Big changes at Big Talker: Smerconish to afternoons, Beck, Hannity out.

Big Talker 1210 AM morning host Michael Smerconish moves to afternoons on Jan. 17, 2011, the talk station is expected to announce today, among other changes such as Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity's shows being dropped from the station.

Smerconish, who already hosted a syndicated show in the afternoon for other markets will now be heard from 3 to 7 p.m., or 3 to 6 p.m. during Phillies season. Chris Stigall, a syndicated conservative host from KCMO in Kansas City takes over the 5:30 to 9 a.m. shift on Jan. 3.

Despite the addition of a syndicated morning show, we hear the decision to drop Hannity and Beck was made in efforts to have live, local programming from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Current nighttime host Dom Giordano moves to 9 a.m. to noon shift with Rush Limbaugh on from noon to 3, followed by Smerconish. We're told the station has not formalized a nighttime plan yet.

The move seems to please Smerconish, also an author and Daily News and Inquirer columnist, whom we hear is glad he won't be waking up at 3 a.m. anymore and broadcasting two shows per day instead of one.