Sorry this is long, but I thought I was on a roll when I wrote it.

I just read the news about Danny Mac's release from ESPN-1000 and it got me wondering about the state of affairs for sports radio at that station.

According to Jim Pastor, the move to drop McNeil was due to the economic climate of radio and the decision to move in a new direction for middays. In my opinion, reading between the lines it means cut costs by eliminating as much local as possible and get ready to bring on the next "talking-head-turned-radio-host" from the mothership of ESPN. There is word that Brian Kenny of ESPN is being touted as the host of a new, national program they will pump out.

To be honest, I don't buy the "economic climate" excuse as much as I think it had to do with things Mac has done recently that may have compromised ESPN's cherished brand. The Mickey Mouse station is very guarded in how its brand is touted and and is very thin-skinned about things of a controversial nature. As an example,could there be anything more vanilla than "Tirico and Van Pelt"? By the way, didn't the "boo-ya" network just shell out an ungodly amount of money to buy the rights to broadcasting the major bowl games in the next few years? Aren't they tied into ABC by, in essence, taking over the network's sports broadcasting operations? ESPN/ABC is doing alright for itself which is why I don't buy the excuse that they are being hit hard during this tough economic situation we are in. They became the only all sports network after FoxSports shut down, thus, they were in the driver's seat as far as sports programming and coverage goes.

Mac wrote a column in the SunTimes recently that called the local sports media contingent to the carpet. He mentioned, by name, Daryl Hawks and how poorly he does his sports segments on NBC 5. He's ripped into NBC's lame Sunday night sports recap show (which he was right on about) and referenced hosts on the other sports-talker WSCR-namely, Laurence Holmes, Dan Hampton, Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein. He said that the sports media in the town really needed to do a better job, including he and his own show. He claimed responsibility for not doing as well ratings wise and he had in the past and thought that he and his broadcasting brethern needed to do their jobs better.

I think he was right on the mark about the sports media in this town. This city has fans who are passionate about their sports and would like more honest and in-depth reporting on their teams. Factual errors, or down-right team apologizing are things that many fans in this town can recognize and for a market this size that is irresponsible and unacceptable. However, it seems the "don't rock the boat" mentality is winning out and those with strong opinions are not necessarily welcomed by either the teams, station competitors or even the companies they work for.

Mac has stated in the past that while he spent time in Bristol some years ago, he was told that listeners shouldn't be giving their opinion on ESPN shows because ESPN tells you or makes your opinion. As Mac stated many times before, radio is at its best when it has a dialog with the listeners. ESPN decided to allow for local programming in specific areas, yet felt compelled to ram down our throats certain network shows like Dan Patrick, Tirico and Van Pelt and Mike and Mike.

Mike North's ego and inability to produce a quality morning (or other day part) show-along with poor management decisions-allowed the national show of "Mike and Mike" to win ratings book after ratings book. This was bad for both the SCORE and listeners of ESPN. In my opinion, the failure of a local sports morning show gave ESPN the idea that their corporate programming was far superior to that of anything produced locally, and, as such, could help keep their costs down at their affiliates by pushing their programming on them. Mac, Jurko and Harry's success seemed to pave the way for programming such as Silvy and Waddle and The Show, but with them pulling the plug on Mac, I wonder how much longer it will be before the station goes completely national.

If ESPN was making cost cutting decisions, just what does it think will happen when no one is listening to the station? Unlike their television situation, there is competition in sports radio and to increase ad revenues you need to have something that sets it apart from the rest. The call letters ESPN, although recognized around the world, are not enough by itself to just take over a sports radio market like Chicago, which enjoys talking about and giving opinions on sports-specifically Chicago sports.

ESPN has truly gotten too big for their own good. From creating their own awards show to producing terrible sports movies, the network has a truly inflated opinion of itself and, as such, has put itself into the position of being the "be-all and end-all" of sports coverage in their own minds. Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of the consumer, who must now seek out other options to express their opinions on teams closest to them. ESPN-1000 is still keeping some local programming on the air, but for how long is really the question. I think when the answer comes, it will not be good for any of us.

Looks like ESPN just decided to become a AAA affiliate and no longer in the Bigs.

Risk $2 M in Budget to make $1 M, or Risk $5M to try and make $15 M. Looks like they are taking the "Dealers Insurance"

Maybe they are still hurting from that White Sox deal at $5 mill a year!

Remember, ESPN didn't even bid for the Sox renewal, maybe that was the first sign of going small.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

That is exactly true. We need some people who are not afraid of becoming the enemy of the teams because even if people from the team refuse to show up for interviews and such, then those people will become even worse in the eyes of the fans. What I find lacking in Chicago sports is accountability. When winning is not a must (which is the case for major Chicago teams except maybe the Blackhawks), there must be people shouting for some accountability. That does not just mean criticism but also praise when deserving. As for the radio personalities, when they do become popular, they need to stop becoming so egotistical (i.e. North, Mac). When they start believing that they are great and special, they start to lose touch with their listeners. Mike Murphy is popular despite his many flaws because he is a fan. As he likes to say "Just fans talking to fans." Newspaper writers (i.e. Mully, Hanely) are not regular fans. Nor are millionaires who are friends with many famous athletes. I want a radio host who spends his time in the stands talking to fans not on the sideline making friendships with the players or watching the game from a box seat.

It's possible that ESPN/Disney may be looking to get out of radio all together. Cut down the costs of running the station to nothing, which would make it appealing to potential buyers, and sell.

That only makes sense if you are selling the format as well. E.g., you get the station with the ESPN programming. Otherwise, you're just selling a radio frequency; another place to put 'Jack FM' programming (or its like.)

Which isn't to say they aren't under investor pressure to divest. But movies to me are crapshoots, and stuff like ESPN can be good steady cashflow. So, I dunno.

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Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

They have invested too much into the entire brand - and radio plays a big piece of it; the network does fine in mid market and small towns.

They're gonna jam this ESPN branding down our throat now. Pastor is merely following his marching orders from corporate, as he's their 4' tall marionette.

They're giving TV people radio shows, and it's God awful brutal. Mike Tirico's Show is like listening to paint dry. Michelle Tafoya (when she sits in) has no respect for the radio profession. It's as if they think they're a good listen because they're on ESPN TV.

I feel bad for the remaining local on-air employees other than Silvy and Waddle - who will no doubt become ESPN1000's premier show. Deservedly so, they've done a very solid job since taking over for Salis-bloom.

We're gonna be force fed Doug Gottleib and Brian FRIGGIN Kenny. Oh joy.

ESPN1000 is quickly becoming nothing more than an ESPN franchise - they'll be lucky to have much beyond Waddle and Silvy at this time next year.

Pastor is basically putting Jurko, Harry and Carm up on a rickety chair with a noose around their necks - and then jumping up and down on the floor. This 'radio executive' could give a rat's ass about ESPN1000's existing listeners. He's cutting expenses, and trying to retain ratings - which won't happen. Then when things fail, it won't be his fault - but he'll have the solution - trim back to one local show and more profit. Then when the ratings continue to sink, he'll point the finger at corporate and tell them they're nationally syndicated shows (other than Mike and Mike) aren't cutting it. Jim Pastor is a Teflon suit wearing executive, who will quickly find out what the Peter Principle is all about.

This from Los Angeles:

Link: http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/ ... radio.html

Part of the meetings in Bristol, Conn., this week attended by KSPN-AM (710) new VP and general manager Chris Berry and program director Larry Gifford involved adjustments to the national ESPN Radio programming, which the local stuff is built around.

They've decided that in a two-part move, ESPN Radio will change this way in the near future to add a new show, boost the hours of a couple others and switch someone else to East Coast drive ...

OK, enough of a tease. As of Feb. 2, it'll be (with West Coast times, of course):

3 to 7 a.m.: Mike & Mike in the Morning
7 to 10 a.m.: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
10 a.m. to noon: Tirico & Van Pelt
Noon to 1 p.m.: Scott Van Pelt Show
1 to 4 p.m.: The Doug Gottlieb Show -- new to the lineup.
4 to 5 p.m.: Football Tonight
5 to 7 p.m.: The Brian Kenny Show
7 to 10 p.m.: ESPN live news and info block
10 p.m. to 2 a.m.: AllNight with Jason Smith
2 to 3 a.m.: SportsCenter

Starting March 16, Cowherd adds an hour on the backend (running 7 to 11 a.m.), while the Van Pelt solo stint (thankfully) ends, keeping the Tirico and Van Pelt combo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- which Van Pelt seems to host solo too often enough.

So what does it mean for the local programming on KSPN?

Most likely, our sources tell us that with Gottlieb, a So Cal native moving from nights to days, he'll be on the air in L.A. in that 1-to-4 slot and shift the Steve Mason and John Ireland show back to its original 4 to 7 p.m. time, covering up the national show from Kenney, the ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor. Brian Long will also stay in the loop, probably during that 7 to 10 p.m. "news and info block" with Dave Denholm and do their show from the new ESPN Zone in L.A. Live across from Staples Center to add the live vibe.

Other factors that could alter this scenario:

==The Lakers start partnering with KSPN this fall with their games ... does Mychael Thompson, who will stay on a radio analyst, find a role in a sport-talk show at the station? Can you envision a situation where he does the Lakers games for one station but keeps his sports-talk co-host role at KLAC-AM (570), which is in his current contract and pays him more than if he just did the games?

==With all the dough that ESPN is spending on new studios for the local radio station (on-air talent as well as sales staff, etc.), can they afford to be so network-heavy on programming? It would make more sense that they do this to accomodate more local programming.

==Gifford gave Gottleib a tryout at the station as a consideration as a local host once Dave Dameshek was blown out. Does Jim Pastor, the overseeing boss at KSPN (as well as the ESPN Radio owned-and-operated affiliates in Chicago and Dallas) really like Gotteib enough to OK him going to the L.A. audience?

They have nothing to lose when you are 2nd in a two team race.
When your "so called" local star comes in 2nd AND is a difficult employee with an attitude problem, well, no need to pay him big money anymore.

Chip, I agree with what you say, but the SCORE really does not provide an alternative.

It would be a wise move by SCORE bosses to position itself as everything that ESPN is not. They should be local, they should be outsiders, they should be casual. In that way they clearly differentiate themselves for the consumer. It has been proven that when given the choice Chicago listeners will chose an alternative to ESPN programming.

It is now Mitch's job to ensure that he is re creating that alternative.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Good dolphin,
I agree with your assessment. An alternative would be the way to go. However, to just put on the type of talent that the Score has isn't exactly a way to lure listeners to your station. Mully and Hanley are fill-ins at best and not morning drive. Laurence Holmes does not bring a lot to the table as a host (BTW-still waiting on hearing what those five stories were that he broke several years ago). Dan Hampton.....OK, he's too easy to rip so let's move on.

Northern Illinois football and basketball...Not what you'd run on a major market.

I do think Mac was right about the inability of the stations to do something locally that would beat a national show. Sometimes I think management sells its audience too short and puts on whoever they want with the thought that sports fans will just listen anyway. Again, there are people who went to school and studied how to broadcast who could do a very good job. You don't just hand jobs to newspaper guys thinking that is all that is needed.