|
Here is part of Jon Greenberg's article from the Athletic on it:
"While some people think a new owner is going to cut costs and local programming at 190 N. State St., one ESPN 1000 source said they’ve heard Good Karma is committed to the local shows.
“They say nothing is going to change,” the source said.
“Weird day,” another source said.
In fact, things could get better for the station. What if they could cut out two hours of Golic & Wingo?
In June, Good Karma improved the local lineup at ESPN Milwaukee, which goes local at 7 a.m., instead of 9 a.m., when Gabe Neitzel hosts a two-hour show with Mark Chmura. (Yes, Mark Chmura.) ESPN Milwaukee stays local with five more shows until 8 p.m., including one hosted by The Athletic Packers contributor Jason Wilde.
ESPN’s national morning show, formerly co-hosted by Mike Greenberg, is the jewel of Bristol-based radio, but nearly everyone at ESPN 1000 has complained about starting the day with a national show. As an owned-and-operated ESPN station, Chicago was required to run it, even after Greenberg left for TV.
One ESPN 1000 source said the ratings between “Golic and Wingo” and The Score’s “Mully & Haugh Show” have been closer lately, but Bears season should be a boon for Mike Mulligan and David Haugh. I’d dump it ASAP.
With David Kaplan’s days doing postgame for the Cubs coming to an end in September, and his ESPN radio contract not running out until January, Good Karma could move him to an earlier start, preferably with a permanent co-host, like Fox 32 reporter Shae Peppler, who has been filling in more since her husband Jordan Cornette went to the ACC Network . But then, do they break up the normal shifts with shows starting and stopping at odd hours? Do they add a fourth show into the daytime lineup to compete with The Score?
I would tell Craig Karmazin, the founder and CEO of Good Karma, to think about putting Jonathan Hood on during the day. Or hiring Matt Spiegel, who has been hosting weekend shows and filling in during the weekdays since his demotion back in 2018. His contract at WSCR is up at the end of the year. Jason Goff, who is co-hosting national shows in the ESPN family, would seem like a natural addition if Good Karma decides to expand the local content. Julie DiCaro has had success hosting nights at The Score. Brian Hanley has been looking to get back into radio since he was jettisoned from his top-rated Score show in 2018. Sarah Spain went national years ago, but maybe she would want to talk Chicago sports again.
Current ESPN 1000 fill-ins Fred Huebner, Chris Bleck and Adam Abdalla are also more than capable of holding down permanent daytime shifts.
ESPN 1000 currently has three daytime shows, with Kaplan (and company) handing off to John Jurkovic and Carmen DeFalco, who pass the baton to Silverman and Waddle. Hood, Bleck and Abdalla regularly host shows in the evening.
Football is king on ESPN 1000, just like it is at The Score, and Jurkovic and Waddle are the two best daily hosts in town when it comes to talking the Bears. The more of them together, like in crosstalk, the better, though Jurko always worked best with a third host.
And there’s the rub when it comes to the new ownership: Do they want to spend more on talent? Owning stations in Cleveland and Milwaukee is one thing, but paying Chicago radio salaries is quite another. Maybe the skeptics are right and current hosts will be looking for work by the time the Bears are finishing out the season."
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
