Good news for those who can't stand WIP

[PhillyGirl]

and also:

Greater Media's New Sports Talk 950 Teams Up With The Troy Aikman Show
       

    PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Greater Media, Inc. is announcing
Former NFL Quarterback Troy Aikman will be on the new Sports Talk 950
beginning the first week in October when the station changes to sports/talk.
    The new interview-based, sports/talk oriented format will provide
listeners with a new choice to hear the very best sports variety, facts,
information and talk in Philadelphia.  The Troy Aikman Show from Sporting News
Radio will air Friday nights throughout the current NFL season.
    Aikman is a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National
Football League, and currently a television sportscaster for the Fox network.
Each week, Aikman will highlight the weekend's top NFL match-ups with game
analysis, strategy and interviews with the biggest names in football on the
air on the new Sports Talk 950.
    Listeners will be able to tune in for Troy's perspective as one of the
NFL's all-time great quarterbacks, plus hear the latest news from front
offices and locker rooms around the league.  When a big NFL story happens, the
biggest names will join Aikman.  Guests last year included: Andy Reid,
Donovan McNabb, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.
    "I know firsthand how passionate Philadelphia is about their football.
It's great to be on a real sports station like Sports Talk 950 in one of the
greatest sports cities in America," said Aikman.
    "Troy's knowledge and insight into the game is impeccable.  Adding him to
the new Sports Talk 950 team is tremendous!  His interview-based show will
provide Philly football fans an inside the huddle perspective with the very
best sports variety, facts and information," said Sports Talk 950 WPEN Station
Manager Bob DeBlois.
    WPEN is owned and operated by Greater Media, Inc., the parent company of
19 AM and FM stations in the Boston, Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia
markets.  It also owns a modern printing plant and a group of weekly
newspapers in central New Jersey as well as several telecommunications towers
located throughout the United States.

[PhillyGirl]

WPEN's sports-talk format ready to tackle WIP

By CHRISTOPHER A. VITO
vitoc@phillynews.com

For nearly two decades, sports-talk radio in Philadelphia has been dominated by one station. But Bob DeBlois thinks it's about time for a strong alternative.

DeBlois is the general manager of WPEN (950-AM), a station that will swap formats from oldies to sports talk on Monday. The format change is sure to create a level of competition between WPEN and Philadelphia's dominant sports-talk station, WIP (610-AM).

While plenty of details regarding WPEN's changeover remain unknown, DeBlois said Philadelphia-area sports fans are ready for the new WPEN, which will be known as Sports Talk 950.

"We're giving fans a choice, to see where they go for the most passionate voice in sports radio," DeBlois said.

DeBlois said the new WPEN will be a caller- and interview-friendly station. Instead of sports fans questioning why a call was made, DeBlois said WPEN will bring players and coaches on-air to answer some of those questions.

WPEN will be a mix of syndicated shows, and others that will be hosted by local talent. Former WIP personality Jody McDonald will host a show from 3 to 7 p.m., pitting McDonald against WIP's Howard Eskin in evening drive time.

McDonald said one major difference will set the two stations - and his show from Eskin's - apart.

"If a listener gives us a call and starts talking about a good topic, we're going to give the caller more time to talk," McDonald said. "Five to 6 minutes for good callers, and bad callers will get 30 seconds or less. We're not going to set restrictions like other stations do."

WIP general manager Marc Rayfield did not return phone calls from the Daily News for comment on WPEN's new format.

WIP was the city's first radio station in 1922, and has had a sports format since 1987. DeBlois said the city is big enough to handle two such stations.

"Boston has three sports-talk stations, and one of them [WEEI 850-AM] has the best ratings of all of Boston's radio stations," he said. "Philadelphia can do it."

WPEN will feature nationally syndicated radio shows hosted by personalities like well-known sports broadcaster Jim Rome, Philadelphia native Tony Bruno, and former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. The station also will air play-by-play of Saint Joseph's men's basketball games.

When asked if he thought WPEN could eventually pass WIP in the ratings, McDonald said: "We're starting from ground zero, but give us some time. We won't run stride-for-stride out of the gate, but we're going to do things differently."

[MDS]

If I had a radio, I would listen to it. WIP sucks, bring it down.

[SunMo]

WIP will stay on top as long as they continue to carry all the major teams' games.

but competition can only benefit the listeners.  if WIP is forced to try to keep their listeners they will have to do more, like Eagles Week (interesting timing  ).

[rjs246]

Boston finally got an ESPN Radio station and I practically cried tears of joy knowing that I finally wouldn't have to listen to these farging yokels on the radio any more.

[WEST is GOD]

Stan Hochman's little bit pimping the station was classic....hearing him rip on WIP for talking about "bosoms and backsides"...  

Listening to Jody Mac this morning. Mostly he's just talking about the new station so far. Had a lot of local people on. Can't wait to hear AI's comments about the station. I love it. He'll probably do interviews for them all of the time. I also think McNabb might do something on here too...just to stick it to the idiots on WIP.

I guarantee if you even so much as mention a breath of that station on WIP's airways you'll get cut off instantly. All these years without competition, I know it's driving WIP nuts.

As usual, you're wrong. Even the HOSTS were talking about WIP this morning. Jody Mac talked about them and said something along the lines of, "If WIP wants to compete with us...that's fine".

As usual I'm wrong? 

Read my post again and take a look at what you just posted. Read more carefully!

[PhillyPhreak54]

I like it so far. I've been listening to 950 since late last night. I liked the Czaban show that is on before Bruno because Czabe is a taterskin hater.

He had Don Banks on this morning and they spent 20 minutes ripping Lavar and the Skins.

Jim Rome is OK.

Jody Mac is on next....

[SunMo]

i like Rome in doses, i won't be able to listen to it all day everyday

[PhillyGirl]

i like Rome in doses, i won't be able to listen to it all day everyday

It won't be a permanent thing. It will be all local one day down the road. 

[Wingspan]

i like Rome in doses, i won't be able to listen to it all day everyday

i didnt realize he was on for 24 hours

[SunMo]

i like Rome in doses, i won't be able to listen to it all day everyday

i didnt realize he was on for 24 hours

all day meaning his entire show, you're not too bright huh 

[WEST is GOD]

I tried listening to Jody, but he was just too boring. I never liked him.

[PhillyGirl]

Good, go back to sucking off Eskin and Cataldi.

Bye

[Rome]

Listening to Eskin & Cataldi =

[Rome]

Edited - they took the rotater .gif down.





We break stories... not balls.

Ahahaha!