Josh Innes Will Be Back on 94 WIP

The ill conceived Innes and Bruno Show self-destructed before our very ears earlier this month when veteran radio host Tony Bruno "retired" from radio. Josh Innes revealed on twitter that he is on a 10 day hiatus from the station as a retooling is taking place. I am of the belief that Josh Inness is not cut out for the Philly market. There was a time over the last year, during his night time show, that his hijinks was toned down. He actually gave some sound opinions and a different perspective from the usual "Chip Kelly can do no wrong" logic out there about the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2014  football season. I became a listener. Then the honchos at 94 WIP (Spike Eskin and Andy Bloom) decided to give Josh Innes an afternoon slot last February. I stopped listening.

I got 10 days off work yet can't find a way to relax. Been an eventful week and a half. Many more decisions to come

— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) July 16, 2015

Pairing him with Tony Bruno generated number one ratings in the key male demographic. So they were doing something right. The show bested 97.5 The Fanatic host Mike Missanelli and has launched a radio war of sorts between the two FM sports stations in town. Perhaps WIP is thinking of letting Innes go solo. We shall see.

Mike Missanelli Returns to 97.5 The Fanatic, Will @Deadspin Retract the Story?

Mike Missanelli gave a statement today on the air on his suspension after being off the air for a week. He addresses why he was absent and apologizes for anyone who may have been offended. He also gave a history of the listener (troll) that has been harassing him with thousands of emails for four of the five years that he has been part of 97.5 The Fanatic. He categorically denied that he is homophobic.

Missanelli went on to say that the listener communicated with him that it would be impossible for authorities to find out the emailer's identity; who refers to himself  as "The Rock" (because he resembles the actor and wrestler). He regrets the perception that the emails that were sent to the Deadspin website implied that he was homophobic. He also stated that he would no longer communicate with listener's through email following this experience.

Mike Missanelli Has Been Suspended from 97.5 The Fanatic

Mike Missanelli, the afternoon host at 97.5 The Fanatic has been suspended indefinitely for using homophobic language in an email exchange with a listener who was not a fan of the host.

The suspension came after several emails between Missanelli and the listener were made public by the website Deadspin. Mikey Miss repeatedly called the listener a "homosexual."

Former KYW-TV Channel 3 news anchor Larry Mendte, who knows a thing or two about emails, came to Missanelli's defense in a PhillyMag.com article and says the suspended sports-talk host was “trying to be clinical” with the email troll.

After the announcement of his suspension, Missanelli issued a statement apologizing for his actions.

How long will Josh Innes Last in Philly?

Josh Innes and his only friend in Philly???

To say the least the new night host is not playing well in Philadelphia? He was brought here by CBS Radio management to give a boost to ratings for 94 WIP. From what I understand he did quite well on the sports radio station in Houston. He is a rising star within corporate circles. Why not? He's made a lot of money for CBS. Apparently he had the option of choosing Philly or Atlanta. He should have chosen Atlanta.

The problem with Josh Innes is that he doesn't know Philly sports. He has not lived and died with the few successes and the multitude of defeats that the Philadelphia sports fans have endured over the years. The reason hosts like Al Morganti, Glen Macnow, Ray Didinger and even Angelo Cataldi and Howard Eskin have done well is because they were journalists. They were newspaper men who have been in the locker rooms for years watching games and interviewing players. In Eskin's case he done it all including TV. Even Mike Missanelli over at 97.5 The Fanatic was also an Inquirer writer.

Rob Ellis Joins Anthony Gargano for Afternoons at WIP, New Night Host is Josh Innes

SportsRadio 94WIP, Philadelphia’s premier sports radio station, announced today new hosts for its afternoon and evening programs beginning on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014. The announcements were made by Andy Bloom, WIP Operations Manager.

Joining afternoon co-host Anthony Gargano is six-year station veteran Rob Ellis. Ellis, the four-time winner of the Great Birds Debate and WIP evening host since 2010, is already one of WIP’s most respected and popular anchors and will be heard weekdays from 1:00-6:00PM, ET on-air, online at CBSPhilly.com and via the Radio.com app for a variety of mobiledevices.

Glen Macnow Leaves WIP While Contract Talks Continue

Glen Macnow is off the air for now at 94 WIP as he continues negotiations for a new contract that runs out at the end of the year.

Macnow left the airwaves midway through today's (Monday) show with Anthony Gargano as they transitioned into the Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman show. The Prof has been with WIP for 20 years.

Glen adds his thoughts on facebook:

"I'll be taking time off from WIP (and away from Facebook) until my situation at the station is resolved. I just finished my 20th year at the station and I've cherished the opportunity to work with three great partners in Jody, Ray and Anthony. I love the people at WIP and I particularly love the Philadelphia fans I get to talk with every day. Hope to talk with you again soon."

610 WIP is NOW CBS Sports Radio 610 AM

CBS Sports Radio begins full operation on January 2 at midnight with a weekday lineup that includes Brandon Tierney, Dana Jacobson, and Tiki Barber in morning drive; with John Feinstein, Jim Rome, Doug Gottlieb, Chris Moore, Scott Farrell and Damon Amendolara rounding out the schedule the rest of the day.

The weekend lineup on CBS Sports Radio 610 will include Amy Lawrence, John Kincade, Vinny Cerrato, Rob Long, Josh Innes, Ted Johnson and WIP host Jody McDonald.

WIP's full local lineup which includes Angelo Cataldi, Ike Reese, Michael Barkann, Glen Macnow, Anthony Gargano, Rob Ellis, and Big Daddy Graham will be heard only on 94.1 FM, as CBS Radio's new national sports radio network will take over the original home of WIP.

950 ESPN and WPEN is Now Family Radio WKDN

Family Radio will return to Philadelphia tonight at 6 PM when 950 ESPN (WPEN-AM) drops its simulcast of sports radio 97.5 The Fanatic. The new station is an old friend to the Philly area as the Family Radio  religious format returns along with their signature call letters WKDN. Their new home will be now occupy 950 AM.

950 ESPN simulcasted most of the programs on 97.5 The Fanatic, however there were a few exceptions like The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Also in the mix are Flyers hockey (if or when it returns) and 76ers basketball. Both teams' games broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic, however if there is a conflict when both teams play on the same night 950 ESPN is no longer available. The hockey games will be pushed over to WMMR. There might be more of a conflict than what otherwise might be the case if the strike shorten NHL season returns. Not sure how that will go over with the rockers on 'MMR.

WKDN for many years broadcasts from the 106.9 FM frequency with offices and transmitter in Camden County. That station now features Talk station IQ 106.9 (WWIQ) and their mostly national syndicated programs with hosts Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and local morning show with former TV anchorman Larry Mendte.

Sports Radio 66 WFAN New York Goes to 101.9 FM

WFAN-AM, The Nation’s Most-Listened-To Sports Radio Station, To Be Simulcast On FM

New Station Will Change Its Call Letters To WFAN-FM

Merlin Merlin owners of local talk station IQ 106.9 (WWIQ) hasn't had much success with their all news formats in New York or Chicago. Less than a year after the news formats were launched in both cities the news were dumped in favor of music. There was speculation that IQ 106.9 would go all news to compete with KYW, but horrible ratings in NY and Chi-town ultimately convince them to go talk. However Merlin is still hoping to see some success at the former Family Radio station WKDN.