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.
Comment removed.
First reported on Philly Sports Central - http://phillysportscentral.com/pscextra/rumor-howard-eskin-to-leave-wip.html— PSC001- Later...eskin has be useless for years— ciciretti21
- it would be better if he left the city all together, and take his punk kid, spike (wysp) with him. They both suck.— tdoc
- Trust me, other cities do not want this jerk. — tightmadness
- Trust me, other cities do not want this jerk. — tightmadness
- Eskin works. He goes to the games, he talks to people. He is an asset and will be missed. Cataldi on the other hand is useless, and has overstayed his welcome by 7 years. I only listen to the WIP morning show if he i on vacation because I like Al Morganti. Thank god for 97.5 and having an option.— MD20202020
- Comment removed.
- I was sick with cancer and one of my mantras became "life is too short to ___________". One of those items became, "Life is too short to listen to Howard Eskin". I immediately turn the radio off every time I hear his voice.— Lance4206
This is good news for Howard Eskin's number one fan....Howard Eskin.- Maybe we could trade Eskin & Chris Wheeler to Houston for a pile of horse manure, Texans keychain and Astros coffee mug....my bad, Houston would never make that deal.— kelprod2
- Later Eskin...you dope— ArtieLange
- totally worthless anyways.... all he is good for is starting rumors that usually are not true, not even close sounds better.
- Outperforming....Missanelli has been crushing the Bunger King for YEARS!!! Bye Bye you nitwit!— JL Barnes
