Philly Radio: Veteran Talker Howard Eskin Exits 94 WIP

After nearly four decades at SportsRadio 94 WIP, one of the most enduring voices in sports talk radio in Philadelphia is departing.

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports Howard Eskin on Friday afternoon announced on X, formerly Twitter, his departure from the station that served as his longtime home.

“After 38 years I am moving on from Sportsradio WIP where I launched the station’s sports talk franchise in 1986,” Eskin wrote. “I leave the station with great affection for the listeners who have made the work I do so fulfilling during my time there. I’m looking forward to what comes next career-wise. I promise you’ll be the first to know. Thank you.”

WIP’s Philadelphia-based parent company, Audacy, said in a brief statement that “WIP and Howard Eskin have parted ways. We thank Howard for his years of contributions to WIP.”

A 1968 graduate of Northeast High School in Philadelphia, Eskin got his start in radio at the now defunct Philadelphia station WFIL in 1972 as an engineer. A decade later, he joined KYW Newsradio, also in Philadelphia, as a sports anchor. He began his work as a local sports talk host at 96.5 WWDB in the mid-1980s when he hosted an afternoon drive program. He took on the same shift at WIP in 1986, launching its first-ever sports talk show.

For much of his career, Eskin pulled double duty between his radio show and serving stints as a sports anchor at Fox 29, CBS3 and NBC10.

His afternoon drive show was highly successful for decades and over the years, Eskin became known for his combative nature with callers. After being usurped in the ratings by former colleague Mike Missanelli at 97.5 The Fanatic, Eskin broadcast his last afternoon drive show in September 2011. He then shifted to weekend mornings on WIP and made regular appearances on its various weekday shows.

Eskin has also served on the Eagles broadcast team as the sideline reporter for the station.

His son, Spike Eskin, also pursued a career in radio and served as WIP’s brand manager for a time, essentially making him his father’s boss. Earlier this year, Spike Eskin was named co-host of WIP’s afternoon drive show, taking the same role his father held for years.

News of Eskin's departure from WIP comes about six months after the 73-year-old was temporarily banned by the Philadelphia Phillies from Citizens Bank Park for the duration of the 2024 season after what was described as an "unwelcome kiss" toward an Aramark employee. The Philadelphia 76ers also barred Eskin from the team's training facility.

When Eskin returned to his regular Saturday morning show in July, he apologized for the incident.

Over the years, the city’s fans, reporters, and sports media personalities have had a love-hate relationship with the bearded host, often referred to as “The King.” His brash, direct style — regularly insulting callers as “morons” and railing against the city’s athletes — helped define sports talk radio in Philly to a generation of fans and aspiring hosts.

“We all stole from him,” said former WIP morning show host Angelo Cataldi, who retired from the station last year on much different terms. “The entire next two generations of hosts evolved out of his work at WIP. He really gave us all the template for how to do sports talk in Philadelphia.”

But, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer, it also meant Eskin was often in the center of controversies of his own making.

Eskin was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, the Broadcast Pioneers' Hall of Fame in 2011, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.