ESPN Radio 2018: Stephen A. Smith Middays, Russillo & Cain PMs; Jones, Jalen & Jacoby, Nolan Podcast-Only

Changes

With the end of the long-running MIKE AND MIKE show this morning (11/17), ESPN RADIO announced changes to its weekday lineup and new podcasts.

Starting JANUARY 2nd, STEPHEN A. SMITH will move from airing only in NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES to national distribution 1-3p (ET).  Meanwhile, RYEN RUSSILLO moves from 1-4p to  3-6p and will gain WILL CAIN as a co-host, and BOMANI JONES will move from the 4-7p slot to exclusively podcasting, with SARAH SPAIN (moving up from the present "IZZY AND SPAIN" 9-11p show) and weekender JASON FITZ taking over 6-9p weeknights.  Also moving from broadcast to podcasting-only are JALEN ROSE and DAVID JACOBY, who will exit their 7-9p slot on the air.  As previously announced, the new GOLIC AND WINGO morning show will air 6-10a starting NOVEMBER 27th with MIKE GOLIC and TREY WINGO joined by GOLIC's son and "FIRST AND LAST" 4-6a host MIKE GOLIC JR. in the first hour; DAN LEBATARD and JON "STUGOTZ" WEINER continue in the 10a-1p slot, and FREDDIE COLEMAN and IAN FITZSIMMONS, presently in the 11p-2a position, move up and add an hour to air 9p-1a.  SPORTSCENTER ALL NIGHT will air 1-4a.

On the podcast side, JONES will launch a two- to three-times-weekly podcast-only show after his broadcast show ends in DECEMBER.  "JALEN AND JACOBY" will return to its podcast-exclusive roots on JANUARY 2nd, posting 4-5 times per week.  And KATIE NOLAN, whose duties were not made clear when she recently joined the network from FS1, will host a weekly podcast beginning JANUARY 10th along with producing digital content including participating in the network's SNAPCHAT initiative.

“Top to bottom, ESPN RADIO will have the strongest, most experienced and most thought-provoking lineup in sports talk radio,” said ESPN AUDIO SVP TRAUG KELLER. “Diverse voices with a variety of perspectives will provide listeners with compelling content all day long.”

“Podcasting is changing how audio is consumed, since the listener is more in charge than ever, and offering dynamic content is a smart way to grow our business and serve our listeners,” added KELLER. “BOMANI, whose trajectory continues to rise, brings a distinct voice to an audience looking for compelling discourse.  He asked to move his show from radio to a podcast and we readily agreed. His thought-provoking and entertaining opinions will translate perfectly to our on-demand platform.”

JONES said, “I couldn’t be more excited about moving exclusively to a podcast. As someone whose career began in the digital space, I can’t wait to fully explore what can be done there with an audio program. This podcast will be insightful, and I hope it will be as much fun to listen to as we’ll have putting it together.

“Adding original podcasts with BOMANI, DAVID, JALEN, and KATIE is a key component of the overall strategy to grow our Audio on Demand business,” added KELLER.  “These talented voices resonate across platforms and especially with consumers in the digital space.”  

As for MIKE GREENBERG and MIKE GOLIC, ESPN president JOHN SKIPPER visited the hosts on their last show together this morning, announcing that the network and parent DISNEY will build a children’s playground in their honor with non-profit KaBOOM at a location to be determined.  He also announced in passing that GREENBERG's new morning TV show will make its debut on APRIL 2nd.

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