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On the (De) Evolution of Philadelphia Sports Talk Radio
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In 2001 I began working in Philadelphia sports talk radio. Prior, I had been doing rock radio at 94.1 WYSP when then-VP Tim Sabean asked me to meet with program director Tom Bigby because WIP needed a voiceover talent. That kicked off a 20-year journey. I served many roles both on and off the air at both stations, from 2001 to 2011 at WIP, initially as a voice over talent reading commercials and promos. In 2003 I was named the assistant program director, began doing weekly part-time air shifts, and became the host of the Flyers pre-intermission and postgame while seeing it all. Eventually I ended up in upper management and worked with some of the biggest names in the format – Angelo Cataldi, Howard Eskin, Mike Missanelli, Anthony Gargano, and on down the line. In 2012 I joined 97.5 The Fanatic to work with Mike, who I had worked with at WIP. I eventually also moved into management at The Fanatic, did the midday show with Harry Mayes, and again had some crazy experiences. Someday I will write a book on all of the insane happenings in my 20 years inside both WIP and The Fanatic.
When sports radio initially launched around 1986, it was antiquated with cell phones not being prevalent. People had to call from their home line. Once mobile phones were widely being used, the format took off. Philadelphia sports fans now had a voice, one that many others could hear over the air.
This format initially was very confrontational. Callers and hosts arguing about a team, player, decision or general manager. Eskin dubbing a caller a nitwit, moron, and a dope. Eventually sports radio had to evolve and for a while it looked like it was on the right path. Through data and technology we could look at when people tuned in and when people tuned out to figure out why they’re listening and why they were not listening. Big name guests that were properly promoted would show a spike in audience, whether it was Adam Schefter, Charles Barkley, or Brian Dawkins. Those guests moved the needle. We also saw that when certain callers were on, people tuned out. Callers were an essential part of sports radio in Philadelphia, but the use of them had to be managed to garner ratings properly.
The change in sports talk radio and its evolution happened around the same time as clickbait Internet media. An article with a salacious claim, preposterous opinion, or insane suggestion would enrage and get impressions, and sports radio, to some degree, bought in and attempted the broadcasting version of it.
It became about what you could say to make the phone ring, to enrage a large percentage of the audience to call and argue this disingenuous, supposed opinion. We still see that to this day and we’re seeing it succeeding in Philadelphia.
You see it on a Monday after a rough weekend series for the Phillies, saying they’re going nowhere in the playoffs because of the offense, 15 days later, on a Tuesday show, now claiming that same offense can lead them to a World Series:
We also now have the clickbait king of topics, Jalen Hurts. A Super Bowl champion quarterback that was the MVP, appeared in two championship games in three years, and led a parade down Broad Street. Yet sports radio, and some of its hosts, stir the pot by downplaying his pedigree.
When I did middays with Harry Mayes, we often saw and heard that people and listeners liked the show because it wasn’t phony or contrived. It was like hanging out at the bar and shooting the shit about Philadelphia sports with your friends. No hot takes, no forced arguments, and just real conversation about sports and beyond. The new afternoon show on 97.5 The Fanatic with Bill Colarulo and Ricky Botallico is trying that very similar formula against WIP, which has decades of heritage and habit.
As Bill stated on his show, you won’t get rage bait. But will it work?
That’s where I’m skeptical, and not because Bill doesn’t have enough experience, or the show’s quality is inferior. With on-demand content, podcasts, and YouTube, people have more choices, and that’s why Philadelphia sports radio talks Eagles Eagles Eagles all year around. It has to appeal to the masses, and the most appeal happens to be when the stations are talking about Eagles football. I flew the flag for hockey in Philadelphia for many years. I was told “No one cares about Hockey” and “Stick to Hockey” many times when some didn’t like my opinion on something else, and because that audience wasn’t served, the Flyers fan base turned to podcasts. Hell, I started my first podcast in 2017 and called it Stick 2 Hockey.
We’ve seen the baton handed off from the pioneers of Philadelphia sports talk radio. From Cataldi on mornings to Joe Decamara and Jon Richie, or John Kincade and Andrew Salciunas. From Gargano and Glen Macnow in middays to Joe Giglio and Hugh Douglas. From Missanelli in afternoons, to either Colarulo and Ricky Bo, or Ike Reese, Spike Eskin, and Jack Fritz.
As we know, terrestrial radio is not as healthy as it once was. Layoffs year after year, staff on and off the air shrinking by up to 80% in some situations, advertising dollars more challenged and down. Stock prices are so far down that it’s mind numbing. And on-air talent overall doesn’t have the cache that the original hosts carried.
What is the future of Sports Radio in Philadelphia? Time will tell, but it’s not a stock I would be buying, and as a long time “Radio Guy” it pains me to say it.
Jason Myrtetus is a Philadelphia-based broadcaster and host, best known for his work with the Philadelphia Flyers since 2008. He serves as a radio pregame, intermission, and postgame host and is the voice behind the Flyers Daily and Hockey & Hounds podcasts. A passionate hockey enthusiast, Myrtetus played organized hockey from age 5 to 50, starting as a goalie and later coaching youth teams. His career began in rock radio before transitioning to sports, including roles at WIP, WYSP, and 97.5 The Fanatic, where he worked as Assistant Program Director, producer, and co-host. Diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in December 2024, Myrtetus has openly shared his battle, drawing on his hockey-rooted resilience to face treatment. A father of three and husband to Angela, he remains a vital part of the Flyers’ broadcast community.