Felger leaving ESPN Boston

[Dan.Strassberg]

I suspect you are grossly underestimating the financial support that
ESPN providies to Jessica Tang and Co. ESPN needs a Boston affiliate
almost as much as they need WEPN in New York (and now Central NJ and
eastern Long Island) and WPEN in Philadelphia. The issue is spot
clearances--not ratings. As long as Disney and ESPN remain afloat, I
think 890's presence as a sports signal here remains assured. If the
station is able to garner measurable ratings from time to time, it's
just gravy.

Ms Tang and ESPN go back a long way; she managed a Pittsburgh sports
station that, I believe, was an ABC O&O. Perhaps if 92.9 or 104.1 were
doing sports talk, ESPN's allegience in Boston might flip, but I
wouldn't count on it. Between Radio Disney and ESPN, the Mouse seems
committed to AM.

-----
Dan Strassberg (dan.strassberg@att.net)
eFax 1-707-215-6367

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Tomm" <nostaticatall@charter.net>
To: "Kevin Vahey" <kvahey@comcast.net>
Cc: "(newsgroup) Boston-Radio-Interest"
<boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 9:23 PM
Subject: Re: Felger leaving ESPN Boston


> 890 was toying around with local programming before Felger's show
> during the Celtics playoff run with a couple of guys who previously
> bought time from WWZN.  My guess is that they bought the airtime
> from  890 as well.  Felger's old slot may be an attractive option
> for Lobel  & Bell, but at this point the station would probably
> rather sell them  the time than hire them on.  That station is a
> sinking ship, and  Felger  is jumping off while he has the chance.
>
> WEEI is due for some real competition, and considering the holding
> pattern both 104.1 and 92.9 have been in recently, either one could
> easily pull the trigger at anytime.   Landing Ordway would be a
> major  building block, and it's almost like WEEI is preparing to
> lose him  when his deal runs out later this year.  All of their
> front line  talent, D&C, Dale Arnold, Michael Holley and Pete
> Sheppard have  signed long term deals in the last several months.
> Everyone but  Ordway.  Considering the beating Entercom stock has
> taken recently  along with the Sox rights fees and Howie's huge new
> deal,  it might  be hard for Julie & Jason to pony up the package to
> keep Glen in the  fold.
>
> You have to wonder if Felger working for the "WEEI Website" is
> keeping him in reserve for an eventual Ordway departure...and away
> from a potential FM sports talk competitor.  As Sean mentioned, Rob
> Bradford is also signed on for web work.  It looks like WEEI is
> building up their web presence to become the local "sports leader"
> online as well.  As big as WEEI is getting, eventually one of the
> underperforming FM's in the market will want at least a part of the
> action.  With Ordway's contact in play this fall, I'd be shocked if
> one or both of them didn't make a serious run at him.  If either
> Greater Media or CBS Radio can lure him away, it's game on.
>
> Dave Tomm
> "Mike Thomas"
>
>
>
> On Jul 12, 2008, at 6:28 PM, Kevin Vahey wrote:
>
>> I heard at the ballpark that Bob Lobel and Upton Bell are pitching
>> a
>> brokered show around town. Lobie has enough friends that they could
>> clear enough to make it worth the bother.
>>
>> The only way another sports station can thrive in Boston is to hire
>> Ordway away from WEEI. It is no secret that Glenn went ballistic
>> when
>> he found out what Howie was making after he had been told he was
>> the
>> highest paid person in the entire Entercom chain.
>>
>> But Ordway would never go to a weak signal like 890 no matter how
>> much
>> cash was on the table. It would have to be either 92.9 or 104.1.
>>
>> On 7/12/08, Bob Nelson <raccoonradio@mail.com> wrote:
>>> http://shots.bostonsportsmedia.com/2008/07/developing-felger-gone-
>>> from-espn-890-and-herald-set-to-join-weeicom/
>>>
>>> ESPN Boston maintains they will continue local programming, with
>>> afternoon
>>> and midday shows, but they
>>> could not come to terms with Mike Felger who will join WEEI's
>>> website. The
>>> station has occasionally
>>> shown up in the ratings but cannot match the ratings or clout of
>>> 'EEI. Who
>>> knows how long they will continue
>>> as sports; well, at least they have things like Sunday Night
>>> Baseball and
>>> the All Star Game.
>>>
>>> In a town like this, a powerful sports talker like WEEI has no
>>> time to run a
>>> mostly-ESPN-fed format (WEEI's overnights are done by Fox
>>> Sports instead) , so ESPN turns to a smaller signal to do mostly
>>> national,
>>> some local
>>> programming. And now they lose Felger.
>>>
>