Todd Schnitt NOT Leaving 970 WFLA After All

BREAKING NEWS:The Schnitt Show will remain on 970 WFLA/Tampa. I have just signed a new multi-year deal. Listen today for more.
— Todd Schnitt (@toddschnitt) December 13, 2012

After bit of posturing on both sides, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment Tampa today announced a new agreement with 970 WFLA’s Todd Schnitt host of The Schnitt Show.

Schnitt will continue hosting weekdays from 3-6:00 p.m., renewing and extending his relationship with the company through a new, multi-year contract.

At the end of November, Todd announced via Twitter that he leaving 970 WFLA, but would continue his national show.  He indicated his final WFLA would be December 18th.

Apparently, the ruse was part of ongoing contract negotiations.  When Schnitt announced his departure, then-WFLA Program Director Steve Versnick announced a nationwide search to find a replacement show. Versnick insisted WFLA would remain live and local in PM Drive.

However, he became of victim of Clear Channel's Reduction-in-Force last week and was dismissed.

"We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Todd Schnitt and The Schnitt Show," said Tampa TV/Programming Doug Hammand. "He is a staple of the community in Tampa Bay, broadcasting for more than 19 years with 11 of those on WFLA."

Schnitt for many years pulled double duty in Tampa.  Beside his PM Drive talk show on WFLA, he also was AM Drive host on CC-sister station CHR WFLZ, under the name of MJ Kelli In The Morning.

Schnitt started The MJ Kelli Morning Show in 1992, his first morning-drive program (6-10 am) on WOVV (Star 95.5), West Palm Beach, Florida. He was brought to Tampa, Florida to anchor the new morning show on WFLZ (The Power Pig). Schnitt was teamed up with BJ Harris, the Power Pig’s program director to form the MJ and BJ Morning Show. Harris left the show on February 7, 2001. The show was renamed The MJ Morning Show.