OT: Official Sports Media Thread X: WEEI's owner is nearly broke

Fenway · Sep 19, 2022

Station	Format	Owner	Mar 22	Apr 22	May 22	Jun 22	Jul 22	Aug 22
WBZ-FM	Sports	Beasley	7.3	8.4	9.8	7.3	5.8	7.5
WROR-FM	Classic Hits	Beasley	9.2	8.6	7.8	8.3	8.7	7.2
WMJX-FM	AC	Audacy	7.2	6.4	6.7	6.7	5.7	5.8
WXKS-FM	Top 40/M	iHeartMedia	5.6	5.8	5.6	5.2	6.4	5.7
WZLX-FM	Classic Rock	iHeartMedia	5.9	4.9	5.1	5.2	5.9	4.9
WBZ-AM	News	iHeartMedia	5.5	4.7	4.8	4.8	4.3	4.6
WRKO-AM	Talk	iHeartMedia	4.7	4.3	4.2	3.4	3.5	4.3
WKLB-FM	Country	Beasley	4.0	4.0	4.5	4.4	4.9	4.2
WWBX-FM	Hot AC	Audacy	2.4	3.7	4.1	4.7	3.4	4.0
WEEI-FM	Sports	Audacy	2.6	3.3	3.6	3.4	3.5	3.9
WBUR-FM	Public Radio	Boston U	5.0	3.7	3.5	3.3	3.9	3.5
WBQT-FM	Rhythmic AC	Beasley	3.2	3.1	3.4	3.8	3.4	3.4
WXRV-FM	AAA	Northeast	2.6	2.7	2.9	2.6	2.7	3.2
WBGB-FM	Adult Hits	Audacy	3.2	3.6	3.4	3.5	3.7	3.0
WJMN-FM	Top 40/R	iHeartMedia	2.3	2.2	2.2	3.0	2.9	3.0
WBOS-FM	Classic Rock	Beasley	1.7	2.0	2.4	2.0	2.1	2.9
WGBH-FM	Public Radio	WGBH Foundation	2.6	3.5	2.7	2.2	2.3	2.6
WXLO-FM	Hot AC	Cumulus	1.5	1.5	1.4	2.7	3.1	2.6
WBWL-FM	Country	iHeartMedia	2.2	2.1	2.0	2.2	2.3	2.4
WCRB-FM	Classical	WGBH Foundation	2.1	2.0	1.8	1.6	1.5	2.1
WZRM-FM	Tropical	iHeartMedia	1.1	1.1	1.3	1.5	1.8	1.7
WERS-FM	AAA	Emerson College	1.3	0.9	0.7	0.8	0.8	1.0
WCTK-FM	Country	Hall	0.3	0.4	0.7	1.3	1.2	0.8
WUMB-FM	AAA	University Of MA	0.5	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5
WNNW-AM	Tropical	Costa-Eagle	0.3	2.0	1.7	1.7	1.3	0.4
WXKS-AM	Talk	iHeartMedia	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.3
WJDA-AM	Adult Standards	Real Media	0.1	--	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.1
WMVX-AM	Classic Hits	Costa-Eagle	0.1	0.1	0.1	--	0.1	0.1
WWFX-FM	Classic Rock	Cumulus	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1

Station	Format	Mar 22	Apr 22	May 22	Jun 22	Jul 22	Aug 22
WMJX-FM	AC	865,900	839,100	907,900	893,800	783,400	812,700
WXKS-FM	Top 40/M	782,700	743,500	785,000	729,500	774,800	710,400
WROR-FM	Classic Hits	858,500	820,400	805,300	785,200	756,300	699,400
WBZ-FM	Sports	558,500	616,700	723,600	601,700	452,800	486,200
WWBX-FM	Hot AC	459,400	451,000	480,800	565,700	476,400	477,500
WKLB-FM	Country	505,800	513,400	531,500	546,700	493,200	466,600
WZLX-FM	Classic Rock	596,700	543,500	615,300	528,800	534,800	464,700
WBGB-FM	Adult Hits	505,200	580,200	528,300	514,600	527,400	452,600
WBZ-AM	News	484,700	459,400	418,500	457,800	414,300	407,600
WBQT-FM	Rhythmic AC	444,700	418,100	423,400	485,400	400,800	400,600
WJMN-FM	Top 40/R	381,100	373,700	337,200	395,800	353,500	392,400
WBOS-FM	Classic Rock	369,000	365,600	393,700	328,000	334,100	355,300
WXLO-FM	Hot AC	299,100	295,400	317,700	381,800	305,500	353,800
WEEI-FM	Sports	259,100	366,800	367,800	369,000	364,000	341,600
WBUR-FM	Public Radio	375,300	320,000	291,900	290,700	301,800	307,200
WXRV-FM	AAA	334,400	323,200	331,800	324,200	281,600	301,000
WBWL-FM	Country	272,200	274,900	305,300	338,100	321,500	277,500
WGBH-FM	Public Radio	288,600	278,300	262,400	262,300	201,500	213,300
WZRM-FM	Tropical	151,000	133,400	156,200	170,000	203,900	196,500
WCRB-FM	Classical	245,300	203,400	201,600	205,500	168,300	190,600
WRKO-AM	Talk	202,500	198,400	190,300	165,900	135,900	160,400
WERS-FM	AAA	160,500	141,600	124,000	129,400	111,100	145,400
WCTK-FM	Country	57,500	89,500	102,800	108,100	125,300	105,300
WNNW-AM	Tropical	33,100	55,200	66,700	82,800	56,400	37,700
WUMB-FM	AAA	35,500	37,400	43,600	40,900	35,600	34,400
WWFX-FM	Classic Rock	25,500	20,800	26,000	21,200	18,200	22,500
WMVX-AM	Classic Hits	47,200	39,500	33,500	27,700	26,900	21,400
WXKS-AM	Talk	25,600	20,300	28,500	32,100	26,400	19,400
WJDA-AM	Adult Standards	15,700	--	31,600	28,200	13,800	14,700
WORC-FM	Country	1,800	1,400	3,100	4,400	10,500	14,300
WNBH-AM	Classic Hits	4,500	4,600	5,300	13,500	6,200	9,000
WCAI-FM	Public Radio	3,400	2,200	6,700	2,700	3,100	8,900
WBGB-FM Stream	Classic Hits	13,200	5,200	2,400	1,000	4,200	6,600
WRCA-AM	Ethnic	3,600	7,600	2,500	3,100	5,000	6,200
WEEI-AM	Sports	20,100	12,300	14,900	14,200	5,700	5,300
WBGB-FM HD2	Classic Hits	3,400	6,600	8,600	8,600	6,600	3,700
WCCM-AM	Spanish Talk	13,000	12,400	3,000	4,100	10,900	3,100
WESX-AM	Spanish Religious	2,700	2,800	5,100	3,900	3,900	2,300
WERS-FM HD2	Variety	1,600	400	600	--	--	2,200
WBZ-FM HD2	Alternative	8,200	--	--	1,800	800	1,700
WBGB-FM HD3	Christian Cont.	10,800	--	1,000	600	2,100	1,600
WWBX-FM HD2	Rock	2,000	4,200	1,500	2,500	2,000	1,600
WJMF-FM	Classical	--	--	1,700	--	--	1,500

Fenway · Sep 19, 2022

Here are the cume numbers from 3 years ago - there were 3 stations that were sampled by over a million listeners - today nobody comes close.

With unlimited data now the norm at reasonable prices plus Wi-Fi in cars people are fleeing from radio and commercials.

WEEI has to be bleeding red ink as the format is expensive.

Bruinswillwin77 · Sep 19, 2022

NBC Sports Boston probably was inevitably going to doom EEI anyway.

Ludwig Fell Down · Sep 19, 2022

In case anyone is tuning into NESN at the 8:00 hour, Bruins Academy is doing a piece on the American Special Hockey summer camp that we ran at Warrior last month. It was a great take, and the Bruins were huge supporters.

CHRDANHUTCH · Sep 20, 2022

Maine Media update:

Meterologist Mike Slifer moves on to WFSB 3 in Connecticut after departing NewsCenter Maine/Tegna

Terrier · Sep 21, 2022

BSJ Live Q&A: Conor Ryan on Bruins/NHL - Thursday at 1 p.m.

Boston Sports Journal

Boston's fast-growing, fully-credentialed, flying-everywhere collection of professional journalists covering Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and more…

www.bostonsportsjournal.com

CHRDANHUTCH · Sep 27, 2022

another media change:

Marissa Bodnar now doubling as anchor/I-Team correspondent @ Sinclair owned WGME CBS 13

Terrier · Sep 28, 2022

BSJ Live Q&A: Conor Ryan on Bruins/NHL - Thursday at 11 a.m.

Boston Sports Journal

Boston's fast-growing, fully-credentialed, flying-everywhere collection of professional journalists covering Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and more…

www.bostonsportsjournal.com

Alicat · Oct 1, 2022

CHRDANHUTCH · Oct 4, 2022

New Charter offerings :

Circle, Start TV, Story TV (similiar to what fyi was when they were the BIO Channel) AND Earth X TV;

NBC Sports has now killed the Olympic Channel less than a year after killing NBCSN as all Olympic Sports will transition to NBC/USA/CNBC

Terrier · Oct 5, 2022

BSJ Live Q&A: Conor Ryan on Bruins/NHL - Thursday at 1 p.m.

Boston Sports Journal

Boston's fast-growing, fully-credentialed, flying-everywhere collection of professional journalists covering Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and more…

www.bostonsportsjournal.com

Fenway · Oct 6, 2022

#10 Boston, MA

SUBSCRIBER ONLY Nielsen Audio September '21 Monthly PPM 6+ Mon-Sun, 6a-12mid

Population: 4,376,900

Black: 356,600 (8%)

Hispanic: 507,100 (12%)

Last updated: Oct 6, 2022

Station	Format	Owner	Apr 22	May 22	Jun 22	Jul 22	Aug 22	Sep 22
WROR-FM	Classic Hits	Beasley	8.6	7.8	8.3	8.7	7.2	7.4
WBZ-FM	Sports	Beasley	8.4	9.8	7.3	5.8	7.5	7.3
WMJX-FM	AC	Audacy	6.4	6.7	6.7	5.7	5.8	6.4
WXKS-FM	Top 40/M	iHeartMedia	5.8	5.6	5.2	6.4	5.7	5.7
WBZ-AM	News	iHeartMedia	4.7	4.8	4.8	4.3	4.6	5.3
WZLX-FM	Classic Rock	iHeartMedia	4.9	5.1	5.2	5.9	4.9	4.9
WBUR-FM	Public Radio	Boston U	3.7	3.5	3.3	3.9	3.5	4.0
WEEI-FM	Sports	Audacy	3.3	3.6	3.4	3.5	3.9	4.0
WRKO-AM	Talk	iHeartMedia	4.3	4.2	3.4	3.5	4.3	3.8
WBQT-FM	Rhythmic AC	Beasley	3.1	3.4	3.8	3.4	3.4	3.6
WKLB-FM	Country	Beasley	4.0	4.5	4.4	4.9	4.2	3.6
WBGB-FM	Adult Hits	Audacy	3.6	3.4	3.5	3.7	3.0	3.3
WBWL-FM	Country	iHeartMedia	2.1	2.0	2.2	2.3	2.4	3.3
WWBX-FM	Hot AC	Audacy	3.7	4.1	4.7	3.4	4.0	3.3
WJMN-FM	Top 40/R	iHeartMedia	2.2	2.2	3.0	2.9	3.0	3.2
WXRV-FM	AAA	Northeast	2.7	2.9	2.6	2.7	3.2	2.8
WXLO-FM	Hot AC	Cumulus	1.5	1.4	2.7	3.1	2.6	2.7
WBOS-FM	Classic Rock	Beasley	2.0	2.4	2.0	2.1	2.9	2.5
WGBH-FM	Public Radio	WGBH Foundation	3.5	2.7	2.2	2.3	2.6	2.3
WZRM-FM	Tropical	iHeartMedia	1.1	1.3	1.5	1.8	1.7	2.2
WCRB-FM	Classical	WGBH Foundation	2.0	1.8	1.6	1.5	2.1	2.1
WERS-FM	AAA	Emerson College	0.9	0.7	0.8	0.8	1.0	1.4
WUMB-FM	AAA	University Of MA	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5
WCTK-FM	Country	Hall	0.4	0.7	1.3	1.2	0.8	0.4
WNNW-AM	Tropical	Costa-Eagle	2.0	1.7	1.7	1.3	0.4	0.3
WXKS-AM	Talk	iHeartMedia	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.3
WMVX-AM	Classic Hits	Costa-Eagle	0.1	0.1	--	0.1	0.1	0.1
WWFX-FM	Classic Rock	Cumulus	0.1	0.1	0.

#10 Boston, MA

Station Cume

Station	Format	Apr 22	May 22	Jun 22	Jul 22	Aug 22	Sep 22
WMJX-FM	AC	839,100	907,900	893,800	783,400	812,700	814,000
WXKS-FM	Top 40/M	743,500	785,000	729,500	774,800	710,400	775,200
WROR-FM	Classic Hits	820,400	805,300	785,200	756,300	699,400	656,500
WBZ-FM	Sports	616,700	723,600	601,700	452,800	486,200	538,400
WZLX-FM	Classic Rock	543,500	615,300	528,800	534,800	464,700	498,600
WBGB-FM	Adult Hits	580,200	528,300	514,600	527,400	452,600	464,100
WWBX-FM	Hot AC	451,000	480,800	565,700	476,400	477,500	460,100
WKLB-FM	Country	513,400	531,500	546,700	493,200	466,600	444,300
WBZ-AM	News	459,400	418,500	457,800	414,300	407,600	425,200
WBQT-FM	Rhythmic AC	418,100	423,400	485,400	400,800	400,600	390,200
WEEI-FM	Sports	366,800	367,800	369,000	364,000	341,600	370,800
WXLO-FM	Hot AC	295,400	317,700	381,800	305,500	353,800	359,700
WJMN-FM	Top 40/R	373,700	337,200	395,800	353,500	392,400	357,800
WBOS-FM	Classic Rock	365,600	393,700	328,000	334,100	355,300	346,700
WBUR-FM	Public Radio	320,000	291,900	290,700	301,800	307,200	310,900
WBWL-FM	Country	274,900	305,300	338,100	321,500	277,500	303,200
WXRV-FM	AAA	323,200	331,800	324,200	281,600	301,000	291,600
WCRB-FM	Classical	203,400	201,600	205,500	168,300	190,600	209,400
WGBH-FM	Public Radio	278,300	262,400	262,300	201,500	213,300	204,800
WZRM-FM	Tropical	133,400	156,200	170,000	203,900	196,500	198,400
WERS-FM	AAA	141,600	124,000	129,400	111,100	145,400	154,600
WRKO-AM	Talk	198,400	190,300	165,900	135,900	160,400	144,300
WCTK-FM	Country	89,500	102,800	108,100	125,300	105,300	82,600
WNNW-AM	Tropical	55,200	66,700	82,800	56,400	37,700	40,400
WUMB-FM	AAA	37,400	43,600	40,900	35,600	34,400	29,300
WXKS-AM	Talk	20,300	28,500	32,100	26,400	19,400	22,600
WMVX-AM	Classic Hits	39,500	33,500	27,700	26,900	21,400	17,400
WWFX-FM	Classic Rock	20,800	26,000	21,200	18,200	22,500	15,800
WCAI-FM	Public Radio	2,200	6,700	2,700	3,100	8,900	9,800
WORC-FM	Country	1,400	3,100	4,400	10,500	14,300	9,300
WBGB-FM Stream	Classic Hits	5,200	2,400	1,000	4,200	6,600	9,100
WEEI-AM	Sports	12,300	14,900	14,200	5,700	5,300	8,000
WBGB-FM HD2	Classic Hits	6,600	8,600	8,600	6,600	3,700	5,700
WESX-AM	Spanish Religious	2,800	5,100	3,900	3,900	2,300	5,200
WRCA-AM	Ethnic	7,600	2,500	3,100	5,000	6,200	5,200
WBZ-FM HD2	Alternative	--	--	1,800	800	1,700	3,900
WCCM-AM	Spanish Talk	12,400	3,000	4,100	10,900	3,100	3,500
WNBH-AM	Classic Hits	4,600	5,300	13,500	6,200	9,000	3,400
WWBX-FM HD3	Christian Cont.	--	--	--	3,500	--	2,800
WWBX-FM HD2	Rock	4,200	1,500	2,500	2,000	1,600	2,100
WJDA-AM	Adult Standards	--	31,600	28,200	13,800	14,700	900
WWBX-FM HD2 Stream	Rock	1,100	2,100	2,500	1,900	--	900
WJMN-FM HD2	AC	500	5,200	3,600	--	--	600

Alicat · Oct 6, 2022

I really hope they bring back Praise 108 for this.

Donnie Shulzhoffer · Oct 7, 2022

Fenway said:
#10 Boston, MA
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Nielsen Audio September '21 Monthly PPM 6+ Mon-Sun, 6a-12mid
Population: 4,376,900
Black: 356,600 (8%)
Hispanic: 507,100 (12%)
Last updated: Oct 6, 2022

Station Format Owner Apr 22 May 22 Jun 22 Jul 22 Aug 22 Sep 22
WROR-FM Classic Hits Beasley 8.6 7.8 8.3 8.7 7.2 7.4
WBZ-FM Sports Beasley 8.4 9.8 7.3 5.8 7.5 7.3
WMJX-FM AC Audacy 6.4 6.7 6.7 5.7 5.8 6.4
WXKS-FM Top 40/M iHeartMedia 5.8 5.6 5.2 6.4 5.7 5.7
WBZ-AM News iHeartMedia 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.3 4.6 5.3
WZLX-FM Classic Rock iHeartMedia 4.9 5.1 5.2 5.9 4.9 4.9
WBUR-FM Public Radio Boston U 3.7 3.5 3.3 3.9 3.5 4.0
WEEI-FM Sports Audacy 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.9 4.0
WRKO-AM Talk iHeartMedia 4.3 4.2 3.4 3.5 4.3 3.8
WBQT-FM Rhythmic AC Beasley 3.1 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.4 3.6
WKLB-FM Country Beasley 4.0 4.5 4.4 4.9 4.2 3.6
WBGB-FM Adult Hits Audacy 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.0 3.3
WBWL-FM Country iHeartMedia 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.3
WWBX-FM Hot AC Audacy 3.7 4.1 4.7 3.4 4.0 3.3
WJMN-FM Top 40/R iHeartMedia 2.2 2.2 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.2
WXRV-FM AAA Northeast 2.7 2.9 2.6 2.7 3.2 2.8
WXLO-FM Hot AC Cumulus 1.5 1.4 2.7 3.1 2.6 2.7
WBOS-FM Classic Rock Beasley 2.0 2.4 2.0 2.1 2.9 2.5
WGBH-FM Public Radio WGBH Foundation 3.5 2.7 2.2 2.3 2.6 2.3
WZRM-FM Tropical iHeartMedia 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.8 1.7 2.2
WCRB-FM Classical WGBH Foundation 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.5 2.1 2.1
WERS-FM AAA Emerson College 0.9 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.4
WUMB-FM AAA University Of MA 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5
WCTK-FM Country Hall 0.4 0.7 1.3 1.2 0.8 0.4
WNNW-AM Tropical Costa-Eagle 2.0 1.7 1.7 1.3 0.4 0.3
WXKS-AM Talk iHeartMedia 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3
WMVX-AM Classic Hits Costa-Eagle 0.1 0.1 -- 0.1 0.1 0.1
WWFX-FM Classic Rock Cumulus 0.1 0.1 0.

#10 Boston, MA
Station Cume

Station Format Apr 22 May 22 Jun 22 Jul 22 Aug 22 Sep 22
WMJX-FM AC 839,100 907,900 893,800 783,400 812,700 814,000
WXKS-FM Top 40/M 743,500 785,000 729,500 774,800 710,400 775,200
WROR-FM Classic Hits 820,400 805,300 785,200 756,300 699,400 656,500
WBZ-FM Sports 616,700 723,600 601,700 452,800 486,200 538,400
WZLX-FM Classic Rock 543,500 615,300 528,800 534,800 464,700 498,600
WBGB-FM Adult Hits 580,200 528,300 514,600 527,400 452,600 464,100
WWBX-FM Hot AC 451,000 480,800 565,700 476,400 477,500 460,100
WKLB-FM Country 513,400 531,500 546,700 493,200 466,600 444,300
WBZ-AM News 459,400 418,500 457,800 414,300 407,600 425,200
WBQT-FM Rhythmic AC 418,100 423,400 485,400 400,800 400,600 390,200
WEEI-FM Sports 366,800 367,800 369,000 364,000 341,600 370,800
WXLO-FM Hot AC 295,400 317,700 381,800 305,500 353,800 359,700
WJMN-FM Top 40/R 373,700 337,200 395,800 353,500 392,400 357,800
WBOS-FM Classic Rock 365,600 393,700 328,000 334,100 355,300 346,700
WBUR-FM Public Radio 320,000 291,900 290,700 301,800 307,200 310,900
WBWL-FM Country 274,900 305,300 338,100 321,500 277,500 303,200
WXRV-FM AAA 323,200 331,800 324,200 281,600 301,000 291,600
WCRB-FM Classical 203,400 201,600 205,500 168,300 190,600 209,400
WGBH-FM Public Radio 278,300 262,400 262,300 201,500 213,300 204,800
WZRM-FM Tropical 133,400 156,200 170,000 203,900 196,500 198,400
WERS-FM AAA 141,600 124,000 129,400 111,100 145,400 154,600
WRKO-AM Talk 198,400 190,300 165,900 135,900 160,400 144,300
WCTK-FM Country 89,500 102,800 108,100 125,300 105,300 82,600
WNNW-AM Tropical 55,200 66,700 82,800 56,400 37,700 40,400
WUMB-FM AAA 37,400 43,600 40,900 35,600 34,400 29,300
WXKS-AM Talk 20,300 28,500 32,100 26,400 19,400 22,600
WMVX-AM Classic Hits 39,500 33,500 27,700 26,900 21,400 17,400
WWFX-FM Classic Rock 20,800 26,000 21,200 18,200 22,500 15,800
WCAI-FM Public Radio 2,200 6,700 2,700 3,100 8,900 9,800
WORC-FM Country 1,400 3,100 4,400 10,500 14,300 9,300
WBGB-FM Stream Classic Hits 5,200 2,400 1,000 4,200 6,600 9,100
WEEI-AM Sports 12,300 14,900 14,200 5,700 5,300 8,000
WBGB-FM HD2 Classic Hits 6,600 8,600 8,600 6,600 3,700 5,700
WESX-AM Spanish Religious 2,800 5,100 3,900 3,900 2,300 5,200
WRCA-AM Ethnic 7,600 2,500 3,100 5,000 6,200 5,200
WBZ-FM HD2 Alternative -- -- 1,800 800 1,700 3,900
WCCM-AM Spanish Talk 12,400 3,000 4,100 10,900 3,100 3,500
WNBH-AM Classic Hits 4,600 5,300 13,500 6,200 9,000 3,400
WWBX-FM HD3 Christian Cont. -- -- -- 3,500 -- 2,800
WWBX-FM HD2 Rock 4,200 1,500 2,500 2,000 1,600 2,100
WJDA-AM Adult Standards -- 31,600 28,200 13,800 14,700 900
WWBX-FM HD2 Stream Rock 1,100 2,100 2,500 1,900 -- 900
WJMN-FM HD2 AC 500 5,200 3,600 -- -- 600

Fenway · Oct 8, 2022

@Donnie Shulzhoffer

Something else happened on Friday and late reports Friday night are hinting that Toucher/Rich/Felger/Mazz all resigned on Friday might.

Job cuts take the joy out of yet another ratings period win for The Sports Hub - The Boston Globe

As of early Friday evening, eight employees at the five Beasley-owned stations in the Boston market were fired, including two at The Sports Hub: Christian Arcand and Mike Lockhart.

www.bostonglobe.com

The last few days have been a juxtaposition of conflicting emotions for the staff at 98.5 The Sports Hub.

On Thursday, the station celebrated a massive win in the Nielsen summer ratings period, finishing first overall and in all individual day parts in the men 25-54 demographic from June 23-Sept. 14.

But on Friday, that joy had turned to confusion, disappointment, and anger. The Sports Hub’s parent company, Beasley Media, has recently been inflicting a round of corporate cost-cutting across its stations in various markets, and stations in its Boston cluster were not spared.

As of early Friday evening, eight employees at the five Beasley-owned stations in the Boston market were fired, including two at The Sports Hub: evening co-host Christian Arcand and longtime morning show producer Mike Lockhart.

Arcand had been with The Sports Hub since December 2017 and had co-hosted “The Adam Jones Show” — which ranked No. 1 in the summer ratings book — since June 2018. He was working without a contract but had negotiated a three-year deal that he had expected to sign soon.

Lockhart had been with the station even before it was a station, joining the “Toucher and Rich” program in January 2009 while it was still on rock station WBCN, seven months before the format change to The Sports Hub. Lockhart’s dismissal infuriated hosts Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb, who made their feelings known to management after their Friday show.

Other personnel at Beasley’s Boston stations who were victims of the cost-cutting Friday included Julie Devereaux and Brian Bell at 105.7 WROR; Bobby Blaze at Hot 96.9; Jonathan Wier at Country 102.5; Ken West, the program director at Radio 92.9; and Joe Plett, a director of production for Beasley.

In a brief statement, a Beasley spokesperson said, “Like other responsible publicly traded organizations, we are restructuring our operations to reflect the reality of the country’s current economic challenges.”

While Beasley’s cost-cutting plans were no secret, personnel at The Sports Hub had reason to believe they would be spared. The station isn’t just an enormous ratings success, but also is one of the top-billing stations in the country when it comes to advertising. In 2021, The Sports Hub brought in more than $33 million, most among any sports station in the country, and fifth among all stations nationwide of any format or genre.

One reason for the cuts is the decline of Beasley’s stock price, which is little more than a dollar per share. But that’s more than twice what shares of Audacy — rival station WEEI’s parent company — have been going for recently. It was at 34 cents per share as of Friday afternoon.

Gordoff · Oct 8, 2022

Tough times.

Donnie Shulzhoffer · Oct 8, 2022

Fenway said:
@Donnie Shulzhoffer

Something else happened on Friday and late reports Friday night are hinting that Toucher/Rich/Felger/Mazz all resigned on Friday might.

Job cuts take the joy out of yet another ratings period win for The Sports Hub - The Boston Globe

As of early Friday evening, eight employees at the five Beasley-owned stations in the Boston market were fired, including two at The Sports Hub: Christian Arcand and Mike Lockhart.

www.bostonglobe.com

The last few days have been a juxtaposition of conflicting emotions for the staff at 98.5 The Sports Hub.

On Thursday, the station celebrated a massive win in the Nielsen summer ratings period, finishing first overall and in all individual day parts in the men 25-54 demographic from June 23-Sept. 14.

But on Friday, that joy had turned to confusion, disappointment, and anger. The Sports Hub’s parent company, Beasley Media, has recently been inflicting a round of corporate cost-cutting across its stations in various markets, and stations in its Boston cluster were not spared.

As of early Friday evening, eight employees at the five Beasley-owned stations in the Boston market were fired, including two at The Sports Hub: evening co-host Christian Arcand and longtime morning show producer Mike Lockhart.

Arcand had been with The Sports Hub since December 2017 and had co-hosted “The Adam Jones Show” — which ranked No. 1 in the summer ratings book — since June 2018. He was working without a contract but had negotiated a three-year deal that he had expected to sign soon.

Lockhart had been with the station even before it was a station, joining the “Toucher and Rich” program in January 2009 while it was still on rock station WBCN, seven months before the format change to The Sports Hub. Lockhart’s dismissal infuriated hosts Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb, who made their feelings known to management after their Friday show.

Other personnel at Beasley’s Boston stations who were victims of the cost-cutting Friday included Julie Devereaux and Brian Bell at 105.7 WROR; Bobby Blaze at Hot 96.9; Jonathan Wier at Country 102.5; Ken West, the program director at Radio 92.9; and Joe Plett, a director of production for Beasley.

In a brief statement, a Beasley spokesperson said, “Like other responsible publicly traded organizations, we are restructuring our operations to reflect the reality of the country’s current economic challenges.”

While Beasley’s cost-cutting plans were no secret, personnel at The Sports Hub had reason to believe they would be spared. The station isn’t just an enormous ratings success, but also is one of the top-billing stations in the country when it comes to advertising. In 2021, The Sports Hub brought in more than $33 million, most among any sports station in the country, and fifth among all stations nationwide of any format or genre.

One reason for the cuts is the decline of Beasley’s stock price, which is little more than a dollar per share. But that’s more than twice what shares of Audacy — rival station WEEI’s parent company — have been going for recently. It was at 34 cents per share as of Friday afternoon.

I doubt highly they will quit over that

Over the volcano · Oct 8, 2022

Gordoff said:
Tough times.

For the company pulling in more money than any other sports radio station in the country?

What a foolish management decision -

DKH · Oct 8, 2022

Mike Lockhart a stud

WEEI needs to grab his ass

This is Rangers dumping Buchnevich or Columbus Bjorkstrand

Unbelievable talent

Over the volcano · Oct 8, 2022

DKH said:
Mike Lockhart a stud

WEEI needs to grab his ass

This is Rangers dumping Buchnevich or Columbus Bjorkstrand

Unbelievable talent

That morning show was the only listenable sports radio in this town (and apparently in the country). You just don’t cook a goose that lays golden eggs.

MattFromFranklin · Oct 8, 2022

Although WEEI was on the decline, outside of 1 show, it’s incredible how 1 man (Bob Murchison) could bring down an entire station.

Alicat · Oct 10, 2022

Well said T&R. I hope they are able to get Lockhart back.

Bruinswillwin77 · Oct 11, 2022

I wonder if Greg Bedard has ever laughed in his life. Stick in the mud.

CHRDANHUTCH · Oct 11, 2022

Bruinswillwin77 said:
I wonder if Greg Bedard has ever laughed in his life. Stick in the mud.

no, what it does say is what's the future of simulcasting T& R/F&M/ Bertrand & Zolak and then the future of NBC Sports Boston/ Boston Sports Tonight, notably outside of the the actual contract they have with the Celtics.... after what NESN has done with the removal/cancellation of Sportsdesk/After Hours

Terrier · Oct 12, 2022

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SUBSCRIBER ONLY Nielsen Audio September '21 Monthly PPM 6+ Mon-Sun, 6a-12mid

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