Do you miss Dan Patrick? Wonder what happened to the one of the biggest stars of sports talk radio after he decided to leave his national radio show heard on over 600 radio stations in the United States and Canada?
In one of the strangest moves in broadcasting history, Patrick left ESPN at the top of his game and clearly with a major following. Now, with very little fan fair, he shows up doing his show on a L.A.-based powerhouse sports talk station. But that is about 599 stations short of what he is used to.
Patrick began his new show on KLAC 570 AM — Los Angles’ all sports station — on Monday morning. The show will air Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–noon ET — or 6-9 a.m. morning drive in L.A.
Patrick left ESPN after 18 years for the newly created content syndication and distribution company, The Content Factory, for the latest incarnation of his popular radio program. Dan will divide his time between Los Angeles and the East Coast.
Fans of Patrick in the Washington area are not likely to hear the show. Triple X ESPN is happy with “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” that airs from 10 a.m.–noon. Over at SportsTalk 980, they are pleased with “Feldman and Maloney” — which has been a great success for them.
Patrick’s new show will be distributed by Premiere Radio networks the same people who handle the “Jim Rome Show.”
“The show could not debut at a better time on the sports/entertainment calendar,” said Patrick. “We’re on the cusp of Major League Baseball’s playoffs and only weeks into college football and the NFL. Off-the-field sports stories happen year-round and the NBA and NHL seasons are right around the corner. There will be plenty to talk about.”
“Dan is a big star and launching his new his show in Los Angeles — land of the stars — is very appropriate,” said Content Factory Managing Partner Jimmy de Castro. “L.A. is a great sports/entertainment town and has that perfect blend of entertainment and energy. Launching the new “Dan Patrick Show” against that backdrop is absolutely perfect.”
It is a very bizarre move and one that we hope works out for Patrick but one that right now seems to defy broadcasting logic.
What about Bob?
ESPN’s Dan Shulman, the lead candidate to become the new play-by-play announcer for the Nationals on MASN, has turned down the offer by Nats management.
So, according to team sources, Bob Carpenter could be the prime choice to return to the booth next season despite being told he wasn’t returning last month.
The announcement is expected soon, so stay tuned.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.
