NYC Radio: Francesa Bashes WFAN Staffers

WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM officially announced the news of Francesa’s return on Friday morning, calling it a partnership among the station’s parent company, Entercom, Mike Francesa and CAA Sports.

The NY Post reports Francesa went on sister station 1010 WINS Friday morning to say that WFAN has been in a “bit of a slump,” a shot mostly at the ratings of the program he is replacing in the afternoon, Chris Carlin, Bart Scott and Maggie Gray, who barely lost to WEPN 98.7 FM’s “Michael Kay Show” in the last book. It was also a dig at the morning show, “Boomer and Gio,” whose ratings were a little down as well.


The morning duo of Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti, who have been mocking Francesa, replayed the 1010 WINS clip moments later.

Francesa “retired” in December after three decades on the air and a year-and-a-half celebration of himself. He had planned to work again, but found few substantial offers, so he went over the heads of WFAN executives and to the president of Entercom, David Field, to accept a pay cut, according to sources.

Francesa could have remained at his old salary at many times during his retirement tour. He tried to get a substantial pay raise when Craig Carton was arrested, but Entercom said no. Now, Entercom took Francesa back at a discount, according to The Post.

There was no local interest by any regional TV networks to broadcast Francesa’s show, as YES turned to the “Michael Kay Show” years ago and MSG and SNY wanted no part of Francesa. Francesa’s national simulcast on FS1 was a failure in the past.

Starting MAY 1, Francesa’s new show will run from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, while “The Afternoon Drive” will need a new name as CMB will be on from 1 to 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno are thrilled that Francesa made the move back to the afternoons. According to The Post, the duo is the only regular team that likes Francesa and, after adding an hour and a pay increase, following Francesa’s departure, Benigno and Roberts will keep the money but lose the hour as they go back to their old 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Francesa, 64, is taking a substantial pay cut from the around $3 million he was making, according to sources. The exact money figure is not yet known. Newsday reported the contract will run until 2020.