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Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Milwaukee Radio: Sports WSSP Drops Local Programming


The local on-air staff at Milwaukee sports-talk station WSSP 1250 AM The Fan — including NFL Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler and former Packers running back Gary Ellerson — fell victim to a nationwide series of layoffs by station owner Audacy.

The move leaves Milwaukee with one less locally-programmed sports-talk station.

However, station staffer Evan Heffelfinger posted on Twitter that Tuesday was his last day at the station after five years. He confirmed the layoffs to the Milwaukee Business Journal, but declined further comment.

The WSSP website was updated Tuesday with a new slate of programs with national on-air talent including Jim Rome and “The D.A. Show” with Damon Amendolara. Gone are local on-air hosts including Bart Winkler, Butler, Ellerson and Steve “Sparky” Fifer.

In Milwaukee, Audacy also owns WMYX-FM (99.1 “The Mix”), WXSS-FM (103.7 “Kiss FM”) and “Hot 105.7 FM.” The low-power frequency at 105.7 FM ran a simulcast of “The Fan” for six years ending in October 2020.

After Audacy’s revenue growth slowed in the second quarter with future expectations murky due to macroeconomic challenges, CEO David Field warned that the nation’s second-largest radio station owner would institute expense cuts — and the Philadelphia-based company has started that process by enacting layoffs, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal, a sister publication of the Milwaukee Business Journal.

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