WTEM (ESPN 980)/Washington Drops 'The Man Cave'

Chenge In AM Drive

RED ZEBRA BROADCASTING Sports WTEM-A (ESPN 980)/WASHINGTON has dropped the local “MAN CAVE” show with CHRIS PAUL and JASON REID, replacing it with ESPN RADIO’s MIKE AND MIKE, moving back to 980 from sister Sports WSPZ-A (SPORTS TALK 570). 

“THE MAN CAVE” got off to a rocky start seven months ago when the station cancelled the show before it could even start, then un-cancelled it, as then-PD CHUCK SAPIENZA exited amidst reports that former WASHINGTON POST columnist REID's longtime criticism of the WASHINGTON REDSKINS did not sit well with REDSKINS and RED ZEBRA owner DAN SNYDER and management.

Dir./Programming DAN ZAMPILLO said, “Unfortunately we were not able to obtain the consistent level of ratings success needed in morning drive over the last seven months, and therefore felt the need to make this change.”

On TWITTER, ex-WTEM PD SAPIENZA was vocal about the firing:

980s firing of ManCave was pre determined the day they went on air. This was not ratings related. Recently they had 3.4 to Junks 4.2 in demo

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) October 28, 2015

ManCave was making traction with little to no support from station management. To give a new show only 6months is a joke.

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) October 28, 2015

IMO firing was made before 980 placed them on air. 980 didn't want to pay their contracts in full so they gave ManCave 6 unsupported months

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) October 28, 2015

When you set up people to fail that is spineless & unethical. This all comes from the top & I'm talking about Rockville not Ashburn. Gutless

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) October 28, 2015

To add to this charade 980 sites ratings for the firing. ManCave had 3.4 in demo. M&M hasn't had a 3.4 in 3+ yrs. Thats why we replaced them

— Chuck Sapienza (@chucksapienza) October 28, 2015

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