Now 97.5-FM is no longer playing music and is “now” the FM band for ESPN 950-AM, calling itself The Fanatic. Both stations are owned by Greater Media Philadelphia.
Seems like a good idea. Now 97.5-FM was lost in the shuffle as a music station, and with FM signal is much better for Mike Missanelli and company.
There are also lineup changes. ESPN’s Mike and Mike will remain from 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., but after that it will change to Dan Schwartzman and Stephen A. Smith from 10 a.m. - noon (until a permanent host is named according to the station), Harry Mayes and NBC10’s Vai Sikahema from noon - 2 p.m., and Mike Missanelli from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Right now, there is nobody listed for the 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. shift. Tony Bruno airs from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Julia // Oct 9, 2009 at 6:29 pm
97.5 will never be a player in the Philly radio scene. It will never gain an audience when it changes formats every year and a half.
2 Frank // Oct 9, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Well - no more “Harry and the Schwartz” together - so you’ll have to like them separately!
3 admin // Oct 9, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Frank,
What do you mean?
Laura
4 Migule // Oct 9, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I don’t understand why ESPN 950 is paring Dan Schwartzman and Stephen A. Smith together? They both bring the same to a radio show, yeling and utter none sense. To be honest, I don’t htink Dan Schwartzman knows anything aobut sports. And all he wants to do is yell at the top of his lungs. I won’t be listenign to that show at all. As afar as the other lineup changes, I think they’re fine. They finally got rid of that lummox Colin Cowhard, that guy doesn’t belong on Philly sports radio.
5 julius might // Oct 10, 2009 at 6:22 am
I think you’re wrong Julia….ESPN is having moderate success on the FM dial in S.Jersey. Look, 97.5 has been forever searching for an identity in this mkt, changing formats every year and a half. Sports talk radio has to be just as effective as anything else they could come up with. I’d love to be a fly on the wall at WIP right now. They and their tired on-air personalities have to be nervous. Listeners have had enough of their boisterous know-it-all personalities and now have a choice.
6 ed // Oct 10, 2009 at 8:41 am
They still better do something about their
weekend programming which is horrible. I
still think it was wrong to get rid of Jody Mac.
Just give Missanelli time he will do something
stupid. He is just as irritating as the wolfman.
Jody was and still is and always will be a class
act. Those two morons are nowhere near the
class of this fine man.
7 ImHomerJay // Oct 10, 2009 at 8:42 am
They’ve HAD a choice for a while now, and some made the choice to move (one show in particular). Not debating it may work on FM, but the idea there’s some magical choice now as opposed to two days ago isn’t accurate.
8 Here Are Your Saturday Links // Oct 10, 2009 at 3:07 pm
[...] Nachman discusses the flip of ESPN Radio in Philadelphia to [...]
9 Julia // Oct 12, 2009 at 10:55 am
I disagree, HomerJay…reception for 950 was horrible in some areas. Having an FM signal completely puts it ahead of 610 in signal strength. Plus, I’d frankly like to listen to sports on the radio in stereo instead of a weak AM signal.
So…frankly, I think this might be, in retrospect, a better move for Greater Media than I originally thought.
10 Miguel // Oct 12, 2009 at 12:20 pm
People at WIP have to be live it that they are not the first sports talk station in town to go to the FM dial.
11 MEG // Oct 12, 2009 at 4:08 pm
The problem is some of the talent on 950 has no cred what so ever. Harry, a former Connecticut school of broadcasting student and Dan an instructor! come on! that is a little bit hookey aye?
12 3 and 6 Fan // Oct 12, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Being a South Jersey listener, how’s it going to be going on the AC EXPWY hearing 97.5 blend in with 97.3 if they have different ESPN Feeds and different local shows?
13 Goodman // Oct 14, 2009 at 7:56 pm
97.3 ESPN FM is a 50,000 watt signal that reaches eight NJ counties and parts of Delaware & Maryland. 97.5 is only 25,000 watts. Better than the old 950 that had to power down at night, but still not as strong as 97.3 ESPN FM.
In the places where they mix (Hammonton, Berlin-Cross Keys Road, etc) 97.3’s signal seems to override 97.5.
Hope that helps.
14 Dan // Oct 15, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Will 950 and 97.5 simulcast or will 950 be going to a new format?
Leave a Comment