Courtesy Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(May 13, 2010) Sports/talk station WEAE-AM (1250)/ESPN Radio 1250 has trimmed its staff by six people. Gone are program director Jim Graci and sports center news update reporters Eartha Jackson and Joe Destio, along with three off-air positions.

"It's never easy when you do this," said WEAE vice president and general manager Mike Thompson, who is taking on the additional duties of program director for the station. "We saw opportunities to create some efficiencies on the business side. We're looking at creating some efficiencies with our multiple [ESPN] markets."

Pittsburgh is a big sports town -- and a competitive market for the format, with three full-time sports talk stations -- KDKA-FM, which launched in February, and WBGG-AM (970)/Fox Sports 970, along with WEAE. WEAE leads in the ratings, and Mr. Thompson said the move was not based on ratings or revenue issues, but rather on trimming operating costs.

Of the three sports talkers, WEAE is the highest rated -- tying for 14th place among total listeners in the March 2010 Arbitron ratings and scoring high in its target audience of young males. Mr. Thompson said the station listenership extends to the rabid Pittsburgh sports fan base across the country and that its website numbers are "through the roof."

"We're in the position where we're very strong. Sometimes you do these decisions when you're in a position of strength."

Mr. Thompson said the station's commitment to quality programming hasn't changed, and that there are no cuts in terms of core local talk shows such as Stan Savran and Guy Junker on mid-days, and "The Drive" with Scott Paulsen, Mike Logan and Chris Mack. Mr. Savran's and Mr. Junker's program is being expanded from two to four hours a day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). ESPN's syndicated Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic program in morning drive will remain intact. "Even though the program is distributed nationally, they are a home run here," Mr. Thompson said.

blog comments powered by Disqus