The top of a New York sports activities radio period will conclude as “The Michael Kay Present” will quickly broadcast its final program within the afternoon time slot on ESPN New York, sources briefed on the choice advised The Athletic.
Whereas Kay will stay on the air in mid-days, the battle between Kay and his ESPN New York cohorts in opposition to their nemeses on WFAN which have included Mike Francesa, Chris Russo, Evan Roberts and Craig Carton is now over, signifying the conclusion of what was some of the entertaining and contentious intervals within the historical past of the medium in New York. The afternoon Kay Present has been on for 22 years.
Practically two years in the past, Kay flirted with leaving afternoons, however ESPN made a giant monetary push to maintain him. This time round, with the ESPN and the radio enterprise evolving, Kay’s want to work a extra manageable schedule earlier within the day and the shortage of an awesome provide for him to stay within the afternoons have been thought of decisive components, in keeping with sources briefed on the discussions.
The ultimate afternoon present is predicted to be subsequent Friday, Dec. 13.
Kay, the star of this system that additionally featured Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg in its most profitable latest stage, shouldn’t be leaving the airwaves fully; Kay will turn into a solo act from 1-3 p.m. ET on ESPN New York, which is streamed by itself app and may be discovered on 880 AM in New York.
Within the afternoons, La Greca and Rosenberg are anticipated to remain and be joined by former newspaperman turned longtime TV and radio persona, Alan Hahn, although no offers are but signed.
All the brand new applications will start on Jan. sixth.
Hahn has been on domestically with former NFL Professional Bowl linebacker Bart Scott from 1-3 p.m. ET. The proposed present with La Graca, Rosenberg and Hahn shall be from 3-7 p.m. ET.
The YES simulcast for Kay’s new time slot and afternoons are nonetheless to be decided. YES and ESPN have had some preliminary discussions however couldn’t work out a deal till the radio station had its lineup settled. These discussions ought to choose up after the agreements are finalized.
ESPN declined to remark.
Within the new format, Scott is predicted to shift to 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET with Dan Graca. This may knock Mike Greenberg’s nationwide present from 880 AM. This isn’t as large of an element because it was when ESPN’s Radio native sign was on the extra fascinating 98.7 FM.
In New York, ESPN nonetheless gives the on-air hosts for the native applications, whereas Good Karma Manufacturers runs the advertising and marketing and promoting departments.
Within the morning on ESPN New York, Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg will proceed the place they’ve made inroads and gained reputation, although WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti are nonetheless the highest sports activities morning present and infrequently are No. 1 rated in all of New York radio.
The combat between the stations, which reached its peak when Kay and Francesa had a confrontation that heightened the anticipation of who would win the Nielsen Audio Radio scores, had already dissipated as, beneath Good Karma, ESPN New York had discontinued utilizing Neilsen’s tabulations because it targeted extra on digital progress.
Kay, 63, will proceed because the TV voice of the Yankees on YES, however now shall be a solo act in mid-days, shifting down within the order as a sports activities radio period in New York ends.
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(Picture: Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)