Tampa Radio: WBRN Drops Bubba The Love Sponge

Beasley Media Group today announced a format adjustment on its WBRN 98.7 FM.

As a result of this decision, The Bubba the Love Sponge Show will no longer be carried by Beasley in the Tampa market.

However, in a short statement Beasley said the company looks forward to continuing its relationship with Bubba WRXK / 96K-ROCK in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The adjustment includes a shift to Christmas music branding at Santa 98.7 FM.

Meanwhille Bubba Clem and Nielsen are trying to hammer out an out-of-court settlement to Nielsen’s $1 million ratings tapering case

Last week, the parties have filed a joint motion to appoint a U.S. Magistrate Judge to preside over what would be their second mediation hearing.

After more than a year of contentious legal wrangling, the filing suggests the two parties may be ready to bury the hatchet and settle the suit quietly, out of the media glare and without racking up more legal bills. The parties ask the U.S District Court in Tampa for the mediation conference “to take place as soon as is practicable.”

A trial date is tentatively set for June 5, 2017.

On July 5, 2016 the parties sat down with retired chief judge Dennis Alvarez as mediator but failed to produce even a partial resolution. Since then both sides have been knee-deep in the discovery phase of the trial. The court recently granted Clem’s request to extend the discovery deadline until Jan. 9, 2017 and Clem’s lawyers have said they want to expand the case to include new counterclaims, allegations, and third-party defendants.