Update 9/2: WYSP signed off today at 3:00pm ending almost 40 years of Rock (with a few shifts to Talk along the way). The launch of Sports “94 WIP-FM” concurrently was moved up from September 6 to today in order to allow Howard Eskin, who is leaving his afternoon show today after 25 years to have the first show on WIP-FM.
We have to give kudos to CBS for giving the station the ability to put together what amounted to a two week on-air funeral for WYSP with the current and former staff giving their goodbyes. Howard Stern called in earlier today for a half-hour interview which shows a much different side to his on-air persona. Very much a must listen even if you’re not a Stern fan.
WYSP’s music will continue to be heard on 94.1-HD3. The WYSP calls have quickly been claimed by Telikoja Educational Broadcasting for one of its construction permits in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Update 8/18: 610 WIP has officially announced it will simulcast on 94.1 beginning Tuesday, September 6. The station will be rebranded as “94 WIP“.
As part of the changes that day the station has unveiled a new lineup. The current morning show led by Angelo Cataldi and Al Morganti stays in place. Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann joins the station for 10am to 1pm, where he will be paired with current afternoon co-host Ike Reese. Current midday hosts Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow shift to 1pm to 6pm. Rob Ellis will host 6pm to 10pm when there are now live play-by-play events. Longtime afternoon host Howard Eskin announced last week he would be leaving that slot after 25 years last week.
Original Report 8/17: Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that CBS Sports 610 WIP Phiadelphia will announce its move to 94.1 following a staff meeting on Thursday morning.
The move will take place on Tuesday, September 6 as it will displace Classic Rock WYSP giving Philadelphia its second FM Sports station along with Greater Media’s “97.5 The Fanatic” WPEN-FM.
CBS owns the radio broadcast rights to all four of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams. The NBA 76ers and NHL Flyers currently air on WIP. MLB’s Phillies games are carried by News/Talk 1210 WPHT with some weekend games on WIP. The NFL Eagles have been carried by WYSP since 1992, but have also aired on WIP the past few seasons. We would expect that the majority of games of all four teams will make their way to 94.1 next season with overflow going on 610, much like CBS does in Detroit with 97.1 WXYT-FM and 1270 WXYT.
The announcement of WYSP’s death will come 25 years to the day that the station began its rise to prominence when it began airing Howard Stern’s morning show based at sister WXRK New York. WYSP was Stern’s first affiliate in syndication and would keep him in mornings until his departure for Sirius at the end of 2005. Following a short stunt as FM Talk “94.1 Free-FM”, the station returned to Rock in September 2007.
Howard Stern doesn’t get anywhere near the credit he deserves for changing the way the radio biz looks at syndicating morning shows. Bob & Tom were fresh into syndication when I started college in Evansville in the fall of 1995 (WGBF-FM still carries them & were their first syndication affiliate) and the myth that morning radio had to be local had been blown out of the water by that point, opening the door for B&T, John Boy & Billy, and all other sorts of shows to move into the world of syndicated morning radio.
Man, It’ll be a shame to hear the sad news that comes tomorrow monring. I’ve been a loyal listener of WYSP for years now, and especially enjoy the wMYsp program from 7-12. Big thanks goes out to Gordon for making my nights more and more brighter every night. ‘YSP Will Live On.
WIP was the Eagles’ radio flagship from 1971 to 1991; the station’s move to FM means it will regain flagship status. Also, WIP has not carried the Phillies for several years.
Charles – WIP currently simulcasts some weekend games with WPHT, including one this Sunday coming up.