-Air Talent and as a radio executive.

According to a company release, Masteller, most recently spent 7 years as the Program Director of WBAL News Radio in Baltimore, Maryland and is known as a specialist in spoken word content in both the news and sports formats. The company says Masteller is recognized in the industry for his ability to coach talent and help them get to the next level. In addition, Masteller constructed and managed networks for the Orioles, Ravens, and Navy Football.

The radio veteran also spent 13 years at ESPN as PD for ESPN in Dallas, Fort-Worth and as the Senior Director of Content at the ESPN Radio Network in Bristol, Connecticut, where he developed several on-air hosts as well as served as a programmer in Portland, Salt Lake City and Lexington, Kentucky.

“Scott is one of the premiere programmers in Sports Talk radio,” said Beasley Media Group Philadelphia Vice President and Market Manager, Joe Bell. “I have been a fan for years and feel he’s the right person to continue developing the Fanatic Brand.”

“I am excited to partner with Beasley and the talented staff of 97.5 The Fanatic,” said Scott Masteller. “Philadelphia is such a great sports town with some of the most passionate fans in the country!”

Chuck Damico, who had been the PD of The Fanatic since June, 2020, left the position in September to take on the PD role at legendary Philadelphia rock station WMMR, where he had been the Assistant PD for 18 years before the retirement of Bill Weston.

98.5 The Sports Hub Leads The Way in Boston Fall Ratings Book

BSM Staff
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Boston sports radio underwent a major change during the fall ratings period. The market’s top-rated morning show, Toucher & Rich on 98.5 The Sports Hub came to an end when Rich Shertenlieb announced his departure. Despite losing a key part of its lineup, The Hub remained strong, finishing first in mornings with a 17.1 share according to the latest Nielsen Audio report.

Shertenlieb exited the station on November 10, surprising many since Toucher had signed a contract extension a few weeks earlier. A search immediately began to find Fred Toucher a new partner with Rob “Hardy” Poole landing the role. In the interim, Toucher hosted with multiple people throughout November and December. The new morning team, Toucher & Hardy will debut on The Hub on Thursday, January 4th at 6am ET.

Middays were strong once again with Scott Zolak and Marc Bertrand snagging a 16.7 share in the fall book to finish first. That was up from a 14.6 in the summer book. The lone setback was in year-over-year performance. Zolak & Bertrand experienced a dip, dropping from a 18.9 in 2022.

The large share accumulation continued in afternoons for Felger & Mazz. The popular tandem earned the best number among local sports radio programs. Mike and Tony garnered a 20.1 share for the quarter, up from a 17.2 share in the summer. Felger and Massarotti were slightly higher in 2022, recording a 20.9 share during the same period last year.

In weekday prime hours (6a-7p), 98.5 The Sports Hub gained a 16.3 share, up a full point from the summer book. That placed the Beasley Media Group-owned outlet first in the market.

Conversely, Audacy-owned WEEI dropped by three shares from the summer to fall book, finishing with a 4.4 share in the prime frame. That placed The Hub’s local rival in seventh place for the quarter.

Greg Hill, Jermaine Wiggins and Courtney Cox amassed the station’s highest share delivering a 10.2 share in the mornings, placing them second for the fall book. The program was down by 1.4 share points from the summer book but only five tenths of a point off from 2022.

Andy Gresh and Christian Fauria led middays to a 3.8 share, earning them a fourth-place finish. The show experienced a big drop this quarter, losing 3.2 share points from the summer book. The news wasn’t much better year-over-year as Gresh and Fauria were way off from the 10.9 share produced last year when Gresh and Rich Keefe teamed together.

Afternoons on WEEI were tied for 12th in the fall with a 2.6 share. Jones & Mego with Adam Jones and Meghan Ottolini did have the most dramatic year-over-year drop on the station, down from a 9.1 in 2022. They weren’t as far off from their summer book performance when the show tied for eighth with a 3.9 share.

“Ratings reports and analysis are written by BSM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways sports media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.

Sid Rosenberg: Fill-In Hosts ‘Did a Very Good Job, But They’ll Never Be Me’

BNM Staff
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Sid Rosenberg: Fill-In Hosts ‘Did a Very Good Job, But They’ll Never Be Me’

Like many radio hosts, 77WABC morning man Sid Rosenberg took extended time off at the end of the calendar year. While he appreciates the efforts of those who filled in for him, he knows they can’t produce the impact he does.

In his first show returning to the airwaves in 2024, Rosenberg discussed the job the fill-in hosts of his show did with one of those tasked with hosting in his stead, Curtis Sliwa. Rosenberg shared his appreciation for Sliwa before noting that the longtime New York host joked about his ego, before saying Sliwa did “a very fine job” hosting the program. The morning host then joked that if his ego was going to be fair game for criticism, he was going to share his true thoughts.

“What the hell is a ‘very fine job’? That’s like kissing your sister on the cheek!,” argued Sliwa.

“You want the answer? The answer is (the hosts) did a very, very good job, but you guys will never be me. There’s your answer. And if people want to get upset with me upstairs, so be it. I don’t care,” Rosenberg admitted.

Sid Rosenberg’s revelation comes after Andrew Giuliani, Sliwa, and 77WABC owner John Catsimatidis filled in on the station’s morning show while Rosenberg was off for the entire week of shows from December 25th through December 29th.

Sliwa said he had a bigger ego than the morning host. Sid Rosenberg joked that if Sliwa didn’t stop talking about his ego, he’d limit the appearances Sliwa sees on the station’s morning show from every day to three times per week.

670 The Score Maintains Lead in Chicago Fall Ratings Book

BSM Staff
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The Chicago sports radio battle continues to favor 670 The Score as evidenced by the latest fall ratings. The Audacy-owned sports radio outlet topped competitor ESPN 1000 in all categories among the Men 25-54 demographic according to the latest Nielsen Audio report.

Weekday prime hours (6a-7p) resulted in a third-place finish for 670 The Score with a 5.5 share. That ranking was the same as last year although the station did improve its share from a 5.0. Compared to the summer ratings book, The Score picked up three tenths of a share, maintaining its third-place position. Ratings data for 670 The Score implements total-line reporting, including both over-the-air and streaming performances in its final numbers.

In morning drive from 5:30a-10a, Mike Mulligan and David Haugh earned a 6.2 share, placing second in the market. The figure is up from the duo’s 5.5 share and second-place finish in the summer book. Moreover, the result tops the 4.8 share Mully & Haugh posted in the fall book last year when the program ranked third.

During middays between 10a-2p, Dan Bernstein and Laurence Holmes amassed a 6.1 share to finish third this fall. Although the program placed second in the 2022 fall book, it had a lower share of 5.6. That means the program gained five tenths year-over-year. In the summer book, Bernstein & Holmes possessed a 5.3 share, good for sixth.

The station continued its strong results in afternoons from 2p-6p. Parkins & Spiegel recorded a 4.8 share to finish third. The program led by Danny Parkins and Matt Spiegel, produced a 5.2 share and fifth-place finish in the summer book. Year-over-year, the show’s share is up one tenth of a point and one ranking position.

Conversely, listenership of ESPN 1000 was lower in the fall book. Despite adding the Chicago Bears to the station’s airwaves, the weekday prime performance saw the outlet finish 18th with a 2.7 share. The Good Karma Brands-owned brand was fifth in the market last year with a 4.2 share. The station was also down six ranked positions and six tenths of a point from the summer book.

Morning programming on ESPN 1000, which is split between the national show Unsportsmanlike featuring Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon and the local program Kap & J.Hood with David Kaplan and Jonathan Hood, finished with a 2.5 share. The 5:30a-10a daypart ranked 21st, down from a 2.6 share and 19th place finish last quarter. Year-over-year, the timeslot was lower by 1.7 share points.

Middays are occupied by a split of ESPN Radio’s national program #Greeny and the local show Carmen and Jurko featuring John Jurkovic and Carmen DeFalco. The timeslot finished with a 2.4 share, tied for 17th this quarter. Compared to the summer book, the program’s share declined from a 3.1 share. In the 2022 fall book, the show was tied for ninth with a 3.7 share.

In afternoon drive, ESPN 1000 finished tied for 15th with a 3.1 share, down from the 4.0 share and sixth-place ranking last quarter. Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman’s program, Waddle & Silvy, ranked third in the 2022 fall ratings book with a 4.8 share.

As it pertains to the full week (M-SU, 6a-12a) in the Men 25-54 demographic, 670 The Score finished fifth with a 4.6 share. ESPN 1000 placed 19th in the market with a 2.5 share. Both share numbers were down year-over-year from when The Score earned a 4.4, 4th place finish, and ESPN 1000 generated a 3.5 share, 10th place tie.

“Ratings reports and analysis are written by BSM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways sports media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.

WBAP Adding FM Simulcast on 93.3 in Dallas, Announces New Afternoon Show

BNM Staff
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WBAP Adding FM Simulcast on 93.3 in Dallas, Announces New Afternoon Show

WBAP has announced that the station will add an FM simulcast on 93.3 KLIF-FM in the Metroplex Wednesday.

“As we move into a critical election year, these talent moves and an FM frequency for WBAP speak to our commitment to spoken-word radio,” said Cumulus Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Vice President Dan Bennett. “We will carry our stations on a variety of signals and streaming to improve accessibility of this outstanding news and talk content to our listeners. 2024 will be a great year for News/Talk.” 

The KLIF-FM signal is a 50,000-watt, class C2 station that covers the overwhelming majority of the Dallas/Fort Worth market.

In addition to a new FM simulcast, the station has also officially announced the addition of Carla Marion to co-anchor WBAP’s Morning News alongside Haly Jay and Ernie Brown, which Barrett News Media first reported in December.

Additionally, James Parker has joined WBAP as afternoon drive host, helming a program from 2-5 PM. Parker is a native Texan who has spent time working in New Orleans, and most recently in Tyler, Texas in local television. The timeslot was previously hosted by Rick Roberts, who exited the station in August.

Finally, Cumulus has announced Laura Sadler will join 570 KLIF for DFW’s Morning News alongside Clayton Neville and Gabrielle Taite. Sadler previously worked as a freelance sports journalist. Taite joins the station after a stop in Athens, Georiga working in local television.

FOX Sports Radio Adds New Affiliates to Start the Year

BSM Staff
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As the calendar flips to the new year, FOX Sports Radio has announced some new affiliate radio stations.

97.9 FM in Hartford, CT, 1300 AM in New Haven, CT, 970 AM in Pittsburgh, PA and 106.3 FM in Sheridan, WY, listeners will now be hearing FOX Sports Radio programming as of January 1st.

97.9 FM (WUCS) reaches in to the Bristol, CT market, home of ESPN, and the station had been an affiliate of the “World Wide Leader” since January of 2012. In addition to being the flagship station for Connecticut Huskies play-by-play, the station also features The Rob Dibble Show, hosted by the 2-time Major Leage Baseball All-Star and 1990 World Series champion.

1300 AM in New Haven and 970 AM in Pittsburgh were both previously ESPN Radio affiliates while 106.3 in Sheridan was known as “Smart Talk 106.3” and featured talk about money, medicine, pets, cars and home improvement.

Salem Media Group Voluntarily Delists From Nasdaq

BNM Staff
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Salem Media Group has announced plans to voluntarily delist itself from Nasdaq later this month.

The company claims it will depart the stock exchange “on or around January 18, 2024”. The announcement comes after the company secured a new $26 million revolving credit with Siena Lending Group. The new asset-based credit is a three-year deal, and replaces the previous line of credit Salem Media Group featured with Wells Fargo.

According to a press release, the radio broadcaster “anticipates significant financial savings as a result of this decision. In addition, delisting and deregistration provide several benefits to the Company and its stockholders including lower operating costs and reduced management time commitment for compliance and reporting activities.”

The move is the latest in a line of business moves looking to strengthen the conservative and Christian broadcasting giant. Late last month, the company agreed to sell its publishing division to Skyhorse Publishing. Additionally, Salem sold its Church Products division for $30 million after selling off the tower land and a pair of stations in South Carolina for $10 million.

As of this publication, Salem Media Group’s stock was trading at 39 cents per share.

The 2024 BNM Summit is Coming To Washington D.C.

Jason Barrett
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The 2024 BNM Summit is Coming To Washington D.C.

What better way to kick off the new year than to make an announcement. We’ve been working on our plan for the 2024 BNM Summit for months and I’m stoked to share the news today with the news media industry.

In 2023, we had an excellent debut event in Nashville. I recognize that I’m a new face to many in news talk radio and television. For that reason, I wasn’t sure what to expect last time. Would folks make the trip? What would our sponsor support look like? Could I create the right agenda for those in attendance? There were a lot of questions to answer. Judging from the feedback, I think we passed the test.

As we talked about the next one and reviewed industry responses, I knew we’d have to raise our game in an election year. We listed New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington D.C. as possible destinations, and all were attractive for different reasons. But we can only pick one, and I’m excited to share that the 2024 BNM Summit is coming to the nation’s capital, Washington D.C..

The dates of the show will be Wednesday September 4th and Thursday September 5th. We’ll have more details leading up to the show. One thing you’ll want to take advantage of now is our special sale on tickets. Our regular price will be $299.99 but for the month of January tickets are on-sale for $199.99. Prices will not be this low after February 1st. We have 250 seats in the venue so it’s first come, first served.

When we considered the possibility of bringing the Summit to D.C., we knew it had a ton of benefits. There were great options for speakers, and numerous brands and networks operating locally. Being accessible to politicians, the NAB, and other businesses was also appealing. All that was needed was the right venue with nearby hotel options. Fortunately, we found it.

The Jack Morton Auditorium at The George Washington University will serve as our location for September’s show. It’s an awesome venue, which has been used before for high profile events. There’s also great parking and an awesome food court nearby, and it’s close to the main local landmarks. Having 3-4 hotels within walking distance was another advantage. Speaking of which, we’ll have more details on our hotel options soon.

The key information to be aware of for now are the dates of the show, and the special January ticket price. We’ll add speakers in the upcoming months and email attendees for insight on what they wish to learn at our next event. We expect this to be a strong conference, and I’m excited to bring the industry together a half a mile away from the White House.

If your group sponsored last year’s show or didn’t and would like to, reach out to Stephanie Eads. She has this year’s sponsorship deck now available. We had outstanding support last year, and expect demand for this one to be even higher. Stephanie can be reached at Sales@BarrettSportsMedia.com or 415-312-5553.

Justin Craig, Chris Kinard, Mary Menna Added to 2024 BSM Summit Lineup

Jason Barrett
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Justin Craig, Chris Kinard, Mary Menna Added to 2024 BSM Summit Lineup

To kick off 2024, we’re announcing the additions of three more talented broadcasters to our 2024 BSM Summit. More on that shortly. The Summit takes place March 13-14 at the Ailey Theater in New York City. For tickets, hotel rooms, and additional details, visit BSMSummit.com. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Stephanie Eads. A number of items are already claimed but she can tell you what’s left. Reach her by email at Sales@BarrettSportsMedia.com or by phone at 415-312-5553.

What I’ve always enjoyed about the Summit is that it showcases speakers from different areas of the industry. We’ve featured top talent, researchers, agents, digital leaders, podcasting experts, ratings analysts, tech builders, play by play voices, and of course, program directors and market managers. There’s many ways to succeed, and no better way to learn than to hear from folks who consistently win.

In the sports audio world, 98.5 The Sports Hub, 106.7 The Fan, and ESPN Radio are highly respected brands. The Hub and The Fan are dominant in Boston and Washington D.C.. ESPN Radio meanwhile maintains a strong position as one of the top national audio brands. All feature strong leaders, and we’re fortunate to have all of them represented in NYC.

It’s a pleasure to welcome Beasley Boston Market Manager Mary Menna to the Summit. This is her first appearance at the conference. Mary is responsible for managing The Hub’s business, currently the top revenue generating brand in all of sports radio. I’m excited to have her offer her insights on a panel with Chris Oliviero and Scott Sutherland. More details on the session, date/time closer to the show.

On the programming side, it’s great to welcome back Chris Kinard of 106.7 The Fan, and Justin Craig of ESPN Radio. Both will be involved in programming panels at the show.

CK has helped lead The Fan and Team 980 to consistent growth in the nation’s capital. He’s a forward thinking type of leader with a great feel for the current and future challenges facing the business. I’m looking forward to having him share a few lessons he’s learned with the rest of the room.

For my friend JC, he’s seen ESPN Radio evolve for the better part of two decades. Liked and respected by most, he’s valued and trusted to guide ESPN Radio’s day-to-day operations. Given the network’s change in focus, talent, and structure, he’ll have great insights to share on where national sports audio is moving.

Our speaker list now sits at twenty. It will grow much more over the next two months as we reveal other additions to the show. We’ll also be announcing our award winners, and a few other surprises. This is a fun and informative two-day event for sports media professionals. If you haven’t joined us before, I hope you’ll do so this time. Everything you need to know prior to the event will be available at BSMSummit.com.

Big Cat: Barstool Sports Isn’t Likely to Continue Sponsoring Arizona Bowl

BSM Staff
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Big Cat: Barstool Sports Isn’t Likely to Continue Sponsoring Arizona Bowl

Barstool Sports pulled out all the stops for a national audience over the weekend as the title sponsor of the Arizona Bowl.

The media outlet produced the game between Toledo and Wyoming, with The CW providing a national TV platform to air the contest.

Barstool used its own personalities in the broadcast booth, on the sidelines, and for pregame and halftime.

Jake Marsh called the play-by-play, with Dan “Big Cat” Katz and Barstool founder Dave Portnoy as the analysts. Caleb Pressley and Adam “Rone” Ferrone were the sideline reporters.

The broadcast booth was the star of the show. While Marsh was there to keep the attention on the action on the field, it was the reactions by Big Cat and Portnoy that got the attention of social media. As to be expected, a lot of the reaction was negative.

Still, while the production did get some hate, many on social media felt like it was refreshing to not hear a more traditional broadcast.

At multiple points throughout the game, both Big Cat and Dave reacted to the hate posts on X they received in real time online and on the air.

“Thanks for watching,” Katz replied on the air to one hate post.

After the game, Big Cat seemed to give the indication that 2023 was going to be the last year Barstool was associated with the Arizona Bowl. Barstool has been the game’s title sponsor since 2021.

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