Houston Radio: Sports Talker Josh Innes OUT At KBME

KBME 790 AM sports talk host Josh Innes said Wednesday on Twitter that his morning drive program had been terminated for "budget reasons" and wrote, "I do not have a show anymore."

Innes, who was hired by the iHeartMedia station in October 2016 after an earlier stint in Houston on KILT 610 AM, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking elaboration on his Twitter messages, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Innes reported on his own departure in a series of Twitter messages that began about 4 p.m. Wednesday. Asked by a listener about the podcast of Wednesday's show on the KBME website, Innes replied:

Unfortunately, the show was terminated today. Budget reasons. That is why the podcast isn't up. Sorry https://t.co/xD7zX3jP50

— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesShow) March 13, 2019

Innes' apparent departure brings to an end a turbulent period that included high hopes on iHeartMedia's part for a significant listenership boost from a host who enjoyed ratings success during his earlier stint on KILT.

Josh Innes

However, Innes' ratings have mirrored those of the station and of Houston sports radio in general. KBME's morning drive audience share as of the most recent Nielsen Audio ratings ranked 25th among all Houston radio stations among men 25-54, the key demographic for sports radio, and trailed the station's competitors at KILT and KFNC 97.5 FM.

Innes also was involved in occasional controversy at the station. The Texans in 2017 revoked his media credentials, citing repeated violations of team media policies, and station personnel were removed from the Radio Row broadcast area in Minneapolis prior to Super Bowl LII in January 2018 after a confrontation between Innes and KILT talk show host Seth Payne.

He also was suspended in May 2018 after he spoke on the air about his disagreements with talk show host Adam Clanton, who was subsequently fired by the station.

He also enjoyed a rocky stretch in Philadelphia, including a story in Philadelphia magazine headlined "Is Josh Innes Destroying Philadelphia Sports Radio?"

Innes was fired in 2016 by WIP but was hired by iHeartMedia to replace longtime talk show host Charlie Pallilo in afternoon drive time. He launched his show by mocking Pallilo's delivery and his ratings performance and pledged to boost KBME's ratings performance.

His show moved to morning drive time in June 2017 but also failed to make significant ratings headway in that time slot.