I am a fan of behind-the-scenes goings on in the radio world and while looking through my emails, came across an email from All-Access Media group.which chronicles the world of radio. A couple of interesting items in NY radio I am going to respond to here (and no, I don't live in the New York area, but am close enough to it,to get NYC radio and NYC based sports networks.)
First, the NY Amsterdam News reports that the owners of NY's AM 1600, WWRL, the cities' progressive radio station, (and Air America's former flagship), is flipping the station from progressive talk to Spanish, after the 1st of the year, dropping all English language programs from its lineup, citing the old "matter of economics" as the reason for the flip.
As a progressive, it is depressing to keep losing progressive talk stations, and to lose WWRL to Spanish considering the fact that NYC has over a dozen stations that air Spanish/ethnic programming in the community. I know that political talk stations are getting harder and harder to program, but it seems that all I read about is progressive radio stations flipping to alternative programming, but it seems that Rushie and Sean and the other conservababble stations just keep plugging along. I don't read much about conservative stations flipping to other programming.
Yes, I know that Rush, Sean et al are moving from WABC to WOR in January, but if you're a dittohead or someone equally as a brain-dead, you'll still have access to them, but no more Ed, Thom, or the like. And no, we can't all afford satellite radio either.
In other radio news in New York, according to Bob Raissman of the Daily News, Mike Francesa is leaving the YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports) Network at the end of January, and YES will begin simulcasting Michael Kay's afternoon ESPN 98.7 show. Actually, according to report, YES is leaving Francesa and WFAN. YES, which is the Yankees TV network,and which can be seen on various cable systems in the tri-state area, and nationally via Directv's Sports Pak, has simulcast Francesa for a decade now, but apparently WFAN, Francesa's employer, wants too much money for YES to continue to air the program, which YES cannot or will not meet.
Actually, the move make sense, since Kay is employed by the Yankees as one of their radio announcers, and the price is much more to YES' liking. Kay is expected to debut Super Bowl week, near year at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey.
As a side note, I've seen Francesa's simulcast on YES,and I'm no big fan of his, as he's rude, abrupt and cuts people off after waiting forever to get on the program. Besides, how many times in a day can you mention the Geno Smith sucks and Jacoby Ellsbury is a money-grubbing, traitorous scumbag??