Entercom has announced that Mark Chernoff will step down as Vice President of Sports Programming and Program Director of Sports 660 WFAN/101.9 WFAN-FM New York once a replacement is named later this year.
Chernoff has programmed WFAN since 1993 after stints programming Rock 105.5 WDHA-FM Dover NJ, 102.7 WNEW New York and “92.3 K-Rock” WXRK New York. He would later add oversight of WNEW and WXRK again at later times in its history and hold executive positions for CBS Radio and Entercom.
Entercom New York VP/Market Manager Chris Olivero, who began his career as a board-op working for Chernoff at WFAN, wrote the following memo making the announcement:
Today, I’d like to share significant and meaningful news regarding WFAN.
After nearly 30 years of unmatched success, our colleague and industry programming icon, Mark Chernoff, will step down from day-to-day oversight of WFAN and CBS SPORTS RADIO later in 2021 after a worthy successor has been identified – which trust me will be no easy task.
Since no one knows the job better, Mark will be a member of the search committee for the next sports content lead for both brands and, until that time, will remain fully responsible for all operations. Also, Mark will continue on as an advisor to WFAN after the search and transition is complete.
I was lucky enough to first meet Mark in 1998 in his windowless sub-sub-basement office out at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens. I was a college grad groveling for part-time board op shifts at WFAN. That began a relationship that has evolved into one of the most rewarding, important and genuine friendships of my entire life. One that I have and always will cherish.
When people think of WFAN, names like Imus, ‘Mike & The Mad Dog’ or Boomer often come to mind, but no name has been more responsible for the consistent excellence of THE FAN than “Chernoff.”
Again, nothing is changing right now, so business as usual. But it was important for Mark that we share this news well in advance with all of you as we begin this process.
And, of course, when the time is right, we all look forward to celebrating Mark for a career of contributions to our New York cluster unlike no other.
Thanks all for appreciating this special moment,
Chris
