With Cowherd out will ESPN go local?
WILL COLIN Cowherd’s departure from ESPN Radio allow ESPN-98.7 to adopt even more of a local format?
With Cowherd out, 98.7 will have a hole to fill from 10 a.m. to noon. Cowherd is followed by a one-hour (noon to 1 p.m.) show featuring Ryan Ruocco and Dave Rothenberg.
Industry sources said 98.7 execs are already thinking of moving to a 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. show. The suits, sources said, have talked to candidates about working a three-hour show if they decide not to use talent currently on the 98.7 roster.
Of course there is the distinct possibility that the Bristol faculty will call the shots, placing Cowherd’s eventual ESPN Radio successor on 98.7 following another national show, “Mike & Mike.”
ESPN boss John Skipper confirmed Cowherd’s exit Thursday in a statement saying: “We’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial run with Colin for over a decade. He came to national prominence on ESPN with his unique perspective on sports and society. Endings always bring new beginnings . . .”
For Cowherd, who has been with ESPN Radio since 2003, the “new beginning” appears to be with Fox Sports, where he will likely get his own TV show on FS1 as well as a role on Fox’s Sunday NFL pregame offerings. Cowherd follows Bill Simmons and Keith Olbermann out the door of Bristol Clown Community College in what have been characterized as cost-cutting moves.
ESPN has been reluctant to do what it takes to give 98.7 a totally local sound. Since it arrived on the scene, the station has never mounted a serious challenge to WFAN, the city’s only totally local all-sports radio station.
The powers that be at ESPN have been content using their NYC outlet to promote their brand, which includes giving yakk time to ESPN analysts and announcers.
Promoting the brand has taken precedence over everything else.