WIP without Angelo Cataldi?
His contract expires in less than two months.
WIP without Angelo Cataldi?
Michael Klein, Philly.com
TV and radio stations are cutting back everywhere, shedding and trimming salaries wherever they can.
And no one is immune.
News anchors are picking up additional work, which is why you see them at odd hours, filling in for vacationing colleagues -- often for no additional pay. TV news producers have added web responsibilities -- with no additional pay.
Angelo Cataldi, arguably WIP's franchise player, is now about seven weeks from the expiration of his contract, and around the station there's nervous buzz because a new deal is not at hand. He's been there nearly 20 years.
By this time of the year, staffers would have met to start planning the annual Wing Bowl. That has not happened, though my sources assure me that Wing Bowl will go on Feb. 5, 2010.
Cataldi took my call Friday and confirmed that talks had been "more difficult than in the past." He did not disclose sticking points. His agent, Steve Mountain, declined to comment.
In an e-mail Sunday, station manager Marc Rayfield wrote: "Discussions are moving along slowly as they often do, but they are moving along."
Cataldi needs WIP just as WIP needs Cataldi.
When asked what he would do if he didn't re-sign, Cataldi retorted: "How would I know? I'm under contract."
What else is out there. There are few TV jobs that pay his seven-figure salary, and none in this market. I suppose -- theorically -- that the other sports-talk station in town could hire him, but it's even unlikelier that Greater Media could afford him.
Money might not even be the issue. Cataldi not only has done quite well for himself over the years, he's considered to be a shrewd investor.
What I sense here is a matter of principle: With orders to cut payroll, CBS and other media giants are in a bind. If they re-sign a high-priced talent at a higher price, or even the same price, other personalities can use the point in their own negotiations. Conversely, if Cataldi does settle for less, it hurts the bargaining position of the rest of the talent out there.
Comments (69)
HE has to be the most annoying radio host I have ever heard in my life .
I am not a hateful person, but honestly I hate that man I wish him nothing but the worst......
Unbelievable, when will he admit that he is a closet GIANTS fan?— pfranco- He try's to imitate Jerry Lewis which is so annoying.....
- Tony Bruno is the man...................
- We do not want him..........
- I would not give this phony another contract.
He has to be the biggest loser on radio.
You could train a intern in one week for what he does.
I really believe his co hosts hate him as much as I do.I cant say I wish him well because I don't.............. - hes a morons moron and yes im too lazy too touch punctuation keys— cleevus
- Has to go.— ktdb05
- jimmy' I hope he goes. He is the most overpaid personin Philadelphia. He is not funny, and he adds nothing to the listener's sports acumen. He always claims to be "the champion of the common blue collar fan." He actually acts like an elitist fan. He disrespects women on a daily basis with his incessant sexual inuendos. I'm sure Reah cringes when he brings on one of his mindless bimboes(He makes sure they are mindless before allwoing them on) but Reah needs her job so she keeps her mouth shut. Let's get some real sports talk and get rid of fluff. It's so boring.— lcgraham
- That show is the worst "sports" show on the planet. That moron has been embarrassing this city for far too long. The fact that he doesn't like the Halladay deal, solidifies the fact that it was brilliant. Other than the "dirty thirty," he can't get anyone to listen anymore anyway. Absolutely brutal. Later a-hole.— garrettsaunders
- When I listen to WIP I feel like I age 25+ years. I just want to hear sports talk. Not about some pregnancy, or Howard yelling - I didn't like 950 at all but once they got Mikey Miss - I started listening. I must say I really liked listening to the playoffs on the FM dial at 97.5 the Fanatic. It does sound better.— critic215
- I don't listen to 610 wip much anymore, after Mikey Mis came on 950 ESPN and now 97.5 FM that is the sports station I listen to now. 610's morning show barley ever talks sports now, I'd rather listen to Mike and Mike in the morning and does anyone listen to Eskin in the afternoon now? 950/97.5 just has better programming— kingback
- Angelo,welcome to the Real City..New York..where you will be appreciated...Get out of that sewer and into the prime sporting universe of the World...Like they say..until your gone the so-called fans dont know what they have missed.Say goodbye to the dumpster..— BlueBlood
- McScrubb and Angelo can both leave town.— cadilacjack
- Angelo I hear ESPN needs another talking head idiot. You can join Skip Bayless, Woody Paige, and Jay Mariotti.— Scott67
- I used to listen daily but the show is getting old. Same old routines. He makes seven figures? How sad. The show gives him chances to make more on the side. He should sign for less, where else can he go? Big Daddy? He is horrid. Boring, dull, and Eskin? Please when will he go away. I used to think I had to listen to keep up on things. I have not tuned in for a year now and guess what. I don't miss it one bit. He does give Philly fans a bad rap.— mumfordlmh
- His voice is astoundingly bad for a radio personality. The negativity is over-the-top as well. Gotta love his weekly "Let's fire Reid, McNabb, and Manuel" column in the Metro too.— outtatime
- superpirate8 Angelo's show is stale same thing everyday decradeing talk about women no sports at all everything negetive used to listen all the time now listen to espn 20 years is to long need something new goodbuy Angelo— georgehilt
- Hey, Angelo used to be a working reporter, a real good one, had an Inky Front Page series on retired old time NFL players that still sticks with me.— robinlupe
- WIP is not a sports station. It is a carnival act. I would love to see/hear real sports talk in our city. Lived in the area for over 40 years and I don't know a sports fan who listens to WIP. The few times I have listened to Cataldi, I found him to be an awful. Just a clown with a microphone.— hawk18
- 610 is dead....turn your dial to 97.5 fm for real sports talk.— burbs4life
- I'd rather listen to Angelo than Howard Eskin. It boggles my mind that folks actually listen to him (albeit many less since Mike Miss started killing him) much less call into his show so that they can be abused by his arrogant loud mouth.— america
- I think they should let Rhea Hughes run this morning show, she's the only one that talks sports? All Angelo does is talk about a woman's anatomy and any other useless topics during his show. His voice is indeed nerve wracking to listen too, he's departure on wip is long overdue, please don't renew his contract!!— jeffDe
- can't listen to him and that show. Turned it off years ago. WIP has been replaced by a better product.— cuch
- Let him go and wish him well. Maybe WIP can get a legitimate replacement. Cataldi is all 'schtick' and it has gotten very old. Let's get someone on in the morning who can actually talk sports. The only good thing associated with Angelo at this point is Wing Bowl.— wingguy
- AT CBS INC. IT'S THE BOTTOM LINE THAT COUNTS...
Comment removed.- Gargano / Macnow is the only good show left on WIP.— JesseH
- The station is unlistenable anyway. Take away the Midday show and the Saturday Ray D show and it's a waste of frequency. ESPN radio is much better.— Tracer41
- He's terrible the only thing good about WIP is joe conklin.— beez1228
- CATALDI'S SCHTICK IS OLD AND TIRED, JUST LIKE HE IS. LOSING HIM WOULD NOT BE THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO WIP.HE IS ANNOYING AND HIS CONSTANT LEERING ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOMEN ARE REPULSIVE.— DONDEN31
- the reason 950 runs a syndicated show is because they would have no shot against angelos show with the ratings it gets. like him or hate him at least he doesnt kiss any teams rear end like the wolfman in the afternoon. patc and crazycurt put it perfectly, he gets paid what he does because of his ratings and money he generates. correct me if i am wrong but i would much rather listen to him than eskin. and while mike and mike is good its not local...i want local talk rather it be sports or other topics. i also believe al holds the rights to the wing bowl. if angelo goes, the show goes and then wip may lose wing bowl if al decides to run with it through another outlet.— liljesc
- He's a jerk. Let him go.— gusschultz
- Everyone on here forgets that the station has to make money ...the morning show more than most has to appeal to wider audience thus they have to bring in other topics besides sports from time to time. Yes he is annoying but if a goofy way not in gratting way like Eskin. When they do talk sports they are very sound & the whole show cover all sides of topic. What you guys don't get is that the whole idea for the shows layout , (spots, topics, the order in which they do certain things, handling callers, interviews, is all the in te hands of Cataldi with input from others] he plays a role of antagnoist to other members of the morning show. He also balances all tehse roles very nicely. he made 7 figures bc he bring in the ratings. He has yet to be tested by 950 espn bc their am show is syndicated. If they put together a am show then we would see a real battle.— crazycurt623
- Close your eyes, he sounds just like Fred Flinstone— Petey_Boy
- He makes 7 figures because the advertisers buy time on his show, plane and simple. If they couldnt sell the advertising, he wouldnt be making that kind of money. Like him or not, he brings ALOT of money in to the station. You take the promotions he does, Mrs. WIP, wing bowl, to name a few, all those things are sponsored like crazy and the station makes major bucks on them. That is why he is making 7 figures. He is a sales man as much as he is a radio personality.— Pat c
- It's time to make way for someone that actually watches sports. Angelo's rabble rousing act is so tired, he should just retire to Sea Isle.— MD20202020
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- Haven't listened to WIP in 5 years. 97.5 FM is so much better. Good Riddins to Cataldi.— lgeagles
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- I don't listen to that hog-sh-- on 610 anyway good that he is being cut loose, nothing but a fraud anyway that whole station should be shut down now maybe he can find a real job instead of yapping nonsense every morning.— only 9
- The thing with Howard is that he is so insulting to his listeners. He acts like his word is gospel and in reality he knows nothing. Give him the boot too. Clean house.— bossrjc
- It does my heart good to see that a majority of the posters here would like to see Angelo go. I was starting to doubt the taste and wisdom of the Philadelphia public. I guess Angelo's act has a place in Philadelphia radio but NOT on what is supposed to be a sports station. The same goes for Howard. I understand, from a high school classmate of his, that the reason for the beard is that you don't even want to see his complexion!— Doubtful
- I used to like the guy and look forward to his show. But he got very comical in recent years and is really not funny. HE just acts too goofy. It really is embarrassing.— bossrjc
Get rid of Eskin and keep Cataldi.— poger67- Getting rid of Cataldi might actually boost ratings. I know I don't listen to the morning show mainly because of him. 950 ESPN/97.5 the Fanatic for life.— KidCole35
- Your "hell" comment was totally unnecessary, justicek. You asked, "What do xi and a crotchety old man listen to in the morning?" I could answer with "your mom", but I won't stoop so low. I actually listen to KYW and ESPN.
- Great. I guess we won't have to listen to him tomarrowwww.— MB2009
- WIP is a disgrace to the city anymore. They are the stereotypical "fans" that the national media thinks we are.— duffers
- Angelo's leaving would cause a 30 point rise in the city's collective IQ. I might even be able to listen to WIP again (between him and Eskin, I can't listen anymore.)— FKD215
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- Check it out: Angelo is the spitting image of ancient Philadelphia A's pitcher Albert "Chief" Bender. See Chief's pictures at baseball's HOF website.— Rabe56
- I refuse to listen because of him anyway. His voice is utterly grotesque.— cdedrick05
- Let him walk. I can't believe that guy makes 7 figures for that schlock he puts out. He's a complete fraud. A Yankees/Giants fan in sheep's clothing, trying to incite the locals and help further the Negadelphia stereotype. Anywone who falls for his act and actually believes that he is genuine is an idiot. Let the loser walk and bring back Tony Bruno.— phink
- Angelo is a great entertainer and an institution in Philly sports. Listening to him when I moved here reinvigorated my entire interest in sports. I don't know who these idiots are who don't get him but they really must be idiots. I find him to be a bigger-than-life commentator who is totally on the pulse of the fans, he's reminiscent of Howard Cosell only totally original.— scott time
- ESKIN's still at 610, as ANNOYING as ever, WHEN is his contract up? Their mid-day show is starting to become hard to listen to, IF Angelo's making 7 figures, then who is the IDIOT that thought he was worth that kind of money, and does he still have a job at CBS Radio? IF you want to listen to sports talk radio, ESPN 950, 97.5 FM is a much better product.— dfrancis1958
- How does someone who doesn't talk about sports on a sports radio station make seven figures?— gallen024
- Who cares? Let him go. WIP is garbage.— jonnyb0916
- he should NOT be making a seven figure salary! he is one of the worst radio personalities around!— TINA
- Every show closes at some point in time. This guy is good at what he does but it sure isn't sports. He doesnt like sports at all besides Yasnkee baseball. Its more like Cosmo Radio now, He mainly likes dating and relationships.— CamdenCountyReader
- Pat C is right. He is what he is - he plays the part well. If he leaves, so does the show. Al, Big Daddy nor Rhia could carry that show. It's funny how Howard is now trying to be nice to people now and actually talking about fantasy football. 950/97.5 is CRUSHING them.— skipper22
- Angelo must go!— DennyP
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- You can like or disline Angelo, but have you ever listened to the show when Big Daddy fills in on Angelo's days off? He is brutal. The show comes to a skreetching halt. There is no flow. He does not know how to keep the other hosts involved. Angelo makes that show tick. If you get rid of him, you might as well get rid of the whole show and start fresh with something else. And the fanatic may not be able to pay him now, but that is because they dnt have him bringing in the ad dollars they did. If your ad people are selling ads for Angelos show, they can now afford him because the morning money just went up significantly— Pat c
- I think big daddy needs a drink. Since he got sick and stopped drinking he has been very nasty.
What do xi and a crotchety old man listen to in the morning? Maybe the dull thud of their own dreary lives or maybe some Michael Bolton music. Sorry you don't like fun. CBS, like all big business these days, treat people like they are a computer or desk or a lead pencil - not a human being. I hope there is a really nasty place in hell for CEO's. and crotchety old men . . .— Justicek- Let the Yankee-lover go - maybe he can cut a deal with a New York station. But seriously folks, the morning show is un-listenable anyway, so who cares?
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Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here.
Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.
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