Good news for those who can't stand WIP

PhillyGirl · August 26, 2005, 10:32:44 AM

QuoteWPEN hopes to give WIP a run for money

By ANTHONY J. SANFILIPPO
asanfilippo@delcotimes.com

After dominating the sports talk format on radio for the past 16 years, WIP is finally going to have some local competition. Greater Media Philadelphia, a subsidiary of Greater Media, Inc., announced Thursday they are switching their format on WPEN-950 AM from Oldies to an interview-based sports talk format.

"This is an exciting opportunity for WPEN," said station manager Bob DeBlois in a statement. "Philadelphia has more passion for sports than any other city in America.

"Although we made progress with Oldies, we feel a true sports talk station like Sports Talk 950 would be the perfect fit to satisfy the Philly sports fans incredible appetite for great sports."

The new format will begin Oct. 3.

Spearheading the new format will be a familiar name to Philadelphia sports talk.

Jody McDonald, former on-air host at WIP and WFAN in New York will assume the weekday afternoon drive time position from 3-7 p.m.

"I'm really excited about it," McDonald told the Daily Times. "It's about time Philadelphia fans have a choice. We're going to do it differently than WIP. We're going to be more interview driven."

While McDonald left the airways full- time in Philadelphia in 2000, he has maintained a voice in the area by hosting the Eagles pregame show on WYSP 94.1 every Sunday during the season, a gig he will have to give up this season.

"Having done the Eagles pregame show for four years has helped me keep a fan base and credentials here in Philadelphia," McDonald said.

McDonald said the he would be the go-to guy on setting up the interviews for the show.

"It will be a team effort but I'll be the guy driving the bus," he said. "I'll lean on the producers and the program director, but most of the guests will be my choice."

The station will also feature syndicated talk show host Jim Rome weekdays from Noon to 3 p.m. I guess I'll just listen to Gargano during that time.

Rome is currently the No. 1 syndicated sports talk show in the country.

"Philadelphia is one of the truly great sports towns in America and a town that I've wanted to be in for years," said Rome in a statement. "I'm pumped and can't wait to get started. October 3rd is going to be a truly historic day in the jungle."

The station is expected to announce the rest of their lineup next week.

While the original format will be a mix of syndicated and local content, a Greater Media source said the long-term goal of the station is to have a 24-hour all-local format -- the same as WIP.

WPEN had been criticized in the past for having a weak night time signal, preventing many area listeners from being able to get a good feed of Phillies broadcasts when they were carried by the station.

However, the FCC has approved an expansion of the signal strength for WPEN from 5 kwh to 50 kwh slated to kick in right around the time of the launch of the new station.

The new signal will be more powerful than that currently generated by WIP.

rjs246 · August 26, 2005, 10:36:22 AM

It'll be the same shtein, just a different station.

The sad truth is that sports talk radio is full of idiot meatheads with different schticks to try to make themselves sound intelligent. They aren't.

PhillyGirl · August 26, 2005, 10:37:33 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on August 26, 2005, 10:36:22 AM
It'll be the same shtein, just a different station.

The sad truth is that sports talk radio is full of idiot meatheads with different schticks to try to make themselves sound intelligent. They aren't.

No Eskin
No Cataldi
No Missanelli

It can only go up from there.

Yeti · August 26, 2005, 10:38:20 AM

Just one more piece of evidence that I am the curse and it will all be lifted the second I drive out of town.

rjs246 · August 26, 2005, 10:38:55 AM

Whatever, I've only ever listened to WIP while driving through Philly on game days. I don't know shtein about the personalities there other than what I read here. But I do know that sportstalk in general is full of the most irritating people on the radio.

Philly_Crew · August 26, 2005, 11:08:33 AM

I can't believe Rome is the #1 syndicated sports talk show. Get in the HERD.

MURP · August 26, 2005, 11:22:59 AM

HERD is about the only sports talk show I listen to for more than a few minutes.

Mad-Lad · August 26, 2005, 11:36:21 AM

Quote from: MURP on August 26, 2005, 11:22:59 AM
HERD is about the only sports talk show I listen to for more than a few minutes.

the Herd is the best show on air. Can it get any better than the "Daily Football Fix"? I submit that it can not.

SunMo · August 26, 2005, 12:04:50 PM

I like Missanelli and Gargano, but everyone else is lousy on WIP, I like McDonald so I will give him a shot.

my main problem with WIP is that they are barely sports talk anymore. it's mostly entertainment and some sports.

WFAN is all sports, they breakdown games and stuff like that, which is what I like.

Geowhizzer · August 26, 2005, 01:22:38 PM

I can remember Jody Mac when he was on WIP in the afternoons (early 1990s). I like him- good, usually fair commentator.

General_Failure · August 26, 2005, 01:55:17 PM

For as long as I'm able I will never listen to talk radio. The only bright spot here is there's less crappy music being broadcast.

SunMo · September 01, 2005, 08:49:10 AM

QuoteWPEN-AM (950) yesterday made official the hiring of former Philly talker Tony Bruno - one of the first hires at rival WIP-AM (610) and now based in L.A. - to host a 9 a.m.-to-noon sports-talk show when the station drops oldies Oct. 3. WPEN last week announced Jim Rome for the noon to 3 p.m. slot and Jody McDonald for 3 to 7 p.m. We hear that WPEN manager Bob DeBlois also is talking to Steve Martorano, and that funnyman Joe Conklin - now heard on sister station WMMR-FM (93.3) - is being asked to contribute.

from today's Inquirer

PhillyPhreak54 · September 01, 2005, 08:52:00 AM

October 3rd is when I switch over.

I hope Bruno blows Cataldi and Gargano/Whiner Missinelli out of the water.

The only people on WIP I'll listen to is Reuben Frank, Paul Jolovitz and Jim Jackson.

SunMo · September 01, 2005, 09:22:31 AM

it appears like they are just syndicating the show Bruno has in L.A., why else would it start at 9am

RezRob · September 01, 2005, 11:30:18 AM

Quote from: Philly_Crew on August 26, 2005, 11:08:33 AM
I can't believe Rome is the #1 syndicated sports talk show. Get in the HERD.

Cowherd is a douche and a Yankee/U2(yes even the new Shtein) fan. Kornheiser was much better, and still is. Rome's intelligence level for ripping people and calling out people makes him superior to other talkies. Yeah they all have some Schtick but it is entertainment. If you want facts read a stat sheet. In the Herd sux ass.