M-C: Boston Radio..Sports WEEI To Make Midday Changes

WEEI 93.7 FM and its parent company Entercom will announce changes to its midday program Monday, according to boston.com.

Lou Merloni, the Framingham native and former Red Sox infielder, will remain as a host of the program. He will be joined by two new daily co-hosts on the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. program: former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria and Tim Benz, a New England native who is currently a host on 970 ESPN Pittsburgh and the Clear Channel Pittsburgh sports director.

Tim Benz

Benz will join the program -- titled "Middays with MFB'' -- sometime later in the month after the Penguins complete their Stanley Cup playoff series with the Rangers.  Benz was morning show host at CCM+E's WXDX for eight years and since January he's been sports director of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's Pittsburgh stations.

Mike Mutnansky, who has been paired with Merloni on the WEEI midday show since February 2011, is no longer part of the program. He will shift to another role at Entercom over the next few weeks.

Mutnansky and Merloni formed a knowledgeable tandem and the show had a genial tone, yet the ratings have suffered.

WEEI 93.7 FM (34Kw) 54dBu Coverage

In the Nielsen winter ratings period (January 2-March 26), "Mut and Merloni'' ranked a distant 10th in its time slot among the coveted men 25-54 demographic. Its chief sports radio competition, 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Gresh and Zo'' show, was second with an 8.9 share.

Read More Now

"We are thrilled with the new team we have assembled," said WEEI program director and brand manager Kevin Graham.

"This show will be the only sports radio program in New England that offers listeners insight from a former major leaguer and a former NFL player. When you add in the sports radio experience of New England native Tim Benz, listeners will hear a brand new sound in the market."

Graham describes the new program as "fast-paced, loose and fun with a diverse mix of opinions and entertainment." The show will be called "Middays with MFB" and will also be heard across New England on the WEEI Radio Network.