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Chad Doing Joining Rip City Radio 620

Jason Barrett
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Chad Doing is returning to the birthplace of his radio career. After spending the past two years in San Francisco hosting the morning show on 95.7 The Game, Doing is heading back to Portland to join Rip City Radio 620.

As part of his new agreement, Doing will be heavily involved with Portland Trail Blazers programming. He’ll host the station’s pre and post-game shows and contribute to weekday shows as needed. Rip City Radio 620 serves as the flagship radio station for the Trail Blazers.

Doing spent the first eight years of his broadcasting career in Portland hosting talk shows for local sports stations 1080 The Fan and 750 The Game. He’ll make his on-air debut next Tuesday night when the Blazers tip off their season against the Utah Jazz.

Altitude Sports 950 Announces Upcoming Lineup Changes

Jason Barrett
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Altitude Sports 950 Announces Upcoming Lineup Changes

Altitude Sports 950 in Denver is revamping its weekday lineup. The changes will go into effect starting Monday October 24th.

The radio station launched in April and got off to a slow start in the ratings, which is not uncommon for a new brand. However, with the Nuggets and Avalanche on the verge of starting their 2016-2017 campaigns, and 950 serving as the flagship station for both franchises, management are making adjustments which they hope will help the brand close the gap on market leader 104.3 The Fan.

The new lineup will feature Vic Lombardi in the morning from 7a-10a. Scott Hastings and Tom Helmer will host middays from 10a-1p. The second midday show from 1p-3p will feature Marc Moser and Julie Browman. Afternoons will remain occupied by Nate Kreckman and Tom Nalen but their timeslot will switch from 4p-7p to 3p-6p.

The big news is Lombardi moving into morning drive where he had previously had success hosting alongside Mike Evans on 104.3 The Fan. Hastings and Helmer, who had previously worked the morning shift slide back to middays, a time slot which Hastings also enjoyed success in while working for The Fan. Moser is the newest addition to the station’s weekday lineup. Gone is Kyle Keefe who had hosted with Lombardi.

For more details on Altitude Sports 950 visit their website by clicking here.

DeCamara and Ritchie To Take Over Middays on WIP

Jason Barrett
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DeCamara and Ritchie To Take Over Middays on WIP

SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia has made a change in middays. The station announced today that the team of Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie would take over weekdays from 10a-2p starting Monday October 24th. They replace Michael Barkann and Ike Reese. WIP has confirmed that Ike Reese will be part of the new afternoon show. Barkann will not. An announcement is expected in the next few weeks.

“We are thrilled to add this new show featuring Joe and Jon,” said David Yadgaroff,  Senior Vice President and Market Manager, CBS Radio Philadelphia. “As a player, Jon Ritchie embodied the hard-working nature of our fine city. As a host, he will connect with the fans and share their passion for our local teams. Joe has proven himself to be a strong voice for the Philadelphia fans. We are excited to have them.”

DeCamara, who recently departed 97.5 The Fanatic where he had spent the past decade said, “I’m extremely excited to join WIP and CBS Radio. With Jon’s background as an Eagles’ player and talk show host paired with my on-air experience and passion for the Philadelphia sports teams from as far back as I can remember, we’ll provide an entertaining show while connecting with the audience. I look forward to Monday morning when Jon and I can get started.”

Ritchie, the former NFL fullback who’s made the shift into media after his playing career added, “WIP defines sports radio to me, and Philadelphia defines passion. I’m foaming at the mouth because this is a gigantic opportunity to drop truth-bombs on a savvy fan base who appreciates brutal honesty.”

Bruce Hooley Exits ESPN 850 WKNR in Cleveland

BSM Staff
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Changes are happening in Cleveland. ESPN 850 WKNR host Bruce Hooley has exited the radio station after a five year run. Hooley confirmed his departure via Twitter.

hooley

WKNR hasn’t commented yet on Hooley’s departure nor announced how they’d fill his void. Hooley hinted that he has another opportunity in the works. Time will tell where he lands next.

Should The Election Be Discussed on Sports Radio?

Jason Barrett
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“Stick to Sports”, “This is supposed to be a sports station”, “I don’t care what you think about anything other than sports”. If you’ve worked in this industry long enough and struck a chord with an audience, you’ve likely heard these complaints. The second your content explores new territory, critics are waiting to stone you to death for committing the cardinal sin of discussing something other than the almighty world of sports.

And that’s where things get sticky.

On one hand, you have your program director and upper management telling you “be yourself, share your life on the radio, have an opinion on everything you talk about, take risks and be fearless”. When you mention your disdain for local traffic, nobody complains. If you bring up your favorite movies or meals, many engage with you via text, tweets or Facebook. Spend time discussing music, issues with your co-workers, or problems with your significant other, and many laugh and take no offense. But the second you dive into a conversation about race, religion or politics, you’re being given the stink eye by your audience and select members of your company.

So what are you supposed to do?

Well, you could stick to sports and brand yourself that way. It is after all why your audience tuned into your station in the first place. If you’re insightful, opinionated and entertaining, and interested in your local teams and players, people will listen.

But then there’s the counterpoint to that argument – most sports stations don’t pop huge numbers by focusing solely on sports. The ones that do usually win because they expand their conversations into other areas or they have a play by play partnership pouring in huge cume.

We’re living in a very different time. Sports talk has changed dramatically over the past decade. Today we are much more fascinated by what happens outside the lines rather than what unfolds inside of them. It’s why I preach the importance of finding the drama in the content and having strong opinions to go with it.

Is that good or bad? That depends on a listener’s taste and each host’s preference. We love the NFL because our teams play once a week. We get invested in the MLB, NBA and NHL playoffs because the result determines whether a team advances or goes home. But when games are played daily for a period of 80-162 games, we become less interested. Unless of course it involves a protest by an athlete, a key injury that could derail a team’s season, a blown call by an official, a locker room altercation, a dustup between a reporter and manager or something else ‘juicy’ that we can sink our teeth into. Then we become vultures feasting on a carcass.

One could make the case that the format doesn’t have enough people on the air who truly love and care about sports. I hear it often “the game was boring”, “there’s only so many things you can say about this team”, “we have a four hour show, no way you can fill that amount of time just talking about sports”. But if you’re hosting a show on a sports station, shouldn’t you have an interest in the number one word associated with your business – sports? You don’t turn on a music station expecting to hear a DJ who doesn’t care about music or a News/Talk station expecting to hear a personality who isn’t interested in politics and news.

Case in point, the New York Giants defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-23 this past Sunday. In that game, Odell Beckham caught 8 passes for 222 yards and 2 TD’s, including the game winner. Ten years ago, a Monday in New York would have examined Beckham’s big day and focus on whether or not he had become the face of the Giants above Eli Manning, if Big Blue could win a championship with a wide receiver being their best player, how Odell measured up to the league’s best wide receivers, etc.

Instead, the majority of the on-air content I heard centered around his decision to pull his helmet off after the touchdown costing the Giants a key penalty, and whether or not his antics and bizarre behavior could be controlled. Beckham’s stats were spectacular and the win was a needed one for the Giants but the conflict in that topic was much less compelling than Beckham’s on the field behavior. Simply put, the latter angle produced more drama, which is what gets an audience more emotionally invested. That’s why it was the dominant storyline.

In most cases, sports stations target Men 25-54. The average listening age for many of these sports radio stations is between 38-48. Males in that age group need to be hooked by the content or they’re moving on to other things. They have jobs, families, responsibilities, and personal interests, and unless the content stirs their emotions, they’re likely to tune out.

The one subject that they can’t get enough of right now is the upcoming election. Why? It can potentially affect them and their families and we’re drawn to polarizing personalities.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the interest in this race for the white house is at an all-time high. Each debate has delivered a massive audience. So too did the primaries. Social media sharing of content related to the election is consistently at the top of the rankings, and whether you love or hate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, they’re magnets for controversy who we all have opinions on.

If this were four years ago when Romney and Obama were battling, the story would be very different. That race didn’t move us the way this one has. This is a trainwreck of epic proportions which the entire country is stopping by to see, and they’re getting out of their cars too to inspect the damage, ask questions and take photographs.

But what does that have to do with sports talk? The answer, nothing. But it matters greatly to Men 25-54 – your target audience.

And that’s the dilemma facing many brands.

Do you spend time addressing the topic that many of your target audience members are paying attention to? Or do you stick to your core focus even if it costs you in the ratings? Think you won’t be affected? Ask the NFL. Even the most powerful league in professional sports has felt the wrath of this election.

The other part of this that brands have to be conscious of is that the audience is connected to your talent in a much bigger way now than they were 10-20 years ago when individuals were warned to steer clear of certain content. Social media has created that change. Now, your most passionate fans follow your talent on multiple platforms. The second a host shares their beliefs on anything personal or unrelated to sports, it’s going to be remembered, shared, debated, supported, etc.

We can pretend that the airwaves are different than social media, but words and opinions stick. Just ask Donald Trump. If your talent are going to share their views on social media to thousands of your listeners, the audience is going to expect the same over the air. They may even tune in more or less because of it.

I’ve talked to a lot of people about this topic and there is no right or wrong answer because each market, station, and host is different. There will be some personalities on the air who never mention the election and if that’s what makes them comfortable then they should stick to that strategy. Others might spend larger portions of time discussing it and if it’s part of their personality I can easily understand the rationale in doing so. I can make a case for and against discussing the candidates and the current political climate but there are a few things that I believe are important for managers and talent to remember if going down this path:

  • Consider who your talent are, what they do best, and how they measure up against your competition. If the station you’re battling isn’t discussing the election or latest news, and your guys can be compelling discussing it, it can be a positive. If sports is what your hosts do best and the political discussion doesn’t interest them or is an area where they’re uncomfortable, stay away from it.
  • If you have someone on one of your show’s who’s strongly in favor of Trump or Hillary, make sure you have a counter to them on the same show. Political talk can be very divisive. It’s ok to be true to your core beliefs and stand up for one side but make sure the other side is also represented.
  • Understand what’s topical and make it relatable. For example, this Thursday after the final debate, the subject matter is much more topical than this past Monday when nothing major took place in the political world and you had a slew of football and MLB playoff games to discuss. The week prior was different because of the Donald Trump leaked video/audio. What the audience isn’t tuning you in for are your thoughts on each candidate’s position on global warming or how to reduce the budget.
  • If you’re instructing your talent throughout the year to share their lives with the audience, you’ve got to trust them with these topics too. You don’t put a UFC fighter in a cage and tell them to fight nicely, and you don’t tell a personality to open up themselves to the audience and have strong opinions on everything they discuss yet limit them when they’re interested in things you may not care for, especially when it’s a topic that they can generate bigger ratings from.
  • The main reason the audience comes to you is for an escape from real life issues. Sports provides that. It’s ok to play in the “real life space” but don’t turn your entire show or the majority of your air time over to it. Get your fix, show your audience that you’re aware of what’s happening in the world and well rounded enough to discuss it, but remember what they come to you for first.
  • This election is the world’s biggest wave. You’re a surfer living in the water waiting for that one big ride. The next month, it’ll be red hot and potentially beneficial. Once the President is chosen, move on. This is about seizing audience opportunity. Ride the wave, enjoy the benefits, and then get back to doing what you do best.

For those of you who are hosting or programming at a sports station let me leave you with one final piece of advice. Everyone has a job. Some are harder than others. Finding joy in discussing sports and getting paid to do it shouldn’t be problematic. The audience knows there will be times when you venture outside the sports arena. This election is one of those times where it can make business sense to do so. But remember how you formed a connection in the first place. It was through sports. That should be reason enough for you to show up each day with a smile and look forward to doing what you do best.

Entercom Expands Into Charlotte; Purchases The Fan

BSM Staff
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Entercom Expands Into Charlotte; Purchases The Fan

Entercom Communications has struck a deal with the Beasley Broadcast Group to purchase two FM and two AM stations in Charlotte for $24 million dollars cash. The deal includes three stations Beasley had agreed to purchase from Greater Media, plus an additional AM station and FM translator. The sale was first reported by Inside Radio.

The stations involved in the sale are Hot AC “107.9 The Link” WLNK, News/Talk WBT-FM and AM (99.3, 1110) and sports radio station “The Fan” WFNZ-AM and its FM translator. Beasley had to sell some stations in the market due to FCC ownership limits.

Entercom will start operating the three stations under a time brokerage agreement upon the closing of Beasley’s acquisition of Greater Media, beginning November 1. They plan to take over WFNZ-AM under a TBA on January 1, 2017 if the Charlotte deal has not already closed.

Entercom CEO David Field said “We are excited about the opportunity to enter the rapidly growing Charlotte market and acquire these very strong brands. We look forward to expanding the Entercom team and working hard to serve our new listeners and customers and the Charlotte community.”

Beasley has confirmed they will use the proceeds from the sale to reduce the borrowings needed to complete the Greater Media transaction.

Joe DeCamara Leaves The Fanatic; Is WIP Next?

BSM Staff
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97.5 The Fanatic has confirmed the exit of evening host Joe DeCamara. DeCamara spent eleven years with the radio station, hosting the weeknight show, and previously serving as an update anchor, producer, pre/post game host, and the station’s Assistant Program Director.

Although no formal announcement has been made, it’s rumored that DeCamara will join crosstown rival, WIP. He previously worked behind the scenes for WIP as Howard Eskin’s producer prior to joining Greater Media when the company launched the sports format on 950AM in October 2005.

There is an opening currently at WIP in afternoon drive. The vacancy was created after the radio station elected to part ways with Josh Innes this past August. One name that has been widely rumored to be on WIP’s radar for the vacancy is Adam The Bull, the current afternoon host for 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland. Whether there’s smoke to that fire is unknown.

Others who have been mentioned as possibilities include former Fanatic host Jon Marks, and former NFL player turned analyst Ross Tucker. There have also been whispers about a few former Eagles players receiving consideration. How DeCamara factors into the station’s lineup plans is unclear.

One name that doesn’t seem likely to be part of the station’s daily plans is Howard Eskin. The longtime talk show host who occupied the afternoon slot for over a decade has made it clear that he’s not interested in returning to afternoons on a permanent basis.

As the radio station resolves its current afternoon situation, it also has another challenge to address in the near future. Angelo Cataldi, the station’s longtime ratings king and face of morning drive for over two decades, has stated that he plans to retire after fulfilling his contractual obligation. Cataldi’s agreement is set to expire next year.

Now Hear This: Colin Cowherd – Fox Sports Radio

Jason Barrett
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Each week I scan the country looking for a segment of audio that jumps out. For this week, I’ve selected a six minute piece of audio from Colin Cowherd’s program. What I enjoyed about this particular content was that it was delivered on a Monday when it would be easy to ignore everything else in sports because the NFL warrants the majority of our attention.

But, the political debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Sunday night also captivated the nation. So did college football and the MLB Playoffs. That makes it a challenge when laying out your rundown on Monday and deciding which topics to explore, and when to present them during the show.

You could deliver three hours of NFL topics and ignore the other items (package them in an update or benchmark/feature) and most programmers wouldn’t find fault with your approach. Most would probably say “you can’t beat the NFL drum enough”. But when other subjects are presented well and delivered in short fashion at the back end of an hour, the secondary or third topic in a show can keep an entire show sounding complete. It tells the audience that you’re well rounded, aware of other big stories, and you never give away a segment.

In this particular piece of audio, Colin dives immediately into the content and starts with a hot button subject – the political debate. Although the majority of the segment is built around Charlie Strong and the Texas Longhorns, if you’re trying to hook an audience to sit through a five minute break, you’re better served teasing a reaction to the debate than a conversation about Charlie Strong. It offers more drama, and personal connection, and will appeal to a larger audience. You don’t need to spend the entire next segment on the political debate just because you teased it. Just pay off what you promised to the audience and move on.

Along those lines, Colin spent the first 1:10 of the segment on the debate and never presented it in a way that would divide his audience. Not many hosts employ that strategy. Human nature is to express how we feel when discussing a topic. We do it throughout each show when covering sports topics. But political conversations can take a fan of your show and cause them to pledge their allegiance to someone else. Therein lies the risk of exploring sensitive content.

What I appreciated about Colin’s approach was that he recognized the importance of the topic, skimmed the surface, and spun it in a way that was relatable to everyone. He didn’t leverage his platform and the story to further his political agenda, and instead used the political headline as bait to pull people in, and then pivoted off of it by connecting it to a bigger discussion on Charlie Strong and his performance at Texas.

As a New Yorker with stronger interest in the NFL, MLB Playoffs and political debate, if I had heard that a conversation was coming up about Charlie Strong and the Longhorns, I’d probably have tuned out. But because he addressed a larger national story right out of the gate, and framed it in a way that tied nicely to the Strong story, I wound up engaged and giving him six minutes of my time. In this PPM ratings world we operate in, that would’ve been enough listening time to generate a quarter hour of ratings credit. Click below to hear the audio.

 

Doug Christie To Team With Grant Napear On KHTK

BSM Staff
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Doug Christie To Team With Grant Napear On KHTK

Sports Radio 1140 KHTK in Sacramento is adding some firepower to its afternoon show. Longtime host and Sacramento Kings play by play voice Grant Napear has been a mainstay in afternoons, but the radio station has been searching for a partner who could add another dimension to the show.

And they believe they’ve found that missing component with the addition of Doug Christie.

Christie, spent fifteen seasons in the NBA and has done television analyst work locally for CSN California since retiring. Six of those fifteen seasons were spent playing for the Sacramento Kings.

Since venturing into the media, Christie has shown he can be candid with his opinions. KHTK is hoping that Christie’s objective opinions, energy and personality coupled with Grant’s passion, knowledge and connection to the local audience prove to be a winning combination in the future.

 

Is It Time For ESPN To Split Up Mike and Mike?

Jason Barrett
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Pairing two people together and developing a great show isn’t easy. Turning that show into a mainstream brand is even harder. Sustaining it for nearly two decades is virtually impossible.

Yet ESPN has done that with “Mike and Mike”, their morning show on ESPN Radio and ESPN 2.

To enter a sports fan’s mind for that period of time takes a ton of talent, patience, support, consistency, and whole lot of luck. Yet as we’ve seen many times in sports and the media business, even the biggest stars and shows eventually reach their finish line.

But how can you tell when a dominant program with revenue and ratings success has run out of gas? If the true measure of a show’s success is to deliver ratings, revenue and relevance, and a program is providing it, then isn’t it the role of management to stick with them and get out of the way?

This is the dilemma ESPN is facing with Mike and Mike.

On one hand, the show continues to perform both on radio and television. Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic have spent more than 16 years together, and continue to be the face of the ESPN Radio network, and a morning show which many sports fans across the nation take their cues from. Greeny and Golic entered the NAB radio hall of fame this past April, and still sound informed, engaged, and interested in delivering a quality program. They also have one of the strongest guests lists on radio.

But on the other hand, many critics say their act has grown tired and it’s time to turn the page. The common criticism is that the show lacks bold opinions, unpredictability and hasn’t refreshed itself, despite growing competition.

According to Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated, ESPN is considering breaking up the show and moving Greenberg to a morning show hosting role on television and pairing Golic with his son.

To many in radio circles, that possibility is nothing new. ESPN has made this noise before. In recent years, the network began to tinker with the show, challenging Greeny and Golic to add more opinion, more live reads, more bits, and more contributions from opinionated personalities (First Take, His & Hers). They’ve also experimented with adding Cris Carter as a third voice during football season, and utilized Molly Qerim in a part-time third host role.

There seem to be two trains of thought when it comes to Mike and Mike. You have one group of people who value what Greeny and Golic bring to the air and want to continue letting them operate the way they’re most comfortable. Then you have another faction which feels the show is corny, too safe, and lacks the opinions necessary to make the network a bigger destination each morning.

As I spoke to executives across the country, I learned that many feel the ESPN Radio brand has lost some of its luster. The network previously rolled out popular stars such as Dan Patrick, Colin Cowherd, Scott Van Pelt, and Tony Kornheiser, along with Mike and Mike, and when you start to lose high profile faces and voices, it takes time to develop the next crop of talent.

But therein lies the issue.

Many insiders aren’t convinced that ESPN Radio has found the next wave of superstars. The consensus is that Dan Le Batard is one of those superior talents along with Mike and Mike, but the rest of the shows are viewed a tier below. With more time and opportunity, opinions could change towards those other on-air talents. But when you’re in the leadership position that ESPN is in, and partners are counting on you to roll out programs with recognizable talent in order to help them win and generate immediate revenue, folks are less patient.

Which makes the idea of eliminating Mike and Mike a tough one for some network executives to wrestle with. Do you break up one of your most powerful brands and leave the radio network in a position where it doesn’t have huge star power? Won’t that further add to the narrative that the network is losing many of its best performers? Or do you sit tight and continue the ride while others continue to get better and listener and viewer tastes continue to change?

In talking to a number of executives, the consensus was that ESPN Radio would lose value without Mike and Mike. Some told me it would force them to reevaluate whether or not to continue their affiliation. But it was clear that there was a down the middle split on whether or not to cancel the show. I asked seven decision makers five key questions about Mike and Mike and here are their responses. The names of the individuals who took part in this piece have been kept private for obvious reasons.

What do you believe makes Mike and Mike a great show? 

Executive 1: The chemistry. They have worked together so long that they know each other and how to react to what the other person says. It is also about the resources, every ESPN expert is available to the show to provide insight and perspective that you can only get from those who have the access to the players and coaches from all the sports including the NFL, MLB, NBA and major college. The production staff is second to none and helps keep the Mike’s up to date on what matters most to the audience. The program is also great at covering the big story. No show is as good as Mike and Mike in taking the audience behind the curtain.

Executive 2: Chemistry and tenure. They anticipate each other’s thoughts and words.

Executive 3: It’s authentic. What you hear is what you get. Mike Greenberg is a metrosexual, neurotic, Jets loving fan. Mike Golic is a food loving, family guy, former player. They never pretend to be who they are not, they are themselves. In addition, Greenberg might be the best traffic cop on sports radio. He keeps the show moving at a tremendous pace for morning drive. His teases are the very best in the business. He is incredibly smart with a large vocabulary that he uses well to paint pictures and move seamlessly from topic to topic. Golic is the guy next door, the dude you want to have a beer with. He’s friendly and goofy and reminds us of our brother or uncle that we love. The last thing that makes this show great is ESPN. The strength of ESPN helps the show get the very best guests and top of mind newsmakers. Because they’re on ESPN Radio and TV, Mike and Mike have been able to establish themselves as the show of record for sports fans in the morning.

Executive 4: It’s a great, safe, easy brand to listen to. Continuity has been their biggest asset.  In Radio you almost win by default when you’re together for that long.

Executive 5: Longevity and the chemistry between Greeny and Golic. They are always talking about the right content too.

Executive 6: There is no show that addresses the big stories better. They make the content sound big and land the biggest guests.

Executive 7: Mike & Mike’s chemistry is what has made this show great going all the way back to day 1.  They do a good job tapping into ESPN’s resources creating a well-rounded sports show. It’s an easy and comfortable listen that informs people about the nation’s biggest sports stories.

What do you believe is missing from Mike and Mike’s show? 

Executive 1: Hard hitting opinions. At times the show is probably a little too safe in how they approach certain topics. The show needs to take some chances and push opinionated content that will generate reaction from the audience. Finding ways for the audience to be interactive with the Mike’s is always a good thing that we do not hear enough of.

Executive 2: Localism. They have too wide of net to cover. That is the drawback of a national show.

Executive 3: There isn’t a lot missing. They have access to everything they need through ESPN and their years of credibility and existence. At times the show could use more humor/fun, but it’s not a glaring miss. What it probably lacks the most is a steady fill-in because the two Mike’s are on vacation WAY too much.

Executive 4: The show could benefit from adding a woman to the cast.

Executive 5: Not one thing. I have not been one of those executives who has thought they needed to add to the show. I know the thought processes behind them doing it but I don’t feel it was necessary. Case in point, I tuned out last year during the Cris Carter segments.

Executive 6: For any show that has been successful and wants to stay on top, there has to be a refresh. They need to continue to bring big names into their show on a consistent basis that have strong opinions and can  push the story forward.

Executive 7: There is a level of unpredictability missing from the show. The guys rarely take chances and offer outspoken opinions, and they’ve settled to remain within their comfort zone.

How does the show sound now compared to 5-10 years ago? 

Executive 1: Mike and Mike used to be a radio show on TV. The show is now a TV show on radio. This is an important distinction in terms of what comes out of the speakers. The show is still enjoyable to consume, however the presentation is different because of the focus on television.

Executive 2: They have more experience and are further established. The show has an easy flow and tempo and their years together work in their favor as they are able to recall memorable moments to past shows.

Executive 3: Too cluttered. They have gotten crazy with the amount of live reads in the program.

Executive 4: The show is still very commercial/network, and non local. It’s safe and easy like McDonald’s – you know what you’re getting.  They don’t provide many opinions just the facts.

Executive 5: Just like any relationship that lasts that long, you hope it gets better with age. They understand each other better, they know how to get the best out of each other and push one another’s buttons. One way the show has suffered is that it’s no longer a radio show, it’s a TV program simulcast on radio.

Executive 6: The show has definitely digressed. I think they understood radio and the importance of keeping things moving years ago. They are best when hitting the big stories and reacting to them. For some reason they got away from that and tried to make it more of a morning zoo crew type of show. Play to your strengths, and humor is definitely not one of them, but they continue to try to incorporate it into the show.

Executive 7: The show was at its best ten years ago when it was undoubtedly the sports show of record each morning. As competition has increased, the show has gone the other way. Mike and Mike needed to step up their game and have that same entrepreneurial spirit that made it successful 16 years ago, but they’ve become more stale and predictable. As a result, the “need” to listen has waned. The shtick has stayed consistent, but in my opinion, the guys have lost their fastball. Additionally, the amount of sales clutter and promotion for company initiatives has caused far too many tune-outs.

When you sample their show, do you listen to it on radio or watch it on TV? 

Executive 1: Both. Depends where I am and what I am doing.

Executive 2: Both.

Executive 3: Radio when I’m home. TV when I’m on the road.

Executive 4: I monitor the show as a direct competitor.

Executive 5: Radio 100%. The move to the studio was not without growing pains but it’s an easier listen now.

Executive 6: Mostly on TV now.

Executive 7: A mixture of both. They play way too much to TV which has taken the shine off of the growth potential for the show on the radio.  It often seems they don’t care as much about the audio platform.

If you were in charge of ESPN, would you break up Mike & Mike and install a new morning show? 

Executive 1: It’s all about the big picture and what roles each of the Mike’s will have. Sports radio by nature is locally based and if you are going to have a major national show such as Mike and Mike, the talent must be able to appeal to multiple demographics and in a multi-platform world. Getting the right talent mix moving forward will require creativity and an understanding that the format is focused on serving multiple demos. For now, Mike and Mike is the best nationally syndicated sports show with a strong following. Decisions to change course will be based on more than just what is happening with the radio side of things at ESPN.

Executive 2: I would not bust up an established, successful and tenured show. It is too difficult to achieve a level of success like Mike and Mike have. History has proven this over and over again. Is ESPN’s gain worth the potential risk of the losses of a successful morning show?

Executive 3: HELL NO. They have the very best syndicated morning radio program in the country. No other entity has come close to getting the type of national audience share Mike and Mike has. While I’m a huge proponent of change and evolution, this show is still recognized as the show of record for sports fans in America.

Executive 4: I would blow it up and look to get younger.

Executive 5: Absolutely not, 100% no. ESPN has to remember that they look at Mike and Mike as a TV show that supplies the audio division—but on the ground level this is a key ratings grabber in morning drive on many affiliate stations. You don’t break up a winning show. Mike Greenberg is the glue.

Executive 6: Yes. I think they’ve gotten stale and need to bring in something new to excite viewers and listeners.

Executive 7: The only option at this point is to head in a different direction. If that isn’t possible contractually, then a consistent third voice needs to be added to improve the urgency and relevancy of the content.

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