Update 10/29: September and most of October have come and gone and Bubba The Love Sponge has yet to reach his stated twenty day goal of announcing a new Tampa flagship for his show.
However an indication a deal may be close as a few domains were privately registered by the domain registrar normally used by Beasley last week: 987Bubba.com, Bubba987.com, and Bubba1047.com. The first two point to Sports “98.7 The Fan” WHFS-FM, which has struggled mightily since its launch in August 2012. The station registered a 0.8 share in the October PPM monthly released yesterday, up from a 0.4 just two months prior. The latter domain points to the more successful Classic Hits “Q105” 104.7 WRBQ, which has a stronger signal throughout the market.
Beasley is in the process of acquiring CBS’ Tampa cluster as part of the multi-market swap announced last month. It is scheduled to close around the same time Bubba’s free to debut in January 2015. His show currently airs on Beasley’s “96 K-Rock” WRXK in the Fort Myers market.
Original Report 9/2: Just days after being let go from Cox Media’s Hot Talk “102.5 The Bone” WHPT Tampa, Bubba The Love Sponge is teasing information regarding his future radio destination.
In a series of tweets on Monday afternoon, Bubba stated that he expects to make an announcement within twenty days on where in Tampa he will air once his Cox contract expires at the end of the year. He claims that he has a choice of two different places both of which involve multiple stations in multiple markets for more money than the current Cox deal.
I'll have a MAJOR Annoucement within 20 days of my new Tampa home gonna be so so so great
— Bubba The Love Sponge®️ (@TheBubbaArmy) September 1, 2014
Deal is practically done. Got my pick of 2 different places. Both are a breath of fresh air compared2have we have been treated.
— Bubba The Love Sponge®️ (@TheBubbaArmy) September 1, 2014
It's a multistation/multimarket deal much larger than/exsisting cox deal.Cox did me a favor.I get paid till jan1 thenon2 a betterplace more$
— Bubba The Love Sponge®️ (@TheBubbaArmy) September 1, 2014
Outside of Cox, there are only two other group owners in Tampa. Clear Channel and CBS both have stations that could fit Bubba and offer additional markets. He originally hosted mornings on Clear Channel’s “98 Rock” 97.9 WXTB from 1997 until 2004, while CBS has struggling Sports “98.7 The Fan” WHFS-FM with a mere 0.4 share in the market and in need of something to bring listeners to the station.
Forgetting his time on WFLZ?
Was that in mornings?
Nope. Bubba was always at night (7p-11p) on The PowerPig/FLZ.