Spike Eskin to run WIP; Marc Farzetta to move to 'The Josh Innes Show'
As expected, WIP program director Spike Eskin will absorb former operations manager Andy Bloom’s duties and take over the station, sources close to the situation say.
Last month, Sportsradio 94.1 WIP operations manager Andy Bloom was laid off as part of company-wide cutbacks at CBS Radio.
As expected, WIP program director Spike Eskin will absorb Bloom's duties and take over the station, sources close to the situation said Monday. With the move, Eskin will give up his role as co-host of "The Josh Innes Show."
While WIP won't be filling Eskin's role on the show, it will move Marc Farzetta from his current position as a member of Angelo Cataldi's morning show to handle news updates and provide coverage alongside Innes and former Eagles defensive lineman Hollis Thomas from 2-6 p.m.
This isn't the first time WIP has paired Innes and Farzetta on air. The two established a rapport when they worked together during Innes' stint as WIP's 6-10 p.m. host.
The change will mark the third different lineup for Innes in less than a year as WIP's afternoon host. His first co-host, Tony Bruno, retired from radio back in July to focus on podcasting. After weeks of tryouts and rotating guests, Bruno was eventually replaced by the duo of Thomas and Eskin.
Despite the changes, the show remains a ratings hit. Innes has beaten his chief competitor, 97.5 The Fanatic's Mike Missanelli, every month except December in the key men's 25-54 demographic, and placed No. 1 overall in both the Spring and Fall Ratings Book, quarterly measurements of a show's popularity that usually determines a host's bonus.
Eskin will not assume Bloom's duties managing the struggling 1210 WPHT, the least popular of all six local CBS stations thanks to ratings declines.