Finebaum National Show Details Announced

8-8-13

The Paul Finebaum Show will debut on Monday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. ET. The four-hour daily program will be produced by ESPN Radio.Cumulus Media Networks will distribute the show. ESPN affiliated stations in every market will have the first opportunity to carry the show. Finebaum's former home station in Birmingham (WJOX 94.5 FM), as well as WAPI 100.5 FM, will carry the show. His previous show attracted nearly a quarter of the adult male listeners in Birmingham, ESPN?s highest-rated college football television market the past several years.

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(AUDIO) Paul Finebaum Makes it Big

Paul Finebaum found his niche in the spoken word format after writing investigative stories for the Birmingham Post-Herald. He started radio appearances in the 1980's by providing commentary on the Mark and Brian show on WAPI-FM. After starting his own afternoon show a few years later on WAPI-AM, his program quickly became the highest rated sport-talk show in Birmingham. In 1993, Finebaum moved his sports-talk show to WERC-AM where he broke the story of Alabama football player Antonio Langham signing a contract with a sports agent. When it comes to sports in the south, Finebaum is a walking encyclopedia.

Being based right in the heart of one of the biggest rivalries in sports, Alabama and Auburn adds fuel to his radio fire. In 2001 Finebaums show began in syndication with affiliates all over the southeast. Last year, Finebaum earned additional headlines as a contract dispute with Cumulus, after the Citadel merger, made news nearly every week. After his contract ran out with Cumulus, Finebaum sat out a short non-compete. ESPN was waiting around the corner, with Finebaum on speed-dial. Last month it was announced that Finebaum will start his new job with ESPN on August first. They will distribute his radio show and he'll be one of their experts on ESPN-TV as the network rolls out its brand new SEC network. He's gotten to the top of the sports mountain. We spoke to him Thursday at length about how he did it. LISTEN HERE

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Is The Finebaum Cumulus Battle Over?

6-1-2012

This one is really a holdover from the Citadel days. Popular Birmingham sports talker Paul Finebaum sued Cumulus over a contract dispute when the sale of Citadel and Cumulus was going through. He also named his friend at the time General Manager Bill Thomas in the lawsuit (Thomas has since been replaced at the station). A judge had given Finebaum and Cumulus until May 30th to work out their disagreement and we've been told that's exactly what they done, clearing the way for Finebaum to eventually work for Cox.

In an e-mail last night, Finebaum referred us to his attorney Russ Campbell who said "The parties are still working on the details.  No settlement has been inked." and we've been told both sides have agreed to drop their lawsuits and Finebaum has agreed to work for Cumulus until mid January 2013. After that he is free to jump to Cox. Cox has been going after Finebaum ever since his disagreement with Cumulus began, offering to buy out his contract several times.

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Cumulus Files Lawsuit Against Finebaum

2-19-2012

The Birmingham Business Journal is reporting that Cumulus is now countersuing popular Birmingham sports talker Paul Finebaum, alleging he was conducting secret negotiations to move his show to a competing network as early as 2009 and that he shared confidential information about Citadel in the process. Finebaum filed suit against Citadel (which was purchased by Cumulus) alleging the company coerced him into signing an unfavorable amendment to his employment contract by threatening to pull his popular radio show from the air if he refused.

The paper also says the Finebaum suit also alleges breach of contract against Citadel over a recent bankruptcy and claims that company executives worked intentionally to suppress Finebaum?s pay.

Read the entire Business Journal article HERE

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Finebaum Makes Surprise Visit to Special Listener

Despite being embroiled in an ugly controversy with his employer, popular sports-talker Paul Finebaum made a special surprise visit to a listener this past Friday who's mom told the local paper "this was the greatest thing that could ever have happened to him." Robert Fisher is 33 years old and has cerebral palsy. Friday morning Finebaum and other members of his show got on a private plane and left Alabama headed for Waterloo.

Fisher is not only a regular listener to the show, he's become one of Finebaums regular callers and is somewhat controversial. According to the Cedar Valley Courier, "while a couple of hateful callers took issue with Finebaum putting Fisher on the air, the vast majority of listeners embraced him." Finebaum says "everybody loves the guy on the show. He's known from coast to coast."

Fisher received packages from all over the country from other listeners, and a coach from Eastern Kentucky University sent a hat, according to the Courier. Others sent inspiring books and wrote letters. Some suggest Fisher seems to grow confident and articulate the more he goes on the show. One listener, an 83-year-old man, wrote a poem and sent it to Fisher. He finished by encouraging Fisher to keep calling the show because everyone enjoys listening."

Read the entire Courier story HERE.
Out thanks to Paul Finebaum for sending over the pictures from his visit.

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Finebaum Case Sent Back to State Court.

Attorneys for syndicated sports-talker host Paul Finebaum have won their battle to have the case heard in state court. Finebaum filed a lawsuit against Citadel when they still owned the station he's working on in Birmingham. The order was signed by United States District Judge Scott Cooglar.

The Birmingham Business Journal is reporting that Finebaum?s attorneys plan to target WJOX-FM General Manager Bill Thomas and drop other defendants. Thomas has told Radio Ink that he considers Finebaum a friend and expects he'll continue to honor his contract.

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Finebaum VS. Citadel. Back to State Court. Sort of.

The very public fight Birmingham sports talker Paul Finebaum is having with his employer (which technically is Cumulus now) is moving back to state court. Yesterday a judge granted Finebaum?s motion to send the case back to state court which is where Finebaum's suit was initially filed. It's also widely believed Finebaum has a better chance to win in state court. The judge wrote "Citadel had failed to show the matter in dispute exceeded $75,000." $75K is the threshold for cases to move to the feds.
According to the Birmingham Business Journal, the judge also denied a motion to dismiss a similar suit that Finebaum?s attorneys had attempted to squelch in state court before its removal to federal court, writing that Finebaum?s legal team had failed to effect the dismissal before its removal. The ruling means Finebaum effectively has two lawsuits pending against his employer ? one in state court and one in federal court. However, Coogler noted in his opinion that the federal court would also remand the remaining case back to state court if the plaintiff adds claims made in the other suit.
Finebaum is suing Citadel, alleging they violated his employment contract by agreeing to federal bankruptcy reorganization without his prior consent. He also alleges that he was coerced into signing an unfavorable employment contract when Citadel officials threatened to pull his show from the air if he refused and that Citadel officials worked fraudulently to suppress his pay. The company has denied the claims.

Great coverage on the story by Birmingham Business Journal reporter Evan Belanger
Read the entire Business Journal piece HERE

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Cox Throws Finebaum A Safety Net

In the ongoing drama involving popular Birmingham sports talker Paul Finebaum, Cox Radio has officially entered the fray. Cox made an official offer to Finebaum if his current situation doesn't work out. His current situation involves him reluctantly working for Citadel (soon to be Cumulus). It's safe to say Finebaum's not real happy with his current employer being that he's filed a lawsuit against them as the two sides fight over the terms of his contract.
Cox Birmingham General Manager David Dubose tells Radio Ink "Paul?s current contract allows him to entertain offers at ANY time during the term of the agreement. He simply has to present the offer to Citadel." Dubose says he's spoken to Finebaum directly about the offer, and he knows it's contingent on a release from Citadel and/or a Court ruling.

Dubose talks about what having Finebaum would mean for the recently launched Cox sports station. "Paul has a loyal following and Cox would be interested in having Paul join Cox Media Group when he is able to do so.  We believe Cox Media Group has an outstanding  track record of having the top talent in the market . Clearly we would like to have Paul Finebaum join with Cox Media Group Birmingham. I am very confident in the sports product we have assembled on ? The Zone? , the listeners in the market have embraced the programming and so have advertisers. In fact, our early success has exceeded our expectations. We believe having Paul Finebaum as part of The Zone would be the ?icing on the cake?.

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