UTICA-ROME — Former Oldiez 96 (WODZ) morning man Bob Cain is back on the radio. He’s followed fellow former Townsquare Media personalities Gene Conte and Fred Miller over to the ESPN Radio stations, owned by Syracuse-based Galaxy Communications.
UTICA-ROME — It’s the latest volley in what might possibly be a brewing “sports talk radio war” in the Mohawk Valley. The ESPN Radio Utica-Rome AM trimulcast (WTLB/WIXT/WRNY) has finally made its long-awaited expansion to the FM side of the dial.
Following a long weekend out of town, your editor has returned to CNYRadio.com HQ. As has been the case after some previous trips away, we’re back with a quick recap of some items missed during the time off.
SYRACUSE — Out of the dozens of ESPN Radio affiliates nationwide, only 16 were invited to the network’s Connecticut headquarters for its second annual “Audio Avenue” event on Wednesday. Among those 16: Syracuse’s ESPN Radio CNY 97.1 and 100.1 (WSGO/WTLA/W247BC/W259AX). The locally-produced Upon Further Review broadcast live from the event that afternoon.
Updated 5/23 with guest appearance schedule — SYRACUSE — Next Wednesday will be a special day for ESPN Radio CNY’s locally-produced show, Upon Further Review. Rather than hosting the afternoon drive gabfest from the East Syracuse studios of NewsChannel 9, hosts Chris McManus and Steve Infanti are hitting the road to host the show from the ESPN mothership in Bristol, Connecticut.
UTICA-ROME — The three AM stations bringing ESPN Radio programming to the Mohawk Valley will soon have some help on the FM side of the dial. Galaxy Communications says sports fans will soon be able to listen to ESPN Radio at 99.1FM, thanks to the $40,000 purchase of translator W256AJ.
Updated 1/18 – SYRACUSE — Does the Syracuse area have more Boston Red Sox fans or more New York Mets fans? After carrying Sox baseball last season, ESPN Radio 97.7/100.1 (WTLA/WSGO) is now hedging its bets with Mets fans. The station announced on Friday that it’ll be Syracuse’s radio home for the New York Mets this coming season.
SYRACUSE — ESPN Radio’s Upon Further Review hasn’t even officially debuted yet, and the show already has another new co-host. Former SU and NBA basketball star Derrick Coleman will join the show during basketball season.
SYRACUSE — The rumors have been swirling ever since NewsChannel 9′s Steve Infanti joined the cast of ESPN Radio’s weekday afternoon talk show back in August… and now those rumors are confirmed. Starting Monday, Upon Further Review will be simulcast on television. Fans will be able to listen on the radio, or watch on digital channel 9.2.
LOS ANGELES — Syracuse University alum Jason Smith (not to be confused with the WRVO Morning Edition host) announced this week on his ESPN Radio show, AllNight, he’s leaving to take a new job with NFL Network. No word (on Wikipedia) as to his new duties or start date. In Syracuse, Smith worked for student-run Z89 (WJPZ-FM). He’s been hosting AllNight for ESPN Radio since 2005. (Thanks to an anonymous CNYRadio.com reader for bringing this to our attention!)