5-12-14
In an effort to better compete with CBS' The Sports Hub, Entercom is making changes to sports-talker WEEI-FM. Former NFL tight end Christian Fauria (pictured) will join Lou Merloni middays. And, joining Fauria and Merloni will be 970 ESPN Pittsburgh sports personality and Clear Channel Pittsburgh sports director Tim Benz beginning in late May. Merloni has co-hosted middays since 2011. Merloni?s current co-host, Mike Mutnansky, will shift to another role inside the company that will be announced within the next few weeks.
WEEI program director and brand manager Kevin Graham said, ?We are thrilled with the new team we have assembled. This show will be the only sports radio program in New England that offers listeners insight from a former major leaguer and a former NFL player. When you add in the sports radio experience of New England native Tim Benz, listeners will hear a brand new sound in the market.? Graham describes the new program as ?fast-paced, loose and fun with a diverse mix of opinions and entertainment.? The show will be called ?Middays with MFB? and will also be heard across New England on the WEEI Radio Network.
(5/12/2014 3:19:44 PM)
I would compare listening to sports talk radio to being at a party-- that is, you can listen to other people (including the talk show hosts) talk to each other for a few minutes, but after awhile, you want to chime in and participate in the conversation, or you move on to another group. Listening to a conversation that other people are having, without outside participation, becomes boring after a few minutes. Bringing in callers, helps to keep it lively.
(5/12/2014 2:18:10 PM)
WEEI had some great personalities, no question. But they make one big huge mistake that is a failure of programming-- they (WEEI) do not take enough phone calls from the listeners. The highest-rated Talkradio- including sports talk- is two way INTERACTIVE talk radio, with a non-stop flow of callers, who weigh in on the air, with the hosts. WEEI lets their hosts go on and on, 15, 20 minutes and more, talking to each other, with no listener involvement for large stretches of time. Big big mistake.
Add a Comment | View All Comments Send This Story To A Friend
