Are you kidding? Do you really believe that sports talk will have a chance at success? I realize it is a matter of opinion, but give me an example of a sports show (other than the junkies who aren't really a sports show) that has lasted any length of time. Chad Dukes (douchebag) + Arrington = fail.
We can go all the way from Ken Beatrice at WMAL to Tony Kornheiser's original WTEM incarnation for successful sports talk. Even Pollin and Czaban have had some moderate success demowise in recent years.
It's the final hot talk WJFK lineup that failed, with that same exception of The Junkies.
Hot talk succeeded because it pushed boundaries and spoke to guys honestly, not because of watered down interviews and comedy bits. These last few years were a shadow of the real hot talk WJFK.
With a superior signal to WTEM (excluding the NE 'burbs) and obvious independence from Snyder's empire, WJFK can succeed as a sports talker. Whether this particular lineup will do it, I don't know. It deserves the chance to find out.
Sports talk?!? I've listened loyaly for YEARS!!! Don & Mike show, Mike O'Meara Show, Big O & Dukes and now you are flipping formats to sports!?! I hate friggin' sports, ESPECIALLY ON THE RADIO!!! What the heck is wrong with you people!!! Not only have you lost a loyal listener, but I will not play your station at work, home, in my car or any where. WJFK has abandoned their listeners, total sports talk radio has failed if you haven't been paying attention
@everett: Exactly how do you define success... getting a sniff of ratings, jumping around on timeslots and stations, and lasting 3 years or less? Wow, those examples you gave sure blew me away.
Where are they now in the DC market, oh wait--they're nowhere!
Finally, Buzz gets what he wants "Change He Can Believe In"! The Omeara show changed over the past year. It beacame way too political and like the rest of the main street media slobbered over Obama and took pot shots at anything republican. They should have stayed middel of the road like they did with Don & Mike. It is sad, because they are all talented. Unfortunately, they made poor decisions in the show format that turned off alot of the loyal Don & Mike listeners. Hope they all find a station to bounce back on.....Maybe Air America? ;)
Due to the obvious interest, I have added a poll to this post.
While I didn't care for the Mile O'Mera Show, I loved the Big O and Dukes show. I really do not care for the new format, I will only listen in the morning on the way to work. In fact, I enjoy listening to the Sports Reporters in the afternoon on WTEM. It is not a purely sports like the Junkies. It seems that evrry show I like on WJFK goes away. Well the next move for me is to XM radio so I can get good comedy talk shows.
@Chris... Ken Beatrice lasted for many years, Tony Kornheiser went to higher-paying gigs. It was only when Kornheiser's WFED show moved too far away from sports that it failed.
I got into talk radio in around 93 and I remember shows like Don and Mike,O&A, Howard Stern peaking my interest in talk radio. I have listened to years of line up, not just from WJFK but other stations like WNEW its just awful hearing when a good station flips to become something less than what it was. Despite the Jackson situation several years ago radio was still good not quite what it was but still good, I mean how many of you can say that it made your drive home from work or out driving easier, I can. You will never hear great radio like this again, times are changing and we are losing some of the greatest moments in our life. No loyal listener of great talk radio wants to be subjected to sports radio it was ok when it was peppered on top of everyday conversation but no one wants to be saturated in it. WJFK was the last great talk radio station in my opinion. I was no fan of the junkies didnt really know who they were back then and only in the past years of shows leaving have they came to my attention that I have seen I do not like then although entertaining at time arent talented like previous shows nor do they have the interest in making it a good show as much as it just appears they are just there to collect a check, seem to be 40 yr old men acting like 20 yr olds with the jargon and all cant get behind that, let their faithful listeners keep that afloat. When you see the greats of radio vanish its over. And it is over, the junkies or chad cant weather that storm for long before it goes under and it will but im glad I wont be around to see it. I will listen to this last week up to reruns and download as many podcasts as possible and come friday listen to Mikes last pretaped show and turn free fm radio off for good, until i hear mike found a new station or more likely go to satellite. Sports radio is awful DC is awful the sports teams are awful and WJFK was the only redeeming factor it ever had. Truely a sad time.
UPDATE - According to DCRTV.com, Mike O'Meara's prerecorded farewell will air at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. Friday.
@Everett, well you need to contrast that with the list of sport shows that didn't last (Jim Rome, Ferrell, those dudes on Saturday, etc). Even so, I'd be willing to bet that the ratings comparison isn't even close to what JFK had on up til now.
Perhaps the production cost/ratings trade-off is better for them going forward, but they are effectively punting. What will they put in the afternoon slot once the Dukes/Arrington debacle implodes?
Empirically speaking, I have lived in this area for 30 years and never met anyone that has admitted to listening to sports talk on a daily basis, but I've met hundreds that listened to JFK weekdays all-day long.
I cant believe this! Another sports station??? We had two and they had to merge a few years ago into one boring station. I love the Junkies, big O and Dukes and I have listen to Mike for 20 years. I will miss this format! The last I heard Chad Dukes said the station was doing great in the male demo so what happened? Guys like to hear about more than sports and with town full of losing sports teams this new station should be a real pick me up. I think this SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF
my name is darrell im from california you think you have it bad for many years we had liten to the don&mike show and mike's new show all that is now gone!! from 12-4 the best thing on radio !!!!
oh so sad .........
This is huge mistake and a tragedy for DC area radio. Simply put, if I wanted to listen to sports radio, I'd turn on 94.7 or ESPN980. WJFK had something that no other station had, and THAT'S why I tuned in religiously. Does WJFK really think this format will work? Jim Rome tanked, the Fox Radio on the weekend is terrible. Meanwhile, they're getting rid of personalities with two decades of continued success in the ratings for four hours with a former Linebacker? Way to alienate the long time loyal fans, not to mention your non-sport loving audience! To get rid of these shows voluntarily is broadcasting suicide. I know that I won't tune in any more because the new format is just too one dimensional for me to keep interested in.
This is truly the end of an era, and it's heartbreaking to see it end so abruptly. At least when Don was leaving, we knew for months that he was retiring. This is just bogus. I do hope these shows continue to broadcast on some other medium as they constantly come up with new material and make me truly laugh out loud every day; and that's not an easy thing to do. This change stinks and frankly I don't imagine the new station getting much success.
I'll be honest about this. I am not an UBER sports fine. A few minutes of coverage is all I need to get up to date. How many evaluations of the NFL draft will we be subjected too? Well, not much, because I won't be listening. What I liked about the station was that having it on was like being in a room of friends. Goofy, sometimes serious, funny, but most of all unpredictable. Now, I have a feeling I could go to the ESPN headlines and make a pretty good guess about what the topics of the day will be on WJFK. I am thrilled that the Junks are unscathed, because they will be about all I listen to. Dukes is awesome, but I just don't need that much sports in a day. Via con dios Mike O. and crew. This is the biggest travesty of the whole switch.
THe only interesting radio station in the DC area is gone. For a "Worls Class" city, thism area has the absolute worst radio.
I like sports and i liked the old lineup. Ill miss the Big O and Dukes show the most but i dont think i will last long with just sports as they will likely only cover certain sports. The junkies follow baseball, football and golf and they usually make incorrect references to any other sports. Lavar is football and Dukes may enjoy other sports beyond football and wrastlin' but i think it will likely get old fast. Looks like it is back to the ipod for me.
I too, don't think that there will be much of an audience for "all sports, all the time", but since the departure of Dom, the Mike O'Meara show had taken a downhill slide with a daily dose of Mike's Democratic ass kissing and Republican bashing, his pompous, boisterous and belligerent attitude towards anybody that disagrees with him, his demeaning and belittling treatment of his own staff , Beth Ann especially, and his daily rants and dismissals on texters and callers which invariably got blocked or hung up on. It is a shame, because he did have some good guests, topics and some quirky games that were entertaining and helped pass the time during my evening commute. I am sure there is an audience for him, but it won't be on public radio where half of his demographic is decidedly not as left as he, and like to make there own opinions, not have them shoved down their throats. RIP gang. Maybe "you will be right this, after that"....
worst thing to ever happen. I get in the car after working hours and Mike O'Meara and Rob and Buzz have been like my best friends and de-stresser from the daily grind. Always had a way to put a smile on my face. Now, I have nothing to look forward to on the drive home and I will NEVER listen to WJFK again. You kept the Junkies over Mike O'Meara- a true WJFK "ICON." I hope this station plummets into the ground and becomes no more!
I LOVE sports!! but who the heck wants to listen to it ALL day. I can't believe they just cancelled 2 best shows in radio, and everyone is all hush hush about it. No one is allowed to call in and talk negative. No chance I'm supporting the new format, especially from the way it was all handled. BTW. Dukes is the funniest person on the face of this earth, but I've lost a little respect that he didn't stand up for the show and take it elsewhere. Still fuming about this.
This is a great loss for DC radio. I will miss Big O and Dukes and the Mike O'Meara Show. 106.7 will be taken off my preselected station settings. While I didn't agree with everything on the shows, they were always entertaining. More talking heads on sports.. I can get that on ESPN. 'The Fan' is a stupid idea and it will flop big time.
I'm from California in an area that did not have an affiliate that ran either the Don and Mike show or the great Mike O' Meara show. I depended on those podcasts like I depend on water. My day was incomplete without hearing what they had to say on the show. Not in a stalker sense but in a real sense, these people were my friends and you have taken them away for what, crappy boring sports radio?
By the way I heard all those plugs for D.C. area businesses who knows I may have purchased something in that area if I ever went there.
I listened to the Junkies on the way to work and LOOKED forward to listening to MIke on the way home from work. With the news from Buzz.
This is BS. So does anyone know where Mike is going so I can tune in again to him. My ride home from work will not be the same.
wjfk has lost a "long time listener. i cant stand the thought of having to liten to sports any more than they talked about anyeays. i loved the big o and dukes show, but i hope chad falls on his ass, being he's abandoning oscar to work with a has been redskin. they arent even giving mike omeara a live farewell show. i hope wjfk and cbs lose there asses on this station flip. this is the reason i'm getting satellite radio this weekend.
While I really enjoyed the Don & Mike show I just “liked” the Mike O’Meara show… Mike is a fabulously talented man as is Rob A but Buzz ruined things. They alienated 45%-50% of their audience the minute the neck stepper would open his bit, fat, hater mouth. Every time he'd start droning on about how much he hates George Bush I'd change the station. We got it dumbass you hate republicans. Think that had anything to do with Westwood one dumping you guys? Mike you should have had less of Buzz not more. He should have been locked up in his little glass booth and should have only been allowed to speak when spoken to. Don told you not to “F” it up but you did and we’re sorry for that. I really hope you get national syndication again but for God sakes don’t bring Buzz back.
This is a sad day now there is not a radio station worth lisenting to in the Washington area. If you like country or rap you'll be in heaven to baad there is not an alternate radio station other than MPR....it's a sad day for radio.
john
Lavar Arrington is a has been that never was. He is yet another first round bust by the Deadskins. Why the heck JFK picked him is beyond me. I give him 6 months before they pull the plug on him.
What are they going to talk about? There is nothing interesting happening in regards to the Nats, the Skins (as long as Snyder owns them), the Wizards all losing teams as of late. The only gleam of hope that we fans have in the DC region is the Caps. This station will become the local joke of local radio IMO
Stern was uber successful because he he had an avant garde reality show of boys being boys. It wasn't merely content, it was the content with the action and reaction of of the cast that made it genius.
So went Don and Mike, The Junkies, and Chad and Oscar to a format of the fantastic nuclear chemistry and resulting dynamic fallout of superb radio.
Listening to the Junks over the last few months was painful. My reaction was one of boredom over incessant sports INTERVIEWING. As of late they have been totally devoid of their light, and oft times heavy, regarding the banter of their personal lives and their life's perspectives.
Listening to a sports interview is painful.....
I haven't been this sad since I saw JFK shot. My suggestion WJFK change your call letters to WLHO....you have assassinated the last frontier of phenomenal free radio...
I have to agree with several others here. The Mike O'meara show suffered due to the fact that these "talents" continually bashed the right leaning populus of their audiance. I was sick and tired of hearing Mike, Robb and Buzz on another political rant. See ya fellas. Next time remember - keep it funny and leave the politics to the pros.
The Junkies are still listenable but largely irrelevant. The Big O and Dukes show had become my favorite but Mike Wise taught me today that I oughta just keep the radio off during midday. I'm already scared for Lavar - awesome guy and I'm a fan, but gimme a break. Talk radio just took a dump.
Iceberg Dead Ahead...
I used to love D&M, then the Junkies. Once Don left and the Sports Junkies deteriorated to the Porn and Poker Junkies I started to drift away. I actually liked Big O and Dukes for the most part.
I am probably the biggest sports fan ever but can't see this switch being a success. Teaming Lavar and Chad together - are you serious? Oh well I guess I better add some cash to my Itunes account.
I don't understand how you eliminate a show in syndication. The Mike O'Meara show was generating revenue for WJFK in 4 markets..Now they have only 1.....Were those other markets not planning to renew their syndication agreements ? I don't see how this makes dollars and sense....You have elimated the only reason my wife would ever listen to a sports talk radio station..I'm sure she is in the majority of women...
I think this sucks and hope the station dies. I was a faithful listner for over twenty years. NOT NOW!
I had this station pre-set, now I have changed it. I refuse to listen to all sports. Who cares about an all sports radio station.
I only just learned of the programming switch today. It totally bites the big one. As someone else wrote - I'll be removing WJFK from my preselect.
What the F bring Omeara back rickies
Boo. What a mistake. Really. Hope the station goes under.
you sound real stupids saying that wjfk we love was lost a long time ago, this line up was hittin its stride.
what the hell, good god mike had the best numbers in his slot, the junkies had the best numbers in they're slot and big o & dukes had at least one of the best numbers in they're slot, what the hell makes you break that up for mindless dribble. the 2 i feel the most for are chad dukes and drab t shirt they get to sit there with lavar arrington, they should play river or life with his playing career, or his personal life, either way i choose river just like I'm sure most ppl will. i can only hope that cbs realizes the huge mistake they made by taking the last bastion of hope for talk radio and replace it with another sports talk station, i know they all talked sports but by handcuffing the junkies and chad to just sports makes them one dimensional and they have so much more to offer. mike when you come back (and i know you will) give chad, Oscar and drab a jobs so that abortion of a show, the arrington show will have to move on with out they're great talent, which they have handcuffed.
Thank you WJFK. This just made my decision to pay for satellite radio so much easier after listening to your station for 20 years. I won't ever listen to sports on your radio. What a loser format that has never worked even when you have had sports shows as part of the line-up in the past with horrible ratings. I give you less than 6 months before you are scrambling to figure out WTF you did and how you are going to try to change it. Losers!
I listen to the Junkies on the way to work everyday. They're hit or miss but most of the time at least entertaining...and the only viable alternative to an obnoxious fake-laughing dbag. But when I get back in my car in the afternoon, I hear freakin Lavar Arrington? WTF? He has no opinion on anything and can barely articulate a point. I heard him say..."It costed him..." the other day. They need to replace him with Oscar and call it the Lavar Arringtonless show feauturing Big O & Dukes !
good god wjfk, what have u done??? At least u were smart enough to keep the junks. Big O and Dukes were freakin awesome, why? WHY???
LaVar...u played football much better than you host a radio show...no offense. Now Dukes isn't the same. Damn all u Westwood big whigs... satellite, here I come.
You people blow goats. WTF? No Buzz/Mike/Rob/BA/Katie?
Fuck you WJFK. The Mike O'Meara show was the only thing worth listening to on radio. I'll never listen to your sorry station again. Sad to say after 18 years. Dumb asses.
Goodbye original, varied and entertaining content - hello talk about the Redskins 24/7. What a disgrace! Also to break the news to Mike O'Meara et el whilst most of them were on vacation is low. This also shows contempt to the loyal listeners who also were left in the dark until the last moment. I will take my loyalty elsewhere - FU CBS!
We can't even expect to hear Mike on another station as the lowlifes at CBS are holding him to his non compete!! (which I think should be illegal under the circumstances).
I'm going to miss Big O and Dukes and Mike'O in the evenings. The Junks are hit or miss with me, I can take'em or leave'em. But another Sports Network is overkill!!! If I want sports on the radio, I can find it with no problem in this market! SportsTalk on the radio is like reality TV programming on the tube - something easy to do and hopefully something with a built-in fan base, but IT IS NOT FRESH AND ORIGINAL. It is something a station will do to just be able to put up some type of rating numbers each month. 106.7 may have lost me completely on this bonehead move.
CLICK.....that's the sound my radio made when i turned it off for good F*** You CBS
I will echo the thoughts of most of you guys -- CBS are f'ing idiots. A radio show, with solid sports is a terrible decision for its listeners and even more as a business decision. This will be short lived. It was smart to remarket the Junks and remove the "Sport" prefix -- because it appealed to more people because of that (e.g. women and non-sports followers while keeping the sport base). Junks don't have the ratings they do because of the sports element, it is because of the "other" stupid, yet funny stuff to listen to with the right mix of sport info. WJFK has effectively turned themselves into MSNBC which repeats the exact same info over and over -- you can watch one of its shows and predict exactly what the other will do -- you want freakin sports that bad for 24 hours? get a satellite radio or watch tv and make your ass fatter. Same is what will happen with JFK -- I have listened to it for the last 15 years... and have heard the changes. Poster above was on point, at least they were not dumb enough to remove the Junks... Total idiots. Total disgrace. FU CBS.
I loved both the D&M show and Mike O'Meara Show and listened on the net almost everyday.
Here in Alaska it was a great way to stay connected to the other side of the country and hear both serious and funny topics in the same hour.
WJFK sucks now and I will not be spending time podcasting any of it.
Now instead of a bunch of guys talking about different things all day, we now have to listen to a bunch of guys all talking about the same thing. With this new format I can get my information on D.C. sports the first ten minutes of the day and then listen to the same crap regurgitated the rest of the day by everyone else. Not against sports radio but I have taken this station off of my presets!
I still listen to the junkies but the other shows I gave shot but they aren't interesting enough for me to stay on the station.
I liked the junkies, Big 0 and Dukes, and sometimes tuned into Mike O'Meara but I wasn't as interested in that show as the other two.
I doubt they'll make much revenue from the two new shows. I'll be waiting to see the stations new ratings.
SCREW THIS NEW FORMAT. I LOVED WJFK.
I have listened to WJFK for fifteen years at work. Don and Mike defined that radio station. Mike and Rob did a hell of a job with their new show. CBS is a slimy scummy company, they kept the listeners in the dark, I have not heard Mike's name mentioned yet. At least Oscar was able to say goodbye. What a bunch of f-ing backstabbers!
On the bright side, Chad and Lavar are great. The junkies are still the same, just dump that horrid mid-day show.
I like sports but please all day?
where did Mike O'meara go?
I have listened to wjfk for years. It was all I listened to, but now with this all sports radio crap,wjfk, you have lost a longtime listener for good !!!
WJFK drove me away.The FAN blows as would any "all sports radio" would. I not only changed my presets on the radio, but I refuse to purchase anything from WJFK sponsers and pray daily for this station and the idiots who changed the format to go completely broke.
