Philly Radio: Spike Eskin Leaves WIP On-Air For OM/PD Duties

Spike Eskin

Sportsradio WIP 94.1 is now down a co-host as Spike Eskin has given up his on-air duties to focus on being the station’s full-time programming director.

Last month, WIP, Talk WPHT 1210 AM  operations manager Andy Bloom was laid off as part of company-wide cutbacks at CBS Radio.  The company has been streamlining operations to eliminate the role of station or operations managers, instead preferring to have program directors and sales managers reporting directly to market presidents

The Philly Business-Journal reports WIP program director Spike Eskin will absorb Bloom’s duties and take over WIP. With the move, Eskin will give up his role as co-host of “The Josh Innes Show.”

The change will mark the third different lineup for Innes in less than a year as WIP’s afternoon host. His first co-host, Tony Bruno, retired from radio back in July to focus on podcasting. After weeks of tryouts and rotating guests, Bruno was eventually replaced by the duo of Thomas and Eskin.

Despite the changes, the show remains a ratings hit. Innes has beaten his chief competitor, 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli, every month except December in the key men's 25-54 demographic, and placed No. 1 overall in both the Spring and Fall Ratings Book.

While WIP won’t be filling Eskin’s role on the show, it will move Marc Farzetta from his current position as a member of Angelo Cataldi’s morning show to handle news updates and provide coverage alongside Innes and former Eagles defensive lineman Hollis Thomas from 2-6 p.m.

No word on who will oversee programming on WPHT.

Meanwhile there have been at least two additional high-profile layoffs at other CBS Radio markets:

• Radio veteran Doug McElvein was laid off last week from his job at KMOX Radio — after more than 22 years at the station and more than 17 years as a host of "Total Information AM."
• Longtime CBS Radio "Y108" WDSY Pittsburgh, PA morning man Brian “Monty” Montgomery has been laid off.  Montgomery had been with the station for 23 years. Former co-host Jimmy Roach exited in July. The show's producer, Katie Zak, has also exited.