The station's program director is leaving. He's been there for 14 years:
Joe Zarbano Leaveing WEEI - Radio Ink
Joe Zarbano Leaveing WEEI - Radio Ink
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Change At WEEI
- Thread starter TheBigA
- Start date
"Leaving" implies it was his decision, which feels dubious.
Does hiring a new PD mean big changes coming to WEEI's lineup?
Does hiring a new PD mean big changes coming to WEEI's lineup?
I don’t see this happening. Greg Hill has been on for years in Boston and over 18 months on EEI. I don’t think listeners are going to suddenly discover him and become fans. It’s cliche cookie cutter radio with everyone playing their predictable role. Shows like Toucher and Rich, Felger and Mazz, and years ago Kirk and Callaghan, have their own unique feel. They are something different, and in the case of Felger and Mazz, it’s not really different, but it’s just a really good example of “hot take” sports radio. Other non sports shows aimed at the demo in the market that were true successes like Stern and Opie and Anthony broke new ground, did something different and were true “water cooler talk.” Nothing remotely close to that happens on The Greg Hill Show.
Even a show like Matty aimed at a different demo has its own style and uniqueness. In a world with endless choices on what to listen to what is The Greg Hill Show bringing to the table? We get it Greg, you think society is wimpy and restaurants need to be open to full capacity even during pandemics and management is always right in the sports world. Why not just open the show at 6:01 with that rant and sign off? Cue up Wiggy to conveniently disagree and Curtis to yell into the microphone the conservative view of the day.
They had the formula, first with Dennis & Callahan and then with Kirk & Callahan. They blew it, and they're not gonna get it back without some pretty dramatic change.
With Minihane the attraction was, "What's he gonna do next?"
The bland predictability of GH show completely turned their audience away.
Of course the alternative is having a station that potentially angers your partners (the teams) and creates a host who ultimately blows himself up in order to remain edgy and relevant.
Supposedly lots of people like vanilla. BTST had Hill stayed at WAAF, he would be on the beach.
In the current environment, being vanilla and non controversial would seem to a safe bet.
If you say the wrong thing, if you express support for the wrong person in some persons mind, or worse some group decides what you say offends them, they will go straight to the sponsors and pressure them to pull spots lest they be accused of tacitly supporting someone who (fill in the blank with the latest butt hurt here)
WEEI was the poster child of pushing the envelope too far
Anyone remember Little Joe the Gorilla?
Tom Brady's daughter as “an annoying little pissant” ?
Fauria adopting a faux-Asian accent to impersonate Tom Brady's agent Don Yee?
Homophobic comments?
If you say the wrong thing, if you express support for the wrong person in some persons mind, or worse some group decides what you say offends them, they will go straight to the sponsors and pressure them to pull spots lest they be accused of tacitly supporting someone who (fill in the blank with the latest butt hurt here)
WEEI was the poster child of pushing the envelope too far
Anyone remember Little Joe the Gorilla?
Tom Brady's daughter as “an annoying little pissant” ?
Fauria adopting a faux-Asian accent to impersonate Tom Brady's agent Don Yee?
Homophobic comments?
I liked Kirk and Callaghan but I agree that a show like that is risky for the reasons you stated. Maybe a good middle ground is a show that takes some risks and is controversial but keeps it focused on sports.
it is interesting that EEI got so much bad press and sponsor pressure but WRKO currently has election conspiracy theorists broadcasting in both morning and afternoon drive. We have seen a major crackdown on that in other parts of the media and on social media, but it appears to have not affected radio much, at least not in Boston and throughout New England where Howie is broadcasting. IHeart apparently can profit off far right extremist views without sponsor boycotts and hosts being fired for their views. I’m not taking a side on the issue but just pointing out that radio is flying under the radar. The callers on RKO in the morning are pretty far out there with their views and Kuhner just cheers them on and adds fuel to the fire.
Part of it is that sponsors who are concerned about controversy have already left talk radio. The audience is also older, and the whole culture lives in its own silo. Sports radio involves a broader demographic and partnerships with teams. But I agree there are similarities, and I often compare talk radio hosts to the WWE.
WRKO does not broadcast "far right extremist views".
Far Right Extremist Views views are Alex Jones, and white-supremacists. secessionists, Boogaloo Bois, Proud Boys, etc..
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Agreed. “Far right extremist” is a poor choice of words. Kuhner’s show seems to come pretty close to that line, although not on racial issues like those other groups do.
I don't listen to Kuhner: does he say election was stolen and was won by a landslide?
The reason I dropped EEI was I don't want to hear about drinking prob's, liberals, suicide, drugs, the Globe, quitting. It may be true but it seemed manipulative. Count me out.
I think Hill's show may have some potential to gain with females which I don't see to be inclined to T&R but maybe I'm incorrect.
The reason I dropped EEI was I don't want to hear about drinking prob's, liberals, suicide, drugs, the Globe, quitting. It may be true but it seemed manipulative. Count me out.
I think Hill's show may have some potential to gain with females which I don't see to be inclined to T&R but maybe I'm incorrect.
What hasn't been discussed is how much input they'll get from the PD at WFAN, Mark Chernoff. Entercom has been trying to nationalize some of its program formats, with country and alternative leading the way. I wonder if the ratings problems at WEEI will mean we'll see talent imported from other markets. One thing you see on WFAN is more athlete-hosted shows. They're phasing out writer-hosted shows. The other thing we may see is more sports gambling.
How about more usage of fantasy sports, given their relationship with Fanduel:
Entercom and FanDuel Announce Landmark Strategic Partnership
In Landmark Partnership, FanDuel Becomes the Official Sportsbook of Entercom Creating Industry-Leading Sports Audio and Sports Betting Destination
www.businesswire.com
Entercom should have kept 98.5 The Sports Hub and sold off WEEI during the CBS Radio merger. Later on down the road Entercom would still been able to bid on Red Sox radio rights.
That's one problem with WEEI they have Red Sox all spring and summer, come fall winter WBZ has Patroits, Celtics, Bruins. WEEI isn't like there sister station WFAN in New York.
That's one problem with WEEI they have Red Sox all spring and summer, come fall winter WBZ has Patroits, Celtics, Bruins. WEEI isn't like there sister station WFAN in New York.
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