OT: ESPN latches on to WEEI

[Free_Pacman]

ESPN programmig will be on EEI on the weekends and overnights. ESPN personalities like the MNF crew will be on air. Schefter is on every Friday with D+C.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

I just heard this. Hell of a deal for WEEI, from the sound of it.

 

[Wolfpack]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

Hopefully Bill Simmons will be able to make semi-regular appearances on WEEI again.

 

[Pats726]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

wasn't there a report that ESPN was having it's own station here??

 

[Jackson 2]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

ESPN programmig will be on EEI on the weekends and overnights. ESPN personalities like the MNF crew will be on air. Schefter is on every Friday with D+C.

Just heard Sheppard turtling like hell and backing away from his usual justified criticism of ESPN upon hearing the news. No one seems to have a spine anymore...

 

[pats1]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

wasn't there a report that ESPN was having it's own station here??

Yes, after ESPN 890 went under last month:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...rcom-talks-move-weei-fm-start-espn-850-a.html

Either this is a primer or a compromise.

No more Fox Sports Radio in Boston, then.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

Just heard Sheppard turtling like hell and backing away from his usual justified criticism of ESPN upon hearing the news. No one seems to have a spine anymore...

I did think it was funny when Big O said that they are trying to get Tom Jackson on, Pete's reply was "Jackson hasn't said anything bad about the Pats since he said that the players hate their coach". Really, did Pete forget all the spygate crap or Jackson saying last year that Jay Cutler was better than Brady? Or how about last weekend when Jackson said with a twinkle in his eye that he felt that Brady may never be good again.

As long as they keep the moron ESPN guys like John Clayton, Mark Schlereth, Ditka, and others off of WEEI, I think it will be a good move for WEEI. But Stink did make appearances on Felger's show. So I would assume he will be on the Big Show too.

 

[cartmen]

ESPN is owned by of course disney which has a license to print money. I am not a hater of the channel but this might be the beggining of the end for the EEI as we know it

 

[Rob0729]

ESPN is owned by of course disney which has a license to print money. I am not a hater of the channel but this might be the beggining of the end for the EEI as we know it

Nah! WEEI is licensing certain broadcasts (nights and weekends probably mostly) and paying to get exclusive access to ESPN on air talent. That is how far the relationship goes. ESPN have no control on content of WEEI.

 

[Wolfpack]

ESPN is owned by of course disney which has a license to print money. I am not a hater of the channel but this might be the beggining of the end for the EEI as we know it

I doubt it. I think as far as ratings in the Boston market goes, ESPN needs WEEI more than WEEI need ESPN. WEEI was in bed with ESPN until about 5 years ago or so and when they split ways, it's pretty clear who got the best of the new deal.

It's just going to affect things like weekend programming, and the theme song you hear during the 20/20 sportsflash and some of the guests, but you won't be seeing any radical changes to the WEEI lineup from 6 to 6.

 

[efin98]

Nah! WEEI is licensing certain broadcasts (nights and weekends probably mostly) and paying to get exclusive access to ESPN on air talent. That is how far the relationship goes. ESPN have no control on content of WEEI.

Well he is partly right though as it could be the end of the AM version of WEEI at some point...850 becomes an ESPN station, they shift over to the FM dial on one of their three FM frequencies(93.7, 97.7, or 107.3).

 

[Jackson 2]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

I did think it was funny when Big O said that they are trying to get Tom Jackson on, Pete's reply was "Jackson hasn't said anything bad about the Pats since he said that the players hate their coach". Really, did Pete forget all the spygate crap or Jackson saying last year that Jay Cutler was better than Brady? Or how about last weekend when Jackson said with a twinkle in his eye that he felt that Brady may never be good again.

As long as they keep the moron ESPN guys like John Clayton, Mark Schlereth, Ditka, and others off of WEEI, I think it will be a good move for WEEI. But Stink did make appearances on Felger's show. So I would assume he will be on the Big Show too.

Talk about the appropriateness of a moniker: Stink=Schlereth. If nothing else, the advent of the Sports Hub, which I've found hugely disappointing, has prodded WEEI into some changes both in format and their "take it or leave it" attitude. I, also, heard and got a laugh from Sheppard's Jackson comment you cited. Just yesterday, I believe it was Pete who was *****ing on Jackson for justifying Suggs' episode with Brady. Honestly, they're all media whores whether WEEI, ESPN or elsewhere. It's just easier on the ears when those whores slant their opinions in favor of the teams I like. I guess that makes me one, too.

 

[jmt57]

WEEI is owned by Entercom, which has been doing some maneuvering and is not yet finished. There's been some speculation that they will move EEI to an FM signal and make 850 another sports talk station - but focus primarily on espn radio rather than local guys for its programming. Entercom also has the rights to both the Red Sox and Celtics, so that's going to fill up much of their night time programming - and a second station gives them an alternative when both are playing at the same time.

As far as treating the guys from Bristol with kid gloves, I wonder if that's an internal directive - at least until negotiations are complete. Previously EEI was affiliated with Fox Sports Radio and I don't recall that having an effect one way or the other with comments about Fox commentators and analysts. On the other hand from a corporate perspective it doesn't make sense to promote your show by saying you're going to have weekly interviews with people from espn, and then trash those same guests five minutes later.

ESPN already dominates television and the internet for national sports coverage. They're expanding into local sports coverage with sites such as espnboston.com. And there are stations across the country affiliated with espn radio. I just think that the programming on espn radio is a better fit for cities that don't have pro sports teams, as it is national in its focus. If you're in Boston you want to hear about the Pats, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins; if you're in Philadelphia you want to hear bout the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and Flyers, etc. I would think that in cities such as those with pro sports team there will always be more listeners interested in local sports talk than Mike & Mike, Colin Cowherd, etc.

One last thing to note is that espn does not permit its employees to go on any non-espn radio stations if there is an espn radio station in that market. That means going forward 98.5 does not get any access to any of the guys from Bristol for any of their shows. Probably not that big a deal since there are more than enough other potential guests for their shows from the Globe, Herald, CBS, Fox, NBC, SI and Sporting News, but I'll be curious to see how 98.5 responds.

 

[Pats726]

I got the impression weeks ago that ESPN MIGHT have their own station..programming and basically another sports outlet...to cover sports..Mike?Mike, Cowher and the usual ESPN programming and MAYBE local ESPN people in the afternoon.
I would LIKE that if that happened..give more choices..maybe better ones..the mornings on EEI/BZ FM are terrible...DC...yuk!! TR..same...not as bad...It is here that Mike and Mike even though they can be annoying stick to sports..the afternoon F/M...terrible..they talk sports but are so far off base..I ahve a 10 minute rule..will listen until they say something blatantly untrue, wrong or totally annoying..then go back to the Big Show. A lot depends on what they are talking about Sox, Celts vs Pats..but a third choice would BE the best..but it seems not happening.
Felger I bet is disappointed as he had Stink on a lot before.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: OT ESPN latches on to WEEI

Talk about the appropriateness of a moniker: Stink=Schlereth. If nothing else, the advent of the Sports Hub, which I've found hugely disappointing, has prodded WEEI into some changes both in format and their "take it or leave it" attitude. I, also, heard and got a laugh from Sheppard's Jackson comment you cited. Just yesterday, I believe it was Pete who was *****ing on Jackson for justifying Suggs' episode with Brady. Honestly, they're all media whores whether WEEI, ESPN or elsewhere. It's just easier on the ears when those whores slant their opinions in favor of the teams I like. I guess that makes me one, too.

I do think WEEI has gotten better since The Sports Hub has given them a bit of a scare. There is less commericials and they don't ignore the Pats anymore before the Red Sox either win the World Series or get eliminated from the playoffs. I do agree that The Sports Hub is uneven although I like Zolak and Damien Amendolara a lot. My only real complaint with WEEI (at least for the afternoon show) is that they still take calls from guys like Steve from Fall River, Dakota from Braintree, or a Jets or Dolphins fan to allow them to make stupid anti-Pats comments just so they can ridicule them. Well that and Pete Sheppard.

As for Sheppard, I am convinced he is on the radio just to allow the most homer moronic radio listen to think he/she is intelligent because they are not as moronic as one of the hosts on the Big Show. Sheppard is really an embarrassment. There isn't a guy on either radio station that I hate more than him.

 

[Rob0729]

Well he is partly right though as it could be the end of the AM version of WEEI at some point...850 becomes an ESPN station, they shift over to the FM dial on one of their three FM frequencies(93.7, 97.7, or 107.3).

That is a possibility, but it won't be that ESPN will own or control WEEI. They will only purchase or lease WEEI AM broadcasting license. I am talking content. If WEEI switches to FM, the only change would be a stronger signal. And probably that this new ESPN deal ends since ESPN wouldn't want to compete against itself.

 

[alamo]

Wonder how this will affect Mike Reiss? Presumably he would be limited to appearances on WEEI, not 98.5, but since Reiss is primarily ESPNBoston and not national I don't see WEEI wanting him on much. WEEI has invested a lot in their website and ESPNBoston has to be seen as a major competitor.

 

[jmt57]

Wonder how this will affect Mike Reiss? Presumably he would be limited to appearances on WEEI, not 98.5, but since Reiss is primarily ESPNBoston and not national I don't see WEEI wanting him on much. WEEI has invested a lot in their website and ESPNBoston has to be seen as a major competitor.

Recently espn made it their policy that their employees could only appear on espn radio stations unless there were no espn radio stations in that market. That means no Reiss or NFL Live guys on 98.5 with this agreement. I'm curious if Entercom will go ahead and run another sports talk station, with primarily espn radio programming all day and night. The thing is if 'EEI is an espn radio station, even if just for their overnight programming, then they could still have Reiss or any other espn employee on their show. I would think the fact that Entercom would own both the new station as well as WEEI would play a part in that decision as well.

You do bring up an interesting point in regards to weei.com versus espnboston.com. I think for the moment both sites are not big money makers and their primary purpose is to support their main business (weei radio and espn television.) I think they're seen as longer range projects that will eventually replace newspapers for local sports coverage. Until that happens I wouldn't expect them to be overly concerned with each other; they're both trying to grab web hits away from the Globe, Herald and Providence Journal right now.

 

[Rob0729]

Wonder how this will affect Mike Reiss? Presumably he would be limited to appearances on WEEI, not 98.5, but since Reiss is primarily ESPNBoston and not national I don't see WEEI wanting him on much. WEEI has invested a lot in their website and ESPNBoston has to be seen as a major competitor.

The weird thing about Reiss was that even when WEEI lifted the ban on Globe staffers and 98.5 was launched, the only radio gigs he got before he moved to ESPN was weekends on 98.5 (well, plus his regular pregame show spot on 98.5). It doesn't seem that either station wanted Reiss for their weekday daytime lineup. Christopher Gasper got all the weekday spots. It could have been that everyone knew he was leaving for ESPN and didn't want to increase his following only for him to bolt.

I don't know if Reiss is going to be part of this deal. He still has an association with WBZ for TV and the radio pregame show. This deal might only be for national ESPN on air personalities, but I could be wrong.