Birmingham Radio: The Zone Cancels 'Straight Talk'

Matt Coulter

Birmingham sports-talk station WZNN ESPN 97.3 The Zone has discontinued the "Straight Talk" morning show with Matt Coulter and Wimp Sanderson, according to al.com.

Coulter, who has been in radio and television for 42 years, joined The Zone when it came on the air in August 2011.

Sanderson, the former Alabama basketball coach, joined Coulter as his partner last July.

"I want to thank all of the listeners and all of our sponsors for their support," Coulter said this afternoon. "They've been there since we started."

At least on a temporary basis, The Zone plans to extend the hours of the "The Sports Czars" show to fill in Coulter and Sanderson's slot, according sources at the station.

The cancellation of "Straight Talk" was the first major programming change since the sale of the Cox Media Group, which owns The Zone, to Summit Media became official on Friday.

The station hopes to hire Paul Finebaum to fill that slot. Finebaum has been in talks with The Zone and with rival WJOX 94.5 FM since his contract with WJOX owner Cumulus Media expired on Jan. 21.

The new SEC Network, which was announced last week, is also believed to be making a bid to hire Finebaum.

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