Felger & Mazz simulcast

[Maureen Carney]

It's now official - Felger & Mazz will be simulcast on CSN New England starting in November (exact date to be announced soon). This has been in legal limbo for over 18 months - it's what happens when CBS has to negotiate with a part of NBC! I'm going to guess that Big O won't be happy as he's long wanted his show simulcasted. NESN probably would pass on his show because of early Sox pregames on Monday and Friday, and some other programming committments they have in the afternoons. Here's the press release:
 
98.5 THE SPORTS HUB’S NO. 1- RATED FELGER & MASSAROTTI SHOW TO BE SIMULCAST ON COMCAST SPORTSNET
BEGINNING THIS FALL
 
Live Broadcast Strengthens Comcast SportsNet’s Position and Broadens the Show’sReach into Four Million New England Households
 
Burlington & Brighton, MA - September 22, 2011-  Comcast SportsNet and 98.5 The Sports Hub today announced an agreement to air a live simulcast of Boston’s leading all-sports radio station’s popular Felger & Massarotti Show on Comcast SportsNet beginning this fall.  Felger & Massarotti currently can be heard  weekdays from 2:00-6:00PM on-air, online at www.cbsboston.com, and via the Radio.com app for a variety of mobile devices.  To coincide with the show’s television debut, Felger & Massarotti will broadcast from a newly renovated set at 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Brighton studios.
 
Hosted by Comcast SportsNet personality Michael Felger and veteran Boston baseball writer and columnist Tony Massarotti, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger & Massarotti Show is the No. 1-rated afternoon drive program in Boston with Men 25-54 and Men 18-49.
 
“Felger, Mazz, and the Sports Hub have taken over Boston radio with a rocket launch to the top of the ratings.  Adding Felger's acerbic nature for four more hours to our line-up and Mazz's credentials are huge pluses for Comcast SportsNet as we continue to build out our programming which features local, entertaining sports programming from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.,” said Bill Bridgen, Comcast SportsNet Executive Vice President and General Manager.  “The Sports Hub’s growth mirrors our own dramatic evolution which began with the launch of Chevrolet SportsNet Central and has continued with the addition of a host of new programming including Quick Slants, The Baseball Show and more.”
 
“98.5 The Sports Hub has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Boston sports landscape, and the Felger & Massarotti Show has been an integral part of that success,” said Mark Hannon, Senior Vice President/Market Manager, CBS RADIO Boston. “Partnering with Comcast SportsNet on this simulcast allows us to extend our brand further, while also making the Felger & Massarotti show available on CSN to over four million households in New England.”  
 
Felger also hosts Sports Sunday and co-hosts Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight on Comcast SportsNet.  The Boston University grad is the hottest personality in Boston sports and his willingness to take on owners, coaches, players, and fans with his unique brand of biting commentary has set him apart in the Boston sports media market.
 
Massarotti, a Waltham native and Tufts University graduate, is the author of four books and a long-time baseball writer and columnist for a range of Boston news outlets, including the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and Boston.com.  Massarotti adds balance to the program with a perspective that only a pragmatic, life-long Bostonian can have.
 
“Tony and I are thrilled to broadcast our show on Comcast Sports Net, expanding our audience even further,” said Felger.  “CSN understands the need for personality and strong opinions, which is right up our alley.”
 
Added Massarotti, “Simulcasting the show adds an entirely new dimension to the experience we provide our fans.  And for many of Comcast SportsNet’s viewers we will be a welcome addition to their afternoon entertainment.”
 
Comcast SportsNet’s simulcast of the Felger & Mazz show will be presented by Nissan.
 
98.5 The Sports Hub, the 2011 NAB Marconi Radio Award “Sports Station of the Year,” is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States.  A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 130 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation’s top 50 markets. CBS RADIO also owns and operates WZLX-FM, WODS-FM, WBMX-FM, and WBZ-AM in Boston.
 
Comcast SportsNet reaches more than 4 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Comcast SportsNet’s programming includes the Boston Celtics, SportsNet Central, New England Revolution, Connecticut Sun, Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight, Celtics Now, Sports Sunday, Quick Slants, The Baseball Show and New England Tailgate. Comcast SportsNet’s partnership with the 17-time NBA Champion Boston Celtics is the longest team-regional sports network relationship in New England and the fourth longest in professional sports. Comcast SportsNet New England is owned and managed by Comcast Sports Group. Visit www.csnne.comfor more information.