Galaxy Media Sports “ESPN Syracuse” 1200 WTLA North Syracuse/97.7 W249BC Mattydale and 1440 WSGO/100.1 W261AC Oswego NY and “ESPN Utica-Rome” 1310 WRNY/96.5 https://www.espnur.com Rome and 1350 WTLB Utica has cut ties with afternoon host Brent Axe for what station owner Ed Levine said was “because he believes the content of Axe’s show had become too negative toward Syracuse University sports.”
Levine, who made that statement to the Syracuse Post-Standard, followed up commenting, “I had a problem with the content of the show. I’m an SU fan. I’m sorry, but I bleed Orange. I’m not going to apologize for that, and I think a fair reading of the Orange is appropriate. I understand (Galaxy has) a business relationship (with Syracuse), that Coach Boeheim and I are personal friends and he’s an investor in my company. I understand and acknowledge all of that. We’ve called it pretty fair, and I would argue we’ve been tough on SU when the on-field or off-field events warrant it. I just think over the past six months it took a different tone and became overly dark and negative. I don’t think that’s what Syracuse fans want to hear.”
Axe, who is also a columnist for the Post-Standard, had hosted afternoons for WTLA/WSGO since 2014. He has also hosted sports talk shows for WIBX Utica, 620 WHEN and 1260 WSKO Syracuse, and was part of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network from 2009-2011.
Levine also noted on Facebook that Boeheim, who retired as coach of Syracuse’s men’s basketball team last week after 47 years as head coach, will be making appearances across all of Galaxy’s properties through next season. He added to the newspaper that the deal was in place prior to last season and unrelated to Axe’s firing.
Friends, I’ve just been informed my time with @ESPNSyracuse and Galaxy Media is over. It’s been a great run. I thank you for taking the time to listen. Not sure what’s next in the audio space but I’ll still be over at @syracusedotcom. Stay tuned.
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) March 12, 2023
