WEEI, the Entercom Radio Sports Talk giant is looking to take on new markets. According to an article in today’s Boston Herald, Entercom is looking to syndicate it’s WEEI sports talk shows.
“We’re going to create a WEEI network and make our programming available to stations throughout New England,” said Entercom Vice President Julie Kahn.
The plan does not include the broadcasts of the Boston Red Sox most of who’s games are on Entercom talker WRKO and the Boston Celtics who has WEEI as a flagship. This is presumably to honor the contracts of stations in other markets who carry the teams.
WEEI already airs it’s programming on Entercom owned stations in Worcester, MA (WVEI-AM 1440); Providence, RI (WEEI-FM 103.7) and Springfield, MA (WVEI-FM 105.5). They claim to be the highest rated sports talker in the country with such shows as Dennis & Callahan; The Dale and Holley Show; The Big Show and Planet Mikey.
Entercom, which hopes to add stations in ten New England markets later this spring, will start talking with interested parties over the next few weeks.
Last year Entercom had announced a deal with Nassau Broadcasting to syndicate it’s programming to a dozen stations in New England but the deal fell through.
I find it odd that they are saying they are higher rated than some of the ESPN Radio Talk shows.
Oh I’m sure if you looked at all the markets the ESPN shows run in that wouldnt be the case but they are talking about market vs. market. Boston vs LA, Boston vsNYC, Boston vs St. Louis etc.
I can see where they might have the most listeners knowing how rabid Boston fans are vs fans in other cities. In New Yorks case there are so many other radio choices it dilutes the numbers.
It’s funny you bring this up. As you know, I grew up in the Springfield area. Two years ago, there was an AM ESPN Radio affiliate based in Springfield. It died. Less than a year later, WEEI began broadcasting on an FM frequency last summer.
What station carried ESPN? I worked at Clear Channel and for years we had 640 the Zone and most of that was FOX Sports Radio. I wasn’t aware of any ESPN station in the market.
The Zone changed format less than 60-days after WEEI came to Springfield. Why listen to national programs when yuo can listen to shows that talk about your teams.