“Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan”: Big Changes as sports talk move to FM
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
WHFS-FM 105.7 is no longer the general topic talker has been replaced with a mainly sports format. Meanhile ESPN 1300AM has gone all national with the local sports talk personalities being moved over to FM.
WJZ-FM “Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan ” is the sports talker in Baltimore.
CBS has changed things around with popular local host Ed Norris now taking over morning drive from 5:30am to 10am. He will continue to do his issue oriented show with some sports sprinkled in. The station moves totally to sports at 10AM with The Mark Viviano Show with Damon Bull Dog Yaffe. Coming over to 105.7 from WNST is FOX 45 sports director Bruce Cunningham who will man the 1PM to 3PM time slot. The boldest move the station makes is in evening drive time with the new team of Anita Marks and Scott Garceau in the 3PM to 6PM slot. The Pairing of the former WMAR sports director Garceau the Baltimore broadcasting legend with Marks who has been a ratings grabber could be a real winning combination for “Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan.” The show will also continue to be simulcast on MASN giving the duo an audience throughout the mid Atlantic region.
I spoke to Marks about the addition of Garceau to the show. “Who would not want Scott as a partner? He is the consummate professional and we are good friends. We have a real mutual respect for each other and I think that has been evident a number of times have worked together on shows for ESPN 1300. As for what listeners can expect I think that the new format will allow for more good conversation and even some fun debate between Scott and me. It is a positive move and one that sports fans will I think truly enjoy.”
Night times will be Playmakers with Ken Weinman from 8PM to 11PM on night that there is not any play by play event airing on the station.
“We have Ed Norris Baltimore’s most dynamic personality as our morning man where more people can hear him. Then we give Baltimore the kind on sports voices they deserve. Mark Viviano, Bruce Cunningham and Scott Garceau three of the cities most respected and knowledgeable personalities. Plus add Anita Marks who has become one of the cities favorite and most respected sports hosts. We then put that line-up on a crystal-clear FM signal, strong enough to be heard anywhere in the market and we feel it is a station Baltimore sports fans deserve.” said Robert Philips, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for CBS RADIO Baltimore and the man who oversaw the new changes.
The station will continue to be the flagship stations for both the Baltimore Orioles and the University of Maryland. ESPN 1300AM will now be all national with Mike and Mike in the Morning, Colin Cowherd, Mike Tirico and Game Night.
This now gives Baltimore at least for the time being four all sports radio stations with ESPN 1300AM, WNST-AM 1570 and Fox Sports Radio 1370AM.
