Sports Radio News
Pat Paxton Leaves Audacy, Jeff Sottolano Upped To EVP Of Programming
“Audacy’s sports stations have thrived under Paxton’s leadership.”
Published
3 years agoon
By
BSM StaffPat Paxton has left Audacy according to a company-wide memo distributed by David Field. The memo states that Jeff Sottolano will be promoted to EVP of Programming.
Paxton served as Audacy’s Chief Programming Officer. Field described him as “a key leader in the organization for the past 21 years, spearheading programming and playing a critical role in helping us build many of the industry’s greatest brands.”
Fields’s note also says “Pat has left an outstanding legacy at Audacy which will stand the test of time. We deeply appreciate his many important contributions to our success and everything he has meant to this company.”
Before joining what was then Entercom, Paxton served as national program director for Nationwide Communications and Adventure Communications. He also ran stations in Houston, Orlando, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Iowa and even spent time on TV as a weatherman.
Audacy’s sports stations have thrived under Paxton’s leadership. The acquisition of CBS Radio’s stations in 2017 instantly catapulted the company to the format leadership position, thanks to owning and operating powerhouse brands such as New York’s WFAN, Philadelphia’s WIP, Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket, Chicago’s 670 The Score and others.
The future of Audacy’s programming across all formats will likely continue evolving but for those working on the sports side, the news about Sottolano’s ascension should be seen mostly as a positive. He recently played a role in the launch of the BetQL Audio Network, and prior to moving up at CBS to a corporate role, he once programmed WIP in Philadelphia.
Sports Radio News
Kirk Minihane: WEEI is “Going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in Afternoons”
“Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin.”
Published
1 hour agoon
March 28, 2024By
BSM StaffAs the speculation continues on where Boston sports talker Rich Shertenlieb will end up, one former WEEI host said he has the scoop on what is going to happen. Kirk Minihane, now with Barstool Sports, said, “What I heard was, initially, was they were moving Rich Keefe from nights to middays, moving Adam Jones from afternoons to middays and keeping Fauria there, and moving Andy Gresh to afternoons…But now it appears Rich Shertenlieb is going to do afternoons with Andy Gresh.”
On Wednesday, Boston Globe sports and sports media columnist Chad Finn put out a post on X, saying, “Didn’t think Rich Shertenlieb would end up at WEEI after leaving Sports Hub. I do now, most likely in afternoon drive. Audacy management has been telling people to expect changes.”
Minihane continued commenting on the matter, saying, “It’s going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in the afternoons, which is going to be so awful. Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin…we haven’t done that in a while, we are going to take that show down…Once that show starts, we are just going to blitz them with phone calls because Gresh can’t handle that.
“What they don’t understand, because they are so dumb, is that…Rich Shertenlieb has no fan base…no fan of [Toucher and Hardy] in the morning is going to be like ‘I’m not going to listen to Felger in the afternoons, I’ll now listen to Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb.’ It’s going to be dreadful.”
Recapping what he has heard the rest of the WEEI lineup will be, Minihane said, “…And then in middays you have Adam Jones, failed afternoons. Rich Keefe who has now failed middays, drivetime, nights and is now going to fail again in middays… and Christian Fauria who has never drawn a rating in his life.”
WEEI has not commented on any of the speculation. BSM will have more as the story unfolds.
Sports Radio News
Former 670 The Score Host Tommy Williams Has Died
Published
4 hours agoon
March 28, 2024By
BSM StaffTommy Williams, who was heard for a decade on 670 The Score, died on Wednesday at the age of 66.
Williams began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Gary, Indiana in 1982 at WLTH before moving on to The Score. In 2003, Williams became the PA Announcer for the Gary Southshore RailCats of the American Association where he had his signature call to get the attention of the fans, “People, People, People.”
A story in The Times of Northwest Indiana said, “The longtime RailCats public address announcer and Lakeshore Public Media sports journalist was known for broadcasting countless games, interviewing countless athletes and covering Region sports at all levels. The Gary native and co-host of “Prep Sports Report,” “Prep Football Report,” and “Lakeshore PBS Scoreboard” often signed off shows saying, “Gary, Indiana, you know I love you.”
“The cadence he had in his voice echoed across the Region in a way we may never see again. He was widely known and widely loved,” Tom Maloney, vice president of radio operations at Lakeshore Public Media told the paper.
“He’d want to be remembered as the voice of Lakeshore sports,” his Regionally Speaking co-host and producer Dee Dotson told The Times. “Most people will remember him for covering prep sports all the way up to semi-pros. He’ll be remembered for treating each of his subjects like they were world champions. His depth of knowledge of sports at all levels is commendable. He was a walking encyclopedia of stats.”
Sports Radio News
Compass Media Networks Promotes Three Members to Oversee Play-by-Play Sports Platform
“It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”
Published
7 hours agoon
March 28, 2024By
BSM StaffCompass Media Networks has announced the promotions of three long-standing executives, Robert Blum, Tyler Brewer, and Chris Kleiber, who will collectively oversee the content creation, production, and distribution of the company’s play-by-play sports platform.
“For over 16 years, Compass Media Networks has set a standard of excellence for national play-by-play sports with Chris, Rob, and Tyler playing a vital part in our success,” said Peter Kosann, CEO/Founder of Compass Media Networks. “It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”
Robet Blum has been appointed Vice President & General Manager of Sports and will also continue to serve as Vice President of Affiliate Sales for News-Talk and Sports. Tyler Brewer has been appointed Executive Producer – Sports Programming. And Chris Kleiber has been appointed Senior Producer – Sports Programming.
Compass Media Networks broadcasts annually over 100 play-by-play sporting events involving college men’s basketball and football (including the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Ten Championship Game), NFL 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday Doubleheaders, and complete coverage of the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders. The broadcasts are distributed across hundreds of terrestrial sports, news-talk and music stations as well as digital distribution platforms such as SiriusXM, Verizon Mobile, and the Varsity App.
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