On Monday, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported that Mike Francesa threatened to quit his WFAN radio show or $8.99-per-month “Mike’s On” app. This comes after reports that James Dolan and MSG are at war with WFAN and Entercom, following Maggie Gray’s rant on Dolan in August.
Francesa proceeded to throw Gray — his WFAN co-worker — under the bus on Monday, and then suggested he may quit his WFAN afternoon radio show.
Francesa — who returned to FAN in May for what sources described as a significant pay cut — said he hasn’t reached a contract agreement with Entercom, FAN’s parent company. Often in broadcasting, sides will agree to the parameters of a deal before the paperwork is completed.
“We haven’t really come to a deal yet, which makes me think that maybe the app and show don’t work together and that’s something we’re going to have to adjust one way or the other,” Francesa said as he voiced his opinion about The Post’s story detailing the Madison Square Garden boycott of FAN and its parent company, Entercom.
Later on Monday, Francesa said that the reports he was considering to quit the app were incorrect.
“For the totally dense in the media. The Mike’s On app is here to stay. I am completely committed to its continued success,” Francesa tweeted on Monday night.
For the totally dense in the media. The Mike's On app is here to stay. I am completely committed to its continued success.
— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) October 23, 2018
Francesa had a brief retirement from radio in December, before returning to WFAN in May, in what he called an “uncomfortable” situation after unseating Gray, Chris Carlin, and Bart Scott.
“I knew it was going to be uncomfortable, but maybe it’s been more uncomfortable than I thought,” Francesa said. “Probably has been.”
So, Francesa’s future at WFAN appears to be up in the air, but he claims to be committed to the $8.99/month app. But it’s hard to see that holding up as a long-term solution… because people don’t like paying $8.99/month to hear sports radio takes (especially from a guy they’ve been hearing so long for free).
How many people do you know who have the Mike's On app?
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) October 23, 2018
[NY Post]
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.