File this under the “did not see it coming” category:

Starting October 3rd, Rich Zeoli will move off mornings at 1210 WPHT to do a 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. shift. Nick Kayal will then slot in from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Dawn Stensland will continue her show from 10 to 12, and then Dom Giordano remains in the noon to 3 p.m. slot. I believe this is the first time since Chris Stigall’s departure that WPHT has had local programming in each of the main dayparts. After Chris left, it was just Rich and Dom for a while, and I think they had some syndicated national dudes filling out the lineup. They still do the syndication route at night and have Hannity in the afternoons for now.

You’ll remember Nick from his time at 97.5 the Fanatic, which was 2009 to 2015. He anchored nights but did some other shifts as well. Now, instead of talking about stolen bases, he’ll be talking about stolen votes. Heyooo! Get it? A 2020 election joke?

(This is not a political post. I’m not a soy boy Lib OR a MAGA. I’m a disgruntled independent)

Personally, I find it interesting to see Zeoli split from Stocker and Stensland, whom he’s worked with for many years now. I guess it’s going to be a different staff entirely producing and co-hosting on his new show. We’ll have to wait for some announcements on that front, but from an Audacy perspective, filling out WPHT with local programming seems like a smart move on their part. The other conservative station in Philly, 990am, airs Hugh Hewitt and Seb Gorka and Dennis Prager, so that’s always been more syndication-heavy than WPHT.

 

disclosure: I’ve appeared on Rich Zeoli’s show in the past and I’m considered an honorary captain in the Zeoli army. This does not affect my ability to write fair and balanced RADIO WARS blog posts.