Stephen A. Smith Leaving Mad Dog Radio, Returning to ESPN Radio

[udfan07]

http://thebiglead.com/2017/01/02/stephen-a-smith-leaving-mad-dog-radio-returning-to-espn-radio/

 

[CTListener]

http://thebiglead.com/2017/01/02/stephen-a-smith-leaving-mad-dog-radio-returning-to-espn-radio/

I assume his move to Mad Dog Radio was strictly about the money. Otherwise there's no reason to abandon free-to-air radio for the very limited exposure satellite provides. SiriusXM carries multiple sports channels, including ESPN, a Bleacher Report-branded talk channel and specialty channels for college sports, MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, Nascar, soccer, golf and even fantasy sports talk. making Mad Dog Radio a tiny slice of a small section of SiriusXM's 150+-channel pie. I still fail to understand why SiriusXM is paying a regional sports talker like Chris Russo so much to run a channel, then sabotaging that channel by running all sorts of sports-talk alternatives to it, unless the execs there really believe that New York is the only market that matters and that if Russo attracts a huge audience in the No. 1 market, then who cares if the rest of the country is listening.

 

[justgladtobehere]

The story is confusing. He will be on in New York and Sirius XM, but what about terrestrial ESPN Radio? Will he take the place of Rotillo and Van Pelt on satellite?

 

[ShawnHill1]

I still fail to understand why SiriusXM is paying a regional sports talker like Chris Russo so much to run a channel, then sabotaging that channel by running all sorts of sports-talk alternatives to it, unless the execs there really believe that New York is the only market that matters and that if Russo attracts a huge audience in the No. 1 market, then who cares if the rest of the country is listening.

I used to be a semi-regular listener to Mad Dog Radio when I had SiriusXM, but I couldn't never take listening to Russo for more than 30 seconds because of that voice of his. Dino Costa, who used to be a host on Mad Dog Radio (his show used to follow Russo's) would rip on Russo several times directly just for that very point.

The story is confusing. He will be on in New York and Sirius XM, but what about terrestrial ESPN Radio? Will he take the place of Rotillo and Van Pelt on satellite?

This is quite similar to his previous ESPN Radio deal, where the show originates from NYC but also simulcast in LA. ESPN has a second LA outlet with KLAA that airs the other national stuff that KSPN doesn't.

 

[udfan07]

I used to be a semi-regular listener to Mad Dog Radio when I had SiriusXM, but I couldn't never take listening to Russo for more than 30 seconds because of that voice of his. Dino Costa, who used to be a host on Mad Dog Radio (his show used to follow Russo's) would rip on Russo several times directly just for that very point.



This is quite similar to his previous ESPN Radio deal, where the show originates from NYC but also simulcast in LA. ESPN has a second LA outlet with KLAA that airs the other national stuff that KSPN doesn't.

The thing about Mad Dog Radio is that the fill in and weekend hosts are actually so much better than the regular talent and that really says something about how the channel is run.