Howard Eskin announces departure as WIP host
We won't call it a "stone cold mortal lock," as Howard Eskin might, but it's pretty certain that the Sportsradio 610 WIP AM host will not be hosting a daily talk show for the station after Labor Day. Eskin may address the situation on this afternoon's show.
Howard Eskin announces departure as WIP host
Dan Gross
UPDATE: Eskin announced his departure from the 3 to 7 shift today: "25 years ago this month I did the first sports talk show at WIP,” said Eskin, with his voice breaking with emotion. “My career has been filled with challenges. In life there is only so much time to fit them all in," said Eskin, adding that he wanted time to pursue other opportunities, which he didn’t get into though he has been filling in recently on former ESPN host Dan Patrick’s nationally syndicated radio show.
“After Sept. 2 I will be giving up the 3 to 7 p.m. shift but will still continute as part of WIP as part of the Eagles broadcast, as part of the pre-game shows and other broadcasts. Let me be clear I am staying at WIP but after close to 6000 sports shows I really thought it was time,” Eskin said.
EARLIER: We won’t call it a “stone cold mortal lock,” as Howard Eskin might, but it's pretty certain that the Sportsradio 610 WIP AM host will not be hosting a daily talk show for the station after Labor Day.
Sources say Eskin, who has worked at WIP for about 25 years, will step down from daily broadcasting but remain as a contributor and Eagles sideline reporter.
The station is expected to announce this change among other updates to its line up sometime this week, insiders tell us.
We have heard that Eskin may address this situation on his show today which can be streamed live here.
Among changes, as we reported two weeks ago, is that WIP may soon take over the FM signal of rock station 94 WYSP.
WIP’s AM sports-talk competitor ESPN 950 began simulcasting on 97.5 The Fanatic in Dec. 2009 and quickly found increased listenership, especially among younger people whom advertisers target the most. 97.5’s Mike Missanelli show, which competes with Eskin and Ike Reese in the afternoon-drive slot, has been outperforming WIP in the key advertising demographics for a while.
Asked Friday about his situation, Eskin said he would be at WIP next week, next month, and next year, but asked specifically whether he would be hosting a weekday show, he didn’t get back to us. WIP Program Director Andy Bloom and CBS Radio Market Manager Marc Rayfield both said they are working on a long term deal with Eskin but also didn’t get back to us about whether his daily hosting days are over.
Please take Cataldi with you.— Captain Terrific- couldn't agree more. Cataldi id a complete moron. — rl-eagles
- Agreed, and as others have said, take horse face Hughes as well. With all that cosmetic work, she still has a face only a mother could love. And whats with the constant stupid laughing on her part. Cheaper to use a laugh machine. — jingles
- I third that statement. The younger generation have no respect for the Eskins and Cataldis who are sports illiterate. — tightmadness
- I fourth it and take that horsehead Rhea with them. Blah Blah Blah about what her husband cant do all the time and what she labors to do. Blah Blah Blah. Angelo belongs in the terlet (toilet to the rest of us). Keep Morganti though. Hes good at filling in his 3 minutes a day. — hipdaddy
- And make it a fifth. Cataldi is a hack from NY who doesn't care if Philadelphians look ridiculous - ala his big promotion booing McNabb when he came back to Philly as a skin...And Rhea sounds like Robin on the Howard Stern show - just agrees with everything angelo says. — gob1234
- Um, Angelo is from Rhode Island. Not that I disagree he is a buffoon. A well-educated buffoon... — clete1329
Comment removed.- I Seventh this suggestion. — joe smith
- This comment has been deleted. — jesuitControl
- Yeah Im tired of Macnow and his smug hatred of Jersey. Stay out Macnow. Lets all rub our hands through our own lush hair to remind him of what its like to live large with a full thick head of hair. I like Anthony though, he has hair. — hipdaddy
- I eighth that. I could only take so much of his schtick. This is the same guy who said Cholly should be fired because he didn't always use conventional wisdom to manage certain game situations and sometimes went with his gut (based on over 40 years of professional baseball experience). In his attempts to entertain, he drifts into buffoonery and sensationalism, which in my opinion, disrespects the intelligence of the fans of Philadelphia sports he claims to respect. But I agree, keep Morganti for actual thoughtful commentary. — benla
- Howard leaves and comes back. It's a pattern. Just ask NBC 10.— esterrick
- Send him some roses then. Thatll make sure we never hear from him. — hipdaddy
