Boston Radio: Rich Shertenlieb Turned Down Beasley Contract Offer

Rich Shertenlieb Turned Down New Beasley Contract

Cohost Fred Toucher said he found out that his on-air prtner Rich Shertenlieb was done at WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub while driving home after Thursday’s show.

“We do the show, we have the meeting after the show,” he said. “I’m in my car driving back, and I get a call that yesterday was Rich’s last show on the station. I assumed Rich was going to be here; we all assumed Rich was going to be here.”

The Boston Globe reports Shertenlieb provided a statement via email Friday, saying it wasn’t his decision to leave the show so suddenly.

“I’ve got nothing but gratitude for the 98.5 The Sports Hub listeners that have shared their mornings with us,’’ he wrote. “My thanks to the listeners, and to each member of the Toucher & Rich show and the team at the station. To the T&R team, I’ve appreciated your efforts and waking up early every day and sharing all the fun we’ve had together. You’re an incredible group of guys.

“There’s a lot to say and a lot more fun to have, and when we connect again every day, my commitment to you will be the same as it’s always been, to have a great time together.

“It was not my decision to not say goodbye on the radio, nor was it my plan to leave the program and station this soon, but just know that I’ll be announcing my plans in the near future. But for today, know that I TRULY LOVE YOU ALL and appreciate you sharing your time with me and the guys, and I can’t wait to share what’s next.”

Beasley Media Group, The Sports Hub’s parent company, provided a brief statement, saying, “We value Rich’s contributions to the show over the years. Beasley offered to renew his contract for multiple years on terms better than his existing contract. He never accepted. We wish him the best.”

Mike Thomas, one of the executives who put together the original Sports Hub lineup in 2009, is now in charge of WEEI as senior vice president and market manager for parent company Audacy Boston. When asked if he would consider bringing Shertenlieb to WEEI, he replied, “No comment.”

In the past, Toucher and Shertenlieb had negotiated contracts together. But this year, they did it separately. Their deals were set to expire at the end of the year, but Toucher signed a multiyear extension last month. Neither Shertenlieb’s name nor the name of the show was mentioned in the press release announcing Toucher’s new deal.

Tension plagued the show over the past several months, spilling onto the airwaves and social media. During a meeting with management in May, Shertenlieb accused Toucher of creating a hostile work environment.

Toucher had dealt with throat problems in the previous months, requiring serious treatment and a leave of absence. While he was absent, he posted on social media that Shertenlieb and others show personnel hadn’t checked in to see how he was doing, which he later acknowledged was untrue. Shertenlieb was not on the show when Toucher apologized, having taken a sick day.