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Cumulus Media will drop ESPN Radio programming from 47 outlets in January to add CBS Sports Radio, reports the New York Post. The move is part of a deal that Cumulus inked with the new sports network last summer that includes syndication of CBS to stations outside of the company. Former ESPN Radio personality Jim Rome along with Doug Gottlieb and Scott Ferrall join the sports network, which will air on around 100 stations when it launches on January 2.
"ESPN affiliates are in small markets. Maybe you find that adds up to a lot of audience," CBS Radio President Dan Mason told The Post. "Don't forget that CBS Radio owns most of the top 10 sports stations in the U.S., and with Cumulus that's formidable. ESPN has had the market much to themselves, we're the new entry and we think we put together formidable talent."
ESPN Senior VP/Production and Business Traug Keller commented, "This has no material effect on us. There's only three or four [Cumulus] stations in the top 50." Keller also noted that ESPN Radio has already found new affiliates in Atlanta and Birmingham.
ESPN Radio's current affiliate count exceeds 350 fulltime stations and reaches an estimated 30 million households. It has 700 affiliates overall.
In September, Dial Global and the NBC Sports Group rolled out the live debut of NBC Sports Radio, airing on 178 stations nationwide. NBC Sports Radio content includes NFL programming and personalities Bob Costas, Tony Dungy, Michele Tafoya, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Peter King and others. (10-12-12)
Cumulus Media will drop ESPN Radio programming from 47 outlets in January to add CBS Sports Radio, reports the New York Post. The move is part of a deal that Cumulus inked with the new sports network last summer that includes syndication of CBS to stations outside of the company. Former ESPN Radio personality Jim Rome along with Doug Gottlieb and Scott Ferrall join the sports network, which will air on around 100 stations when it launches on January 2.
"ESPN affiliates are in small markets. Maybe you find that adds up to a lot of audience," CBS Radio President Dan Mason told The Post. "Don't forget that CBS Radio owns most of the top 10 sports stations in the U.S., and with Cumulus that's formidable. ESPN has had the market much to themselves, we're the new entry and we think we put together formidable talent."
ESPN Senior VP/Production and Business Traug Keller commented, "This has no material effect on us. There's only three or four [Cumulus] stations in the top 50." Keller also noted that ESPN Radio has already found new affiliates in Atlanta and Birmingham.
ESPN Radio's current affiliate count exceeds 350 fulltime stations and reaches an estimated 30 million households. It has 700 affiliates overall.
In September, Dial Global and the NBC Sports Group rolled out the live debut of NBC Sports Radio, airing on 178 stations nationwide. NBC Sports Radio content includes NFL programming and personalities Bob Costas, Tony Dungy, Michele Tafoya, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Peter King and others. (10-12-12)