Bay Area Radio: RIFs Hit Cumulus Media KNBR

Two longtime hosts have been let go by KNBR Radio 104.5 FM / 680 AM. Morning-show co-host Paul McCaffrey and nighttime host F.P. Santangelo no longer have those jobs.

Santangelo tweeted about his ouster Wednesday afternoon: “I was informed today that due to budget cuts there will no longer be a 6-10pm show.” Longtime executive Lee Hammer and a morning-show producer, Erik Engle, were let go as well. 

The San Francisco Chronicle reports two sources confirmed that KNBR also parted ways with four members of its six-person digital team: reporter Danny Emerman, who covered the Giants and Warriors; reporter Jake Hutchinson, who covered the 49ers; content creator Austin Scott; and digital-content producer Maureen Mahoney.  

Adam Copeland, who co-hosts the “Tolbert and Copes” afternoon show with Tom Tolbert, became KNBR’s program director this month. After the afternoon show ended Wednesday, Copeland and Tolbert addressed the departures on-air.

Adam Copeland

“It’s been a really difficult day,” Copeland said. “I love the guys we let go of today. I’m looking forward to the future, but I really think we need to tip our cap and applaud the work that those guys have done.”

Said Tolbert: “It’s awful. I’ve been through a few of these and it never gets any easier, because a lot of good people don’t have their jobs. It’s a business; it’s the way that radio is going. It just is what it is. You do the best job you can and move on, but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect a lot of people and their families.”

After Copeland and Tolbert signed off, KNBR aired syndicated CBS Sports Radio programming. 

McCaffrey and Brian Murphy have teamed on the “Murph and Mac” morning show for nearly 18 years. “Paulie Mac” has been the sidekick to Murphy, a former Chronicle sportswriter.

Santangelo spent seven seasons as a utilityman in the major leagues. He played for the San Francisco Giants in 1999 and the Oakland Athletics in 2001. This was his second stint as a nighttime host on KNBR.

“I’ll miss talking with you on a nightly basis the most,” Santangelo tweeted. “Hopefully now though, it will be in person after Giants game. Thank you for all your love and support. You guys are the best!”

Santangelo did fill-in work on Giants radio broadcasts this past season. He spent a decade as the color analyst on Washington Nationals telecasts.