Nick Piccone
Yesterday, I was sent an email at 8:45 A.M. with little details on the new agreement between the Phillies and CBS Radio. I didn’t see that email until late in the afternoon because my mailbox didn’t sync correctly. So theoretically, we could’ve broken the news much sooner than other outlets did. But because I’m still battling the flu and can’t see straight [which makes writing this all the more interesting], I’ll give myself a mulligan on that one.
Today, the Philadelphia Business Journal released more details on the agreement between the Phillies and CBS Radio. It’s a one-year extension – again – and 94WIP would be the exclusive home of the Phillies in this market, and games would be pulled from 1210 WPHT. That offers up the opportunity for “four hours or more (when factoring in pre and post-game shows) of additional advertising opportunities each day that [CBS Radio] was losing by simulcasting Phillies games on two of its six local stations.”
Dave Buck, the senior vice president of marketing and advertising for the Phils, decided to drop WPHT not only because it paves the way for more advertising opportunities for 1210 AM, but also because more listeners tuned into the FM dial on WIP to listen to Phillies games than WPHT.
While according to the Journal nobody would confirm the length of the deal, a source told them that it was another one-year extension so CBS Radio could have “time to adjust to all the changes it has undergone.” Marc Rayfield and Andy Bloom are gone, and it’s David Yadgaroff’s ship now. As for possible conflicts on Sundays in September, Eagles games would continue to air on 94WIP and the Phillies could move to 1210 WPHT or even 98.1 WOGL.
We’ll continue to keep you updated on any further developments.