February 2004 News Archive

February 29, 2004
There's no official word at this point as to who will replace Bubba The Love Sponge on WXTB Tampa, WPLA Jacksonville and WJRR Orlando. Rumor has it that it will be Lex & Terry (I heard that from the same source who told me about Bob & Tom coming to Tampa -- more on that in a minute) replacing Bubba on both WXTB and WJRR, though that is merely hearsay at this point. Currently all three of Bubba's former CC affiliates (four if you could WYNF Macon, which dropped him in early February) are playing jockless music in the morning until a full-time solution can be resolved.

As for Bob & Tom, they debut on Tampa Bay's WTBT on Monday, 3/1/2004. Former WTBT morning host Ron Diaz (of "Ron & Ron" fame) moves to WDAE to do a midday sports talk show with Ian Beckles on that AM sports talk station.

February 25, 2004
This has not been a good month at all for the Hot Talk industry. Clear Channel fired Bubba The Love Sponge from WXTB Tampa, WPLA Jacksonville and WJRR Orlando, sending the show into a temporary hiatus (I have a conflict of interest here, since I know more information about the situation given that I'm Bubba's affiliate relations director, but I'm prohibited from revealing more at this time). Tonight Clear Channel announced that it was indefinitely suspending the Howard Stern show from its six stations that carried him (WTKS-FM Orlando, WBGG-FM Miami, WTFX-FM Louisville, WNVE Rochester NY, WXDX-FM Pittsburgh and KIOZ San Diego) for violation of its newly enacted policy on indecent broadcasts. Meanwhile, Stern's show is airing on a delay on most Infinity O&O stations, with the show facing major editing in many situations.

February 2, 2004
Another major market coup for Bob & Tom, which debuts on Clear Channel's new FM Talker in Atlanta, Real Radio 105.3 (formerly 80s formatted WMAX-FM). Phil Hendrie also makes the move to FM in the market on the station (though still on a tape delay).

Full News Archive
January 2004 News/March 2004 News

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