Felger leaving ESPN Boston

[David Tomm]

But for the most part, 890 doesn't appear in the Arbs and when they  
do, it's barely above the minimum share.  ESPN will stay there until  
a viable FM sports alternative comes around--and then they're gone.   
ESPN does own some FM affiliates...Dallas comes to mind off the top  
of my head.   For the most part their O&O's are on AM, but there are  
quite a few non-owned affiliates on FM, and that number will increase  
in the future.

The industry is moving toward posting, which means stations (and  
networks) are becoming more accountable to advertisers and agencies.   
Ad buyers want quantifiable results, and just clearing spots on a low- 
powered AM that gets no ratings isn't going to cut it in the next few  
years.  Tang and the Worldwide Leader may go way back, but business  
is business.  If ESPN can get their spots cleared on a full signal FM  
in a sports crazed major market like Boston, they'd jump at the  
opportunity.

-Dave Tomm
"Mike Thomas"


On Jul 13, 2008, at 6:55 AM, Dan.Strassberg wrote:

> 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.
>>>>
>>
>