He’s been fodder for plenty of jokes, been caught falling asleep on live television, allegedly received a police escort and held up a plane to New Orleans earlier this year, yelled at numerous callers and has made countless handwaves to numerous producers, but it all doesn’t matter. After plenty of speculation that Mike Francesa would leave New York sports radio powerhouse WFAN when his current contract expired comes word from CBS Radio that the long-time afternoon drive host will remain in his timeslot for many years to come.
Newsday’s Neil Best says the deal runs through 2017 and will pay Francesa $5 million annually which would be on the same terms as his current deal that would have expired after Super Bowl XLVIII.
Under the new deal, Francesa’s NFL Now show will runs Sunday mornings on WFAN during football season will be aired nationally on CBS Sports Radio.
Francesa started with WFAN in 1987 and began as a midday host with Ed Coleman, then in 1989, was partnered with Chris Russo in afternoon drive to create “Mike and the Mad Dog” which became the template for other sports radio stations across the country. In 2008, Russo left for SiriusXM and Francesa has remained with the FAN.
Without Russo, Francesa has not missed a beat remaining number one in afternoon drive in New York fending off challenges from ESPN Radio most notably from New York Yankees TV voice Michael Kay. So Francesa will remain at WFAN at least through the middle of the current decade. After that, who knows?
Here’s the CBS Radio press release.
MIKE FRANCESA SIGNS MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH CBS RADIO’S WFAN
Local Sports Radio’s Most Listened To Host Will Remain With Nation’s First And Most Successful All-Sports Radio Station
Sports Radio WFAN (660AM/101.9FM) announced today it has signed a long term agreement with Mike Francesa, keeping the venerable personality as host of PM drive (weekdays, 1:00-6:30PM, ET) on the award-winning station for several years to come. Francesa joined WFAN in 1987, the same year the station launched as the country’s first all-sports station, and boasts more listeners than any other local sports radio host.
As part of the agreement, Francesa will also bring his long running Sunday morning “The NFL Now” show to CBS Sports Radio beginning this fall. The program is broadcast live on WFAN from 9:00AM-12:00Noon, ET and will be available to more than 250 affiliate radio stations nationwide.
“Mike has earned his place in radio history as a great broadcaster and we’re thrilled to continue our relationship with sports radio’s most celebrated host,” said Dan Mason, President and CEO, CBS RADIO. “WFAN and Mike Francesa are synonymous with the absolute best in sports programming excellence. These two powerful brands have endured the test of time, and remain a very relevant force in the industry nearly three decades after they first went on the air.”
Added Mark Chernoff, Vice President, Sports Programming, CBS RADIO and WFAN Program Director, “Mike represents the heart and soul of WFAN, and we’re proud he will continue to make the station his long-term broadcast home. Like no one else, Mike can take a story to the next level and involve his listeners in thought provoking ways with topical and opinionated conversation. He has set the standard for what represents an entertaining and informative radio program.”
“I’m very proud of what we have accomplished at WFAN,” says Francesa. “I am also honored and thankful to CBS RADIO for its continued commitment, and most of all to the listeners for their enduring loyalty.”
Francesa has anchored afternoons on WFAN for more than 25 years. He has been recognized with two NAB Marconi Radio Awards, and was voted top sports personality by radio industry publications Talkers and Radio Ink. In addition, he was the recipient of the inaugural Cynopsis: Sports Media Award for Best Radio Program in 2012.
WFAN is available across a variety of multi-media platforms including 660 AM, 101.9 FM, www.wfan.com, and via the Radio.com app for iOS and Android devices. In addition, Francesa’s weekday show can also be seen on The YES Network.
As for a possible reunion with Russo, while it’s not totally out of the question, it’s probably not in the cards for now.
