WEEI
Encyclopedia
WEEI is a sports
radio station in Boston, Massachusetts
, that broadcasts on 850 kHz
from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts
, and is owned by Entercom Communications
. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts. The station is simulcast on WEEI-FM
(93.7 FM
), and its local programming is heard on the "WEEI Sports Radio Network" that broadcasts throughout the New England
region.
WEEI is the flagship station of the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network. It is also the flagship station of the Boston Celtics
, beginning with the 2007–2008 season. In addition, WEEI broadcasts games of the Boston College
football and basketball teams in season. When local programming is not on WEEI, usually ESPN Radio
will air. The station had been an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio
from 2005 until November 2009, and was that network's highest rated station; WEEI had a prior stint as the ESPN Radio affiliate before switching to Fox.
The station is popular with fans of the Boston professional sports
teams, especially the Boston Red Sox
. WEEI calls itself "the #1 rated sports radio talk station in America," in terms of the percentage of the area radio listening audience tuned-in. WEEI isn't alone in providing 24/7 sports radio in Boston; local competition includes WBZ-FM
"98.5 The Sports Hub."
(hence the call letters). Edison placed the station on the air on 590 kHz in 1924. In 1926, WEEI became a charter member of the NBC Red Network
and remained an NBC Red affiliate until 1937, when the station was purchased by CBS
and became an affiliate of that network. Until 1960, WEEI, through CBS Radio
, was the last Boston radio station to devote a large amount of its program schedule to "traditional" network radio programming of daytime soap operas, comedy shows, variety shows, and similar fare.
For the remainder of the 1960s, WEEI was New England's first talk radio
station and home of such hosts as Howard Nelson, Jim Westover and of Paul Benzaquin, one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in Boston history. In the 1960s, the daily WEEIdea feature presented cleaning and cooking tips from housewives.
By May 1972, WEEI had six full days of call-in talk programming. On weekdays, morning drive time from 6 am to 10 am was hosted by newsman Len Lawrence (Leonard Libman), followed by Ellen Kimball from 10 am to 2 pm. Kimball was hired from WIOD
in Miami, where she had replaced broadcaster Larry King
after he was arrested on December 20, 1971. Ellen is believed to be one of the first women to host a daily, four-hour, call-in talk show, six days a week. Originally called Boston Forum with Ellen Kimball, the name was eventually changed to The Ellen Kimball Show. Later, newsman Ben Farnsworth took over the Saturday call-in segment from 10 am to 2 pm. Paul Benzaquin handled 2 pm to 6 pm weekdays.
Although its talk radio format was popular, the station went all-news in 1974, following the lead of several other CBS-owned stations. At first, WEEI was not 24/7 all-news; the station's late-night schedule featured the CBS Radio Mystery Theater
, an attempt to revive radio drama, as well as a local overnight talk show with Bruce Lee (no relation to the martial-arts actor), a holdover from the previous format. But by the end of the 1970s, WEEI was all-news around the clock.
On December 27, 1977, while engaged in traffic reporting, a Hughes 269B helicopter operated by WEEI lost power and crashed into an apartment building in Quincy
while attempting an emergency landing, killing pilot Richard Banks and reporter Chip Whitmore. A fire developed in the building following the crash.
In 1982, CBS sold WEEI to Helen Broadcasting, which retained the all-news format. In 1991, the station was sold to the Boston Celtics
, and became a sports station. Upon the change to all-sports, WEEI featured the Andy Moes show and Glenn (Ordway) and Janet (Prensky), a short-lived experiment in bringing a "Bickersons
"-type format to sports radio. Also part of the roster was Boston sports talk pioneer Eddie Andelman
.
WHDH could trace its history back to WEPS, a small radio station in Gloucester, Massachusetts
, founded in 1929 by R.G. Matheison. Much of WEPS' programming consisted of broadcasts to, for, or about fisherman, given Gloucester's status as a major port for the fishing industry.
Within a few years, the station moved to Boston, and took the call letters WHDH. It was a daytime-only station broadcasting at 830 kilocycles (leaving the air at local sunset in Denver, about two hours after sunset in Boston, to protect the signal of KOA
in the Colorado capitol city), and broadened its programming, but still included some reports for fishermen.
The 1941 North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
moved WHDH to 850 kilocycles, and allowed the station to broadcast on a fulltime basis. WHDH was able to increase power to 5,000 watts and go fulltime , but not without protests from KOA. For two years, from 1943 until 1945, WHDH was the local affiliate of the Blue Network
, the former "NBC Blue", replacing WBZ
as Blue affiliate.
Shortly after World War II, the Boston Herald-Traveler
newspaper purchased WHDH, by this time again an independent station. In 1948, the station moved its transmitter site from Saugus
, to Needham
, west of Boston, where the station would be able to increase power to 50,000 watts with a directional signal aimed east to protect KOA and other stations on 850.
While not first in Boston to adopt a popular music and disc jockey format with hourly newscasts (WORL
was the first), a combination of a powerful signal, top-notch personalities like Ray Dorey, Fred B. Cole, Bob Clayton, Norm Nathan, news anchor John Day, and a mid-morning woman's show hosted by Christine (also billing herself as Chris) Evans; along with live coverage of Boston Red Sox
baseball, Boston Bruins
hockey, and Boston Celtics
baskletball, made WHDH one of the most popular stations in the region in the post-World War II era. In the late 1950s, Jess Cain joined the station, first co-hosting the morning show with Dorey, then as solo host when Dorey moved pover to television. Cain would remain at WHDH for 34 years. By the early 1960s, Hank Forbes and Alan Dary had joined Cain, Clayton, and Nathan on the WHDH staff.
In the 1950s and 1960s, WHDH, along with WBZ, had the strongest lineup of personality disc jockeys in Boston radio history. While the two stations for the most part programmed different kinds of music, both had very talented air personalities who were "household names" in the Boston area.
Perhaps the station's best-known on-air personalities outside of Boston were the legendary comedy team of Bob and Ray
, who did a comedy-and-records show at WHDH before they departed for national fame in New York City
. The station employed a popular MOR (what today would be called "adult standards") music format featuring artists like Frank Sinatra
, Patti Page
, Duke Ellington
, Johnny Mathis
, Nat "King" Cole, Ray Charles
, Artie Shaw
, Pat Boone
, Perry Como
, Connie Francis
, Bobby Vinton
, and others. By the end of the 1960s, the station also played soft rock songs by artists like Elvis Presley
, Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson
, Beatles, Buddy Holly
, Petula Clark
, Fifth Dimension, and others. The station also had specialty shows playing jazz
and big band
music.
While WHDH was never "all sports," it was easily Boston's top sports station during the 1950s through the end of the 1960s. It called itself "The Voice of Sports". For 30 consecutive years (1946–75), WHDH was the flagship station of the Boston Red Sox
, featuring play-by-play announcers such as Jim Britt
, Ford C. Frick Award
-winning Curt Gowdy
, Ken Coleman
and Ned Martin
. From 1946 through 1949, it also broadcast the Boston Braves
, the city's National League
baseball club (the Red Sox and Braves then only broadcast home games, thus the teams shared the same announcers and did not have schedule conflicts). After the Braves left WHDH for WNAC (now WRKO
) in 1950, WHDH began broadcasting all Red Sox games, home and away.
During the winter months, WHDH and WHDH-FM (94.5 FM, now WJMN
) were the flagship stations of the Boston Celtics
of the National Basketball Association
and the Boston Bruins
of the National Hockey League
, employing such legendary announcers as Johnny Most
, Fred Cusick
and Bob Wilson. For a single season, Jim Lang was the announcer for Bruins games and brought unprecedented candor to the job. In the mid- and late 1960s, when both the Bruins and Celtics played, one of the teams (usually the one playing at home) was heard on AM; while the other (usually the team playing on the road) was heard on FM. WHDH also was the radio home of Harvard University
football in the autumn, including 1968, the year of Harvard's famous 29-29 "win" against arch-rival Yale, considered one of the greatest college-football games ever played.
In addition, the original WHDH-TV
(channel 5) was the flagship station of the Red Sox TV network from 1958 through 1971, while WHDH radio produced an early weekly sports roundtable show called The Voice of Sports, featuring sportswriters from the co-owned Herald-Traveler, various figures from Major League Baseball, and longtime WHDH-TV/WCVB-TV sports director Don Gillis. No calls were taken during the show, which featured lively debate among the writers. In 1972–73, The Voice of Sports became a daily, afternoon drive telephone-talk program hosted by longtime Boston sportscaster Leo Egan
, but it failed to take root.
WHDH began to lose its valuable properties in 1969, when the Bruins and Celtics were wooed away by WBZ. Soon afterward, the Herald-Traveler Corporation's license to operate channel 5 was revoked by the Federal Communications Commission
, and was given to one of the groups of businessmen that challenged its license (Boston Broadcasters); on March 19, 1972, channel 5 became WCVB-TV
(Metromedia
bought that station in 1982 and Fox Television Stations bought Metromedia in 1986, of at which time WCVB was spun-off to the Hearst Corporation
). Stung by the loss of its highly profitable TV station, the Herald-Traveler Corp. was put on the market, and acquired by the Hearst Corporation in June 1972. Less than two years later, WHDH and its FM sister station (by this time called WCOZ) were sold to Blair Radio, a national radio station advertising representative. WHDH then lost the Red Sox after the 1975 regular season; it did not carry their games again until 1983–85. The station's last major sports property was the New England Patriots
during the late 1980s.
By the early 1970s, WHDH evolved into more of an adult contemporary format playing artists such as Dionne Warwick
, Elton John
, James Taylor
, Carpenters, Beatles, Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkle, Kenny Rogers
, Billy Joel
, Carole King
, and even soft songs by rock artists. In a way the station played Top 40 without any hard rock and with more non current product. By the early 1980s, WHDH began to focus even less on music and more on personality, while playing more music and having less talk than rival WBZ. Air talent then consisted of people such as Dave Supple, Tom Kennedy (the DJ, not the game-show host), Jim Sands (who did a popular Saturday-night oldies show), and Tom Doyle (who by the early 1980s was Cain's co-host).
By the mid-1980s, WHDH was moving toward more of a talk format and in 1987 dropped music abruptly; although the station had been playing more music than WBZ, that station would gradually phase out music over the next few more years. During their talk radio days, programs hosted by Larry Glick
(who moved from WBZ in 1987), Avi Nelson, David Brudnoy
(who would later go to WRKO, and finally, to WBZ), among others, were featured.
, whose New England Television owned CBS
affiliate WNEV-TV (channel 7). On March 12, 1990, WNEV's call letters became WHDH-TV
to correspond with WHDH radio. Mugar was hoping to bring back a main competitor to WBZ radio and TV
, with a renewed emphasis on a news and straight talk format with some political programming. Some sports programs remained, but news and talk were main priorities. Among the personalities to arrive in the early 1990s were mostly talents from within NETV, including TV newscaster Ted O'Brien. However, by 1993, NETV & Radio was already in trouble due to increasing debt incurrede by the Channel 7 acquisition. When Mugar announced WHDH-TV was being sold to Sunbeam Television
later that year, there was speculation that WHDH radio would also be sold-off. After WHDH-TV was sold off, the radio station remained the last property under Mugar's company, and remained such for one year. By the following spring, it was announced that WHDH radio would vacate the Boston airwaves entirely, and sell the 850 AM dial position & transmitting facilities to American Radio Systems. WHDH's final broadcast, in August 1994, was the death of a heritage radio station in Boston, but had its void filled by the eventual success of WEEI on 850 AM.
.
With the Red Sox coming to WEEI in 1995, they returned to the 850 kHz frequency.
In 1998, American Radio Systems was acquired by CBS. As a result of the merger, the combined company was forced to sell several of its Boston stations. In late 1998, Entercom
announced plans to acquire WEEI, along with WAAF
, WRKO
, WWTM (now WVEI) and WEGQ (now WEEI-FM
), from CBS for $140 million.
In April 2005, WEEI began streaming its broadcasts live online by way of a free membership at its official website. The exception is for Red Sox and Celtics games, as these are streamed only through the team and league websites as part of subscription packages.
WEEI was awarded its first Marconi Award
in September 2006 for sports station of the year. WEEI was also named large market station of the year.
The station had an ongoing feud with The Boston Globe
. In 1999, the Globe's executive sports editor, Don Skwar, banned the newspaper's sports writers from appearing on the station's afternoon The Big Show after columnist Ron Borges
used a racial slur while on the air in reference to New York Yankees
pitcher Hideki Irabu
. Two weeks later, the ban was extended to WEEI's Dennis & Callahan morning show. WEEI retaliated by banning Globe staffers from all its shows. Nevertheless, WEEI host Michael Holley is a former Globe columnist. The ban came to an end on August 4, 2009, when Bob Ryan
appeared on The Big Show, with host Glenn Ordway stating that "we have all come to our senses."
In September 2009 there was speculation that WEEI could move to one of Entercom's properties on the FM dial (such as the 93.7 FM facility occupied by WMKK), with the AM 850 signal switching to ESPN Radio (which was being dropped by WAMG
) and some "overflow" play by play (for example, the Celtics would be on AM while the Red Sox were on FM). While such a move never took place, Entercom announced on October 7, 2009 that starting on November 2, 2009, WEEI would once again carry the ESPN Radio affiliation. WEEI began to carry ESPN Radio's overnight programming, including All Night with Jason Smith from 1–5 a.m. and some weekend programming. In addition, WEEI began to simulcast on 93.7 FM, renamed WEEI-FM
, on September 12, 2011.
During game broadcasts, WEEI is also made available through the Major League Baseball
web site (for a fee), and (for home games) on XM Satellite Radio
(as part of the standard service) for those outside the Boston listening area. The entire 162-game Red Sox schedule also may be heard on an extensive radio network throughout the 6 New England
states. Many of the smaller stations have always aired the Red Sox Network regardless of what Boston station originated those broadcasts.
The Boston Red Sox recently signed a 10 year radio deal with sister WRKO
(also owned by Entercom) for the broadcast rights for the 2007 through 2016 seasons, worth a reportedly $13 million a season. About 30 Red Sox games a season, including all games on Wednesday nights and all weekly day games were heard on WEEI as part of the deal.
As of August 26, 2009, WEEI once again became the flagship station for the Red Sox. This occurred two weeks after the debut of competitor WBZ-FM "The Sports Hub" and was seen as a reaction, focusing all Red Sox games on one station, WEEI, rather than splitting them between the station and WRKO.
During a rain delay, Jon Risch hosts a show called "Sox Talk", where he takes calls and texts while the rain delay is in effect.
hosts the Celtics Tonight pregame show before each Celtics game on WEEI in addition to providing the play by play for the game. Cedric Maxwell
provides color commentary during the broadcast. The broadcast duo calls themselves "Grande and Max." Currently, John Ryder hosts the halftime show and the Celtics Rewind show following the game.
(NESN) and WEEI have teamed up to raise money for the Jimmy Fund by holding a Radio-Telethon. For two days every August the event is simulcast on WEEI and NESN. WEEI radio personalities conduct auctions and interviews with cancer patients and survivors, doctors, athletes and celebrities. Since 2002, this event has raised around $17 million for the Jimmy Fund and has received donations from all 50 states.
region carry most of WEEI's local programming. The stations are branded as "Sports Radio WEEI", and many carry call letters similar to the Boston flagship station.
WEEI's sports play-by-play broadcasts are distributed separately, though some games originated by WEEI may air on some of the other affiliated stations by way of a separate deal. Some of the stations have picked up play-by-play rights in concert with WEEI after their conversion to the simulcast. Most stations carry either ESPN Radio or Fox Sports Radio
when the flagship station carries games or when WEEI is not airing local programming.
Entercom's initial plan to syndicate WEEI programming was to place it on stations owned by Nassau Broadcasting
in 13 more markets, but the deal between the two companies ended up collapsing. The first of WEEI's eventual affiliates began airing its programming in September 2008. WPPI, one of the first affiliates, initially carried WEEI programming (as WGEI) from September 2008 until April 2009, when it began simulcasting talk
station WLOB
; it rejoined the network in August 2011. Additionally, WAEI (910 AM and 97.1 FM) in Bangor, Maine
carried WEEI programming from September 2008 until January 2010, when Blueberry Broadcasting terminated its affiliation following a breach-of-contract dispute.
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
radio station in Boston, Massachusetts
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, that broadcasts on 850 kHz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts
Needham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, and is owned by Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts. The station is simulcast on WEEI-FM
WEEI-FM
WVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications...
(93.7 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
), and its local programming is heard on the "WEEI Sports Radio Network" that broadcasts throughout the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region.
WEEI is the flagship station of the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network. It is also the flagship station of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, beginning with the 2007–2008 season. In addition, WEEI broadcasts games of the Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
football and basketball teams in season. When local programming is not on WEEI, usually ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
will air. The station had been an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
from 2005 until November 2009, and was that network's highest rated station; WEEI had a prior stint as the ESPN Radio affiliate before switching to Fox.
The station is popular with fans of the Boston professional sports
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
teams, especially the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. WEEI calls itself "the #1 rated sports radio talk station in America," in terms of the percentage of the area radio listening audience tuned-in. WEEI isn't alone in providing 24/7 sports radio in Boston; local competition includes WBZ-FM
WBZ-FM
WBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their...
"98.5 The Sports Hub."
WEEI's seven decades at 590 kHz
WEEI traces its roots to its original owner, Edison Electric IlluminatingEdison Illuminating Company
The Edison Illuminating Company was established by Thomas Edison on December 17, 1880, to construct electrical generating stations, initially in New York City...
(hence the call letters). Edison placed the station on the air on 590 kHz in 1924. In 1926, WEEI became a charter member of the NBC Red Network
NBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
and remained an NBC Red affiliate until 1937, when the station was purchased by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and became an affiliate of that network. Until 1960, WEEI, through CBS Radio
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
, was the last Boston radio station to devote a large amount of its program schedule to "traditional" network radio programming of daytime soap operas, comedy shows, variety shows, and similar fare.
For the remainder of the 1960s, WEEI was New England's first talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station and home of such hosts as Howard Nelson, Jim Westover and of Paul Benzaquin, one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in Boston history. In the 1960s, the daily WEEIdea feature presented cleaning and cooking tips from housewives.
By May 1972, WEEI had six full days of call-in talk programming. On weekdays, morning drive time from 6 am to 10 am was hosted by newsman Len Lawrence (Leonard Libman), followed by Ellen Kimball from 10 am to 2 pm. Kimball was hired from WIOD
WIOD
WIOD is a news/talk formatted radio station in Miami, Florida. For over 80 years, it has been a major information station in South Florida...
in Miami, where she had replaced broadcaster Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
after he was arrested on December 20, 1971. Ellen is believed to be one of the first women to host a daily, four-hour, call-in talk show, six days a week. Originally called Boston Forum with Ellen Kimball, the name was eventually changed to The Ellen Kimball Show. Later, newsman Ben Farnsworth took over the Saturday call-in segment from 10 am to 2 pm. Paul Benzaquin handled 2 pm to 6 pm weekdays.
Although its talk radio format was popular, the station went all-news in 1974, following the lead of several other CBS-owned stations. At first, WEEI was not 24/7 all-news; the station's late-night schedule featured the CBS Radio Mystery Theater
CBS Radio Mystery Theater
CBS Radio Mystery Theater was a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS affiliates from 1974 to 1982....
, an attempt to revive radio drama, as well as a local overnight talk show with Bruce Lee (no relation to the martial-arts actor), a holdover from the previous format. But by the end of the 1970s, WEEI was all-news around the clock.
On December 27, 1977, while engaged in traffic reporting, a Hughes 269B helicopter operated by WEEI lost power and crashed into an apartment building in Quincy
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
while attempting an emergency landing, killing pilot Richard Banks and reporter Chip Whitmore. A fire developed in the building following the crash.
In 1982, CBS sold WEEI to Helen Broadcasting, which retained the all-news format. In 1991, the station was sold to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, and became a sports station. Upon the change to all-sports, WEEI featured the Andy Moes show and Glenn (Ordway) and Janet (Prensky), a short-lived experiment in bringing a "Bickersons
The Bickersons
The Bickersons was a radio comedy sketch series that began in 1946 on NBC, moving the following year to CBS where it continued until 1951...
"-type format to sports radio. Also part of the roster was Boston sports talk pioneer Eddie Andelman
Eddie Andelman
Eddie Andelman is an American sports radio talk show host. He has worked over 40 years in sports talk radio in Boston and has appeared on over 100 sports stations all over the country.- Career :...
.
WHDH at 850 kHz
The original occupant of 850 kHz (and until 1941, 830 kilohertz), WHDH, had a long history.WHDH could trace its history back to WEPS, a small radio station in Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
, founded in 1929 by R.G. Matheison. Much of WEPS' programming consisted of broadcasts to, for, or about fisherman, given Gloucester's status as a major port for the fishing industry.
Within a few years, the station moved to Boston, and took the call letters WHDH. It was a daytime-only station broadcasting at 830 kilocycles (leaving the air at local sunset in Denver, about two hours after sunset in Boston, to protect the signal of KOA
KOA (AM)
KOA is a clear channel, news/talk radio station serving the Denver-Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado markets. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is nicknamed "the Blowtorch of the West" for its 50,000 watt signal.KOA was originally owned by General Electric and began...
in the Colorado capitol city), and broadened its programming, but still included some reports for fishermen.
The 1941 North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as NARBA, is a treaty that took effect in March 1941 and set out the bandplan and interference rules for mediumwave AM broadcasting in North America. Although mostly replaced by other agreements in the 1980s, the basic bandplan...
moved WHDH to 850 kilocycles, and allowed the station to broadcast on a fulltime basis. WHDH was able to increase power to 5,000 watts and go fulltime , but not without protests from KOA. For two years, from 1943 until 1945, WHDH was the local affiliate of the Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
, the former "NBC Blue", replacing WBZ
WBZ (AM)
WBZ is the call sign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts owned by CBS Radio, itself owned by the CBS Corporation. Originally based in and broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, WBZ was the first commercial radio station in the United States...
as Blue affiliate.
Shortly after World War II, the Boston Herald-Traveler
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
newspaper purchased WHDH, by this time again an independent station. In 1948, the station moved its transmitter site from Saugus
Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
, to Needham
Needham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, west of Boston, where the station would be able to increase power to 50,000 watts with a directional signal aimed east to protect KOA and other stations on 850.
While not first in Boston to adopt a popular music and disc jockey format with hourly newscasts (WORL
WROL
-External links:*...
was the first), a combination of a powerful signal, top-notch personalities like Ray Dorey, Fred B. Cole, Bob Clayton, Norm Nathan, news anchor John Day, and a mid-morning woman's show hosted by Christine (also billing herself as Chris) Evans; along with live coverage of Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
baseball, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
hockey, and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
baskletball, made WHDH one of the most popular stations in the region in the post-World War II era. In the late 1950s, Jess Cain joined the station, first co-hosting the morning show with Dorey, then as solo host when Dorey moved pover to television. Cain would remain at WHDH for 34 years. By the early 1960s, Hank Forbes and Alan Dary had joined Cain, Clayton, and Nathan on the WHDH staff.
In the 1950s and 1960s, WHDH, along with WBZ, had the strongest lineup of personality disc jockeys in Boston radio history. While the two stations for the most part programmed different kinds of music, both had very talented air personalities who were "household names" in the Boston area.
Perhaps the station's best-known on-air personalities outside of Boston were the legendary comedy team of Bob and Ray
Bob and Ray
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding were an American comedy team whose career spanned five decades. Their format was typically to satirize the medium in which they were performing, such as conducting radio or television interviews, with off-the-wall dialogue presented in a generally deadpan style as...
, who did a comedy-and-records show at WHDH before they departed for national fame in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The station employed a popular MOR (what today would be called "adult standards") music format featuring artists like Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Patti Page
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Nat "King" Cole, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
, Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
, Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
, Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
, and others. By the end of the 1960s, the station also played soft rock songs by artists like Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
, Beatles, Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
, Fifth Dimension, and others. The station also had specialty shows playing jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music.
While WHDH was never "all sports," it was easily Boston's top sports station during the 1950s through the end of the 1960s. It called itself "The Voice of Sports". For 30 consecutive years (1946–75), WHDH was the flagship station of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, featuring play-by-play announcers such as Jim Britt
Jim Britt
Jim Britt was an American sportscaster who broadcast Major League Baseball games in Boston, Massachusetts, and Cleveland, Ohio, during the 1940s and 1950s...
, Ford C. Frick Award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
-winning Curt Gowdy
Curt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
, Ken Coleman
Ken Coleman
Kenneth R. Coleman was an American radio and television sportscaster for 38 years . He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts....
and Ned Martin
Ned Martin
Edwin Martin was an American sportscaster, known primarily as a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox from to...
. From 1946 through 1949, it also broadcast the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, the city's National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
baseball club (the Red Sox and Braves then only broadcast home games, thus the teams shared the same announcers and did not have schedule conflicts). After the Braves left WHDH for WNAC (now WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
) in 1950, WHDH began broadcasting all Red Sox games, home and away.
During the winter months, WHDH and WHDH-FM (94.5 FM, now WJMN
WJMN (FM)
WJMN is a successful Rhythmic Top 40 radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, USA, under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications. Its current slogan is "Hip Hop and Today's Hit Music!" and can be heard as far north as the White Mountains under good conditions, and in portions of...
) were the flagship stations of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, employing such legendary announcers as Johnny Most
Johnny Most
John M. "Johnny" Most was an American sports announcer, known primarily as the raspy radio voice of the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1953 to 1990....
, Fred Cusick
Fred Cusick
Frederick Michael Cusick was an American ice hockey broadcaster who served as the Boston Bruins play-by-play announcer from 1971 until 1997 on WSBK-TV in Boston, and from 1984 until 1995 on NESN...
and Bob Wilson. For a single season, Jim Lang was the announcer for Bruins games and brought unprecedented candor to the job. In the mid- and late 1960s, when both the Bruins and Celtics played, one of the teams (usually the one playing at home) was heard on AM; while the other (usually the team playing on the road) was heard on FM. WHDH also was the radio home of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
football in the autumn, including 1968, the year of Harvard's famous 29-29 "win" against arch-rival Yale, considered one of the greatest college-football games ever played.
In addition, the original WHDH-TV
WHDH-TV (defunct)
WHDH-TV was the callsign of the first station to use channel 5 in Boston. The station ceased operations March 18, 1972, after the station lost its license. The channel, but not the license, was taken over by WCVB-TV the following morning: March 19, 1972. It is of no relation to either WCVB or...
(channel 5) was the flagship station of the Red Sox TV network from 1958 through 1971, while WHDH radio produced an early weekly sports roundtable show called The Voice of Sports, featuring sportswriters from the co-owned Herald-Traveler, various figures from Major League Baseball, and longtime WHDH-TV/WCVB-TV sports director Don Gillis. No calls were taken during the show, which featured lively debate among the writers. In 1972–73, The Voice of Sports became a daily, afternoon drive telephone-talk program hosted by longtime Boston sportscaster Leo Egan
Leo Egan
Leo Egan was a Boston sportscaster.A native of Buffalo, New York, Egan replaced Ted Husing as the announcer for Harvard football games after Husing was banned for referring to Harvard quarterback Barry Wood as putrid...
, but it failed to take root.
WHDH began to lose its valuable properties in 1969, when the Bruins and Celtics were wooed away by WBZ. Soon afterward, the Herald-Traveler Corporation's license to operate channel 5 was revoked by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, and was given to one of the groups of businessmen that challenged its license (Boston Broadcasters); on March 19, 1972, channel 5 became WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
(Metromedia
Metromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
bought that station in 1982 and Fox Television Stations bought Metromedia in 1986, of at which time WCVB was spun-off to the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
). Stung by the loss of its highly profitable TV station, the Herald-Traveler Corp. was put on the market, and acquired by the Hearst Corporation in June 1972. Less than two years later, WHDH and its FM sister station (by this time called WCOZ) were sold to Blair Radio, a national radio station advertising representative. WHDH then lost the Red Sox after the 1975 regular season; it did not carry their games again until 1983–85. The station's last major sports property was the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
during the late 1980s.
By the early 1970s, WHDH evolved into more of an adult contemporary format playing artists such as Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, Carpenters, Beatles, Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkle, Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, and even soft songs by rock artists. In a way the station played Top 40 without any hard rock and with more non current product. By the early 1980s, WHDH began to focus even less on music and more on personality, while playing more music and having less talk than rival WBZ. Air talent then consisted of people such as Dave Supple, Tom Kennedy (the DJ, not the game-show host), Jim Sands (who did a popular Saturday-night oldies show), and Tom Doyle (who by the early 1980s was Cain's co-host).
By the mid-1980s, WHDH was moving toward more of a talk format and in 1987 dropped music abruptly; although the station had been playing more music than WBZ, that station would gradually phase out music over the next few more years. During their talk radio days, programs hosted by Larry Glick
Larry Glick
Larry Glick was an American talk radio host, based in Boston, Massachusetts, whose long-running show on WBZ and later WHDH became a New England institution in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s....
(who moved from WBZ in 1987), Avi Nelson, David Brudnoy
David Brudnoy
David Brudnoy was an American talk radio host in Boston from 1976 to 2004. His radio talk show aired on WBZ radio. He was known for espousing his libertarian views on a wide range of political issues, in a manner that was courteous. Thanks to WBZ's wide signal reach, he gained a following from...
(who would later go to WRKO, and finally, to WBZ), among others, were featured.
David Mugar era
On August 7, 1989, WHDH was sold to local businessman David G. MugarDavid G. Mugar
David G. Mugar is an Armenian-American businessman and philanthropist from Belmont, Massachusetts. He is CEO and chairman of Mugar Enterprises. His father, Stephen P. Mugar was the founder of the Star Market supermarket chain, and was also a major Boston-area philanthropist...
, whose New England Television owned CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate WNEV-TV (channel 7). On March 12, 1990, WNEV's call letters became WHDH-TV
WHDH-TV
WHDH, digital channel 42 , is an NBC-affiliated television station in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest NBC station not owned by the network. Owned by Sunbeam Television, WHDH is a sister station to CW affiliate WLVI...
to correspond with WHDH radio. Mugar was hoping to bring back a main competitor to WBZ radio and TV
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
, with a renewed emphasis on a news and straight talk format with some political programming. Some sports programs remained, but news and talk were main priorities. Among the personalities to arrive in the early 1990s were mostly talents from within NETV, including TV newscaster Ted O'Brien. However, by 1993, NETV & Radio was already in trouble due to increasing debt incurrede by the Channel 7 acquisition. When Mugar announced WHDH-TV was being sold to Sunbeam Television
Sunbeam Television
Sunbeam Television Corporation is a broadcasting company based in Miami, Florida, and owns three television stations in the United States.-History:...
later that year, there was speculation that WHDH radio would also be sold-off. After WHDH-TV was sold off, the radio station remained the last property under Mugar's company, and remained such for one year. By the following spring, it was announced that WHDH radio would vacate the Boston airwaves entirely, and sell the 850 AM dial position & transmitting facilities to American Radio Systems. WHDH's final broadcast, in August 1994, was the death of a heritage radio station in Boston, but had its void filled by the eventual success of WEEI on 850 AM.
Sportsradio 850 WEEI
In 1994, WEEI on 590 was acquired by Back Bay Broadcasting, which sold the call letters and all-sports programming of WEEI to American Radio Systems. American Radio Systems placed the WEEI callsign and intellectual property on the 850 kHz frequency that was previously home to WHDH. AM 590 changed its callsign to WBNW, and later became WEZEWEZE
WEZE is an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts on 590 kHz. The station is owned by Salem Communications and airs Religious programming.- History :...
.
With the Red Sox coming to WEEI in 1995, they returned to the 850 kHz frequency.
In 1998, American Radio Systems was acquired by CBS. As a result of the merger, the combined company was forced to sell several of its Boston stations. In late 1998, Entercom
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
announced plans to acquire WEEI, along with WAAF
WAAF (FM)
WAAF is a Boston, Massachusetts, area commercial Album Oriented Rock/Active rock radio station that mixes music that is popular in the modern rock, heavy metal and classic rock genres....
, WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
, WWTM (now WVEI) and WEGQ (now WEEI-FM
WEEI-FM
WVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications...
), from CBS for $140 million.
In April 2005, WEEI began streaming its broadcasts live online by way of a free membership at its official website. The exception is for Red Sox and Celtics games, as these are streamed only through the team and league websites as part of subscription packages.
WEEI was awarded its first Marconi Award
NAB Marconi Radio Awards
The Marconi Radio Awards are presented annually by the National Association of Broadcasters to the top radio stations and on-air personalities in the United States. The awards are named in honor of Guglielmo Marconi, the man generally credited as the "Father of Wireless Telegraphy." NAB member...
in September 2006 for sports station of the year. WEEI was also named large market station of the year.
The station had an ongoing feud with The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
. In 1999, the Globe's executive sports editor, Don Skwar, banned the newspaper's sports writers from appearing on the station's afternoon The Big Show after columnist Ron Borges
Ron Borges
Ron Borges is currently a sportswriter for the Boston Herald. He previously wrote for The Boston Globe, and was a regular guest on Michael Felger's radio show The Mike Felger Show, which aired on 890 ESPN until July 2008. Borges also was a regular contributor to the until 2008...
used a racial slur while on the air in reference to New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
pitcher Hideki Irabu
Hideki Irabu
was a professional baseball player of Okinawan and American mixed ancestry. He played professionally in both Japan and the United States.-Early life:...
. Two weeks later, the ban was extended to WEEI's Dennis & Callahan morning show. WEEI retaliated by banning Globe staffers from all its shows. Nevertheless, WEEI host Michael Holley is a former Globe columnist. The ban came to an end on August 4, 2009, when Bob Ryan
Bob Ryan
Bob Ryan is an American sportswriter for The Boston Globe. He has been described as "the quintessential American sportswriter" and a basketball guru and is well known for his coverage of the sport including his famous stories covering the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. After graduating from Boston...
appeared on The Big Show, with host Glenn Ordway stating that "we have all come to our senses."
In September 2009 there was speculation that WEEI could move to one of Entercom's properties on the FM dial (such as the 93.7 FM facility occupied by WMKK), with the AM 850 signal switching to ESPN Radio (which was being dropped by WAMG
WAMG
WAMG is a radio station in the Boston market licensed to Dedham, Massachusetts. It is owned by Gois Broadcasting. It broadcasts in Spanish, & plays Bachata, Merengue, Salsa and Pop music....
) and some "overflow" play by play (for example, the Celtics would be on AM while the Red Sox were on FM). While such a move never took place, Entercom announced on October 7, 2009 that starting on November 2, 2009, WEEI would once again carry the ESPN Radio affiliation. WEEI began to carry ESPN Radio's overnight programming, including All Night with Jason Smith from 1–5 a.m. and some weekend programming. In addition, WEEI began to simulcast on 93.7 FM, renamed WEEI-FM
WEEI-FM
WVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications...
, on September 12, 2011.
Boston Red Sox
Red Sox broadcasts are a daily feature of the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network slate from March through October. Each broadcast consists of:- "The Pregame Show" is recorded from an air studio inside Fenway Park next to gate C
- "The Inside Pitch", a segment with a member of the local sports journalism establishment;
- (optional) A pre-game interview with the general manager;
- The game intro itself, a compilation of great moments in Red Sox broadcast history;
- The game itself, with Joe CastiglioneJoe CastiglioneJoseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
broadcasting with either Dave O'Brien or Jon RishJon RishJon Rish is an American radio personality.Rish is a radio host for WEEI in Boston. He hosts the Boston Red Sox pre and post game show on the Boston Red Sox Radio Network. Rish has also served in the Red Sox broadcast booth alongside Joe Castiglione since 2008, sharing time with Dale Arnold and Dave...
. Prior to the 2007 season, Castiglione was partnered with long-time co-broadcaster Jerry TrupianoJerry TrupianoJerome Michael "Jerry" Trupiano is an American radio sportscaster and the former color commentator voice of the Boston Red Sox...
. - A post-game interview;
- Post-game statistics (called "totals");
- A highlights clip for those who missed the early part of the game;
- A roundup of out of town scores;
- and a signoff tag.
During game broadcasts, WEEI is also made available through the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
web site (for a fee), and (for home games) on XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
(as part of the standard service) for those outside the Boston listening area. The entire 162-game Red Sox schedule also may be heard on an extensive radio network throughout the 6 New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states. Many of the smaller stations have always aired the Red Sox Network regardless of what Boston station originated those broadcasts.
The Boston Red Sox recently signed a 10 year radio deal with sister WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
(also owned by Entercom) for the broadcast rights for the 2007 through 2016 seasons, worth a reportedly $13 million a season. About 30 Red Sox games a season, including all games on Wednesday nights and all weekly day games were heard on WEEI as part of the deal.
As of August 26, 2009, WEEI once again became the flagship station for the Red Sox. This occurred two weeks after the debut of competitor WBZ-FM "The Sports Hub" and was seen as a reaction, focusing all Red Sox games on one station, WEEI, rather than splitting them between the station and WRKO.
During a rain delay, Jon Risch hosts a show called "Sox Talk", where he takes calls and texts while the rain delay is in effect.
Boston Celtics
Sean GrandeSean Grande
Sean David Grande is an American television and radio sportscaster.Grande provides play-by-play coverage alongside analyst Cedric Maxwell for all Boston Celtics games. The duo is known as “Grande and Max.” As of the 2008-2009 season, only legendary Celtic voices Johnny Most and Mike Gorman have...
hosts the Celtics Tonight pregame show before each Celtics game on WEEI in addition to providing the play by play for the game. Cedric Maxwell
Cedric Maxwell
Cedric Bryan Maxwell is a retired American professional basketball player now in radio broadcasting. Nicknamed "Cornbread", he played 11 seasons in the NBA, and played a key role in two championships with the Boston Celtics.-College career:Maxwell was a star forward/center for the Charlotte 49ers...
provides color commentary during the broadcast. The broadcast duo calls themselves "Grande and Max." Currently, John Ryder hosts the halftime show and the Celtics Rewind show following the game.
Daily shows
- Dennis and Callahan — Featuring hosts John DennisJohn Dennis (talk show host)John Dennis is an American radio talk show host for WEEI, known for the Dennis and Callahan show.-Biography:...
, Gerry CallahanGerry CallahanDennis and Callahan is an American morning radio show on WEEI, a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. On November 16, 2010, a live three-hour simulcast began airing on NESN from 6-9AM Eastern time each weekday. The show combines talk of sports and politics, along with current or "water...
, flashboy Jon Meterparel, executive producer Steve "Chach" Ciaccio and producer Ian "Iggy" Meropol. Airs 6:00 am to 10:00 am on weekdays. It has featured a variety of special guests during different parts of the year including Curt SchillingCurt SchillingCurtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
every Tuesday and Red Sox CEO Larry LucchinoLarry LucchinoLawrence Lucchino, is the current President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, and a member of John W...
every Thursday during the baseball season, as well as Tom BradyTom BradyThomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
every Monday during football season. The show also simulcast from 6:00 am to 9:00 on NESN.
- Mut and Merloni — Featuring hosts Mike Mutnansky and Former MLB utility man, Lou Merloni. The producer of the show is Joe Zarbano and Mike Berger. Plays from 10:00 am–2:00 pm. This show replaced Dale and Holley, when Holley moved to the Big Show.
- The Big ShowThe Big Show (sports radio show)The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway and former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley...
— Featuring hosts "the Big O" Glenn OrdwayGlenn OrdwayGlenn Ordway is an American sports radio and television personality based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. He is a former commentator for the Boston Celtics radio broadcasts...
and Michael Holley. Until February 2011, Ordway was the only permanent host of the show, which took on a roundtable-type format with different co-hosts. Holley joined the show in February 2011 as a full-time host. The Whiner Line closes every show and is generally the highest-rated segment. The Big Show plays from 2:00 pm–6:00 pm. - Planet MikeyPlanet MikeyPlanet Mikey is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 kHz AM. The show was officially announced on December 15, 2005 and runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. The host is Mike Adams, an experienced Boston sports talk show host...
— Featuring host Mike AdamsPlanet MikeyPlanet Mikey is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 kHz AM. The show was officially announced on December 15, 2005 and runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. The host is Mike Adams, an experienced Boston sports talk show host...
and flashboy John Ryder. Plays from 6:00 pm–11:00 pm A Regular co-host on the show is Lenny Megliola from The MetroWest Daily News. Took the place of Ted Nation hosted by Ted Sarandis in 2005. - Red Sox Review — Featuring host John Ryder. Program follows Planet Mikey on weekday nights (11:00 pm–1:00 am) when a Sox game is featured. During weekends Red Sox Review immediately follows the Red Sox postgame show.
Weekend shows
- Butch Stearns — Former sports anchor Butch StearnsButch StearnsButch Stearns is an American television and radio personality. He is a former sports anchor for WFXT and radio host for WEEI, both located in Boston, Massachusetts.-Television:...
regularly hosts a Saturday afternoon show, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. - NFL Sunday — Runs on Sundays from 9:00 am to noon during football season. The show is hosted by Dale ArnoldDale ArnoldDale Arnold is a New England sportscaster who hosts Boston Bruins broadcasts on NESN. He is formerly the co-host of a popular midday sports talk radio show on WEEI and formerly the Bruins' play-by-play announcer on NESN...
and Michael HolleyMichael HolleyMichael Holley is an American television and radio sports commentator, sports reporter and author. He formerly wrote columns for the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, The Plain Dealer, and Akron Beacon Journal.-Career:...
and co-hosted by Christian FauriaChristian FauriaChristian Ashley Fauria is a retired American football tight end.-Early life:Fauria attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California and lettered in football, track, and once in basketball...
, Christopher Price and Troy BrownTroy BrownTroy Fitzgerald Brown is a former NFL wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall...
. - Real Postgame Show — Hosted by former NFL stars, Steve DeOssieSteve DeOssieSteven Leonard DeOssie is a former American football linebacker and long snapper. DeOssie played college football at Boston College, and went on to play in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the New England Patriots...
and Fred SmerlasFred SmerlasFrederic Charles Smerlas is a former American football defensive lineman who was a 5-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots.Smerlas, of Greek-American descent, graduated from Waltham High School in...
. Runs after each Patriot game during the NFL season. - Mustard and Johnson — Hosted by Craig Mustard and Larry Johnson. The show was cancelled in 2008 but was renewed and the schedule will vary from week to week. The show is also nicknamed "Yankee Talk" because of the large number of Yankee fans that call in to the show.
- Sports Saturday" — Hosted by Planet Mikey flashboy John Ryder, along with Rob Bradford and Kirk Minihane. After holding a "Mr. Flash" contest, it was determined that Dan Steven would do the sports flashes for the show. Airs Saturdays from 9am to noon.
Former shows
- Andy Moes Show (September 3, 1991–September 1, 1992) — WEEI's first morning show following its switch to an all-sports format. It was hosted by Andy Moes, former co-host of the Joe and Andy Show on WROR-FMWROR-FMWROR-FM is a radio station licensed to Framingham, Massachusetts. It broadcasts on 105.7 MHz and serves the Boston market. The station offers a classic hits format, with a timespan of the '60s, '70s and '80s...
. The show was cancelled after one year due to low ratings. - Doyle and Mustard Show (September 1992–July 1993) — Replaced The Andy Moes Show as WEEI's morning program. It was hosted by veteran radio personalities Craig Mustard and Tom Doyle. It was replaced by the syndicated Imus in the MorningImus in the MorningImus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
in July 1993. - The Janet and Glenn Show/The Glenn Ordway Show (September 3, 1991–June 25, 1993) — 1-4 pm show created as part of WEEI's switch to an all-sports format. Co-hosted by then-Celtics announcer Glenn Ordway and public relations executive Janet Prensky. Prensky was fired by WEEI on September 4, 1992 and Ordway hosted the show solo until June 25, 1993.
- The Craig Mustard Show (June 28, 1993–August 1994) — Replaced The Glenn Ordway Show as WEEI's midday talk-show. Show ended after Mustard's firing from WEEI in August 1994.
- Ted Nation (1992–September 2005) — Aired weekdays 7 pmto midnight. Hosted by then-Boston College Eagles basketball announcer Ted SarandisTed SarandisTed Sarandis is a sports radio personality in Boston. Sarandis, who lives in Winthrop, is best remembered for being the host of the Ted Nation show that was broadcast from 7 PM to midnight weekdays on Boston sports radio station WEEI from 1992 until September 2005...
. - Dale and Holley — Featuring hosts Dale ArnoldDale ArnoldDale Arnold is a New England sportscaster who hosts Boston Bruins broadcasts on NESN. He is formerly the co-host of a popular midday sports talk radio show on WEEI and formerly the Bruins' play-by-play announcer on NESN...
, Michael HolleyMichael HolleyMichael Holley is an American television and radio sports commentator, sports reporter and author. He formerly wrote columns for the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, The Plain Dealer, and Akron Beacon Journal.-Career:...
, producer James Stewart, nicknamed "Big Game James". Plays 10:00 am–2:00 pm on weekdays. Red Sox manager Terry Francona is a weekly guest during baseball season. Holley replaced Bob Neumeier in 2005 and the show was renamed Dale and Holley from Dale and Neumy. The final Dale and Holley show aired on February 23, 2011. - The Baseball Show (formerly Red Sox Baseball Today) — Ran 9 am-noon on Saturday. Up until 2008, Steve BuckleySteve Buckley (journalist)Steve Buckley is an Irish American journalist. He has been a regular columnist with the Boston Herald since 1995, contributing to the paper's Sports section. His columns often use historical perspective drawn from a diverse variety of sources. He joined Boston Sports radio station WEEI in 1993 and...
of the Boston Herald and Sean McAdamSean McAdam (journalist)Sean McAdam is a sports writer for FoxSports.com, CSNNE.com, and the Boston Herald and a former writer for The Providence Journal and ESPN.com...
of The Providence JournalThe Providence JournalThe Providence Journal, nicknamed the ProJo, is a daily newspaper serving the metropolitan area of Providence, Rhode Island and is the largest newspaper in Rhode Island. The newspaper, first published in 1829 and the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States, was purchased...
served as co-hosts. In 2008, Buckley and McAdam alternated weeks co-hosting with Mike AdamsPlanet MikeyPlanet Mikey is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 kHz AM. The show was officially announced on December 15, 2005 and runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. The host is Mike Adams, an experienced Boston sports talk show host...
. In 2009, the show began simulcasting on Comcast SportsNet New England with Mike FelgerMichael FelgerMichael "Mike" Felger is a television sports reporter and anchorman for Comcast SportsNet New England. He also co-hosts an afternoon sports radio talk with The Boston Globe online columnist Tony Massarotti on WBZ-FM "98.5 The Sports Hub" in Boston....
hosting with analysts Lou MerloniLou MerloniLouis William "Lou" Merloni is an American radio personality and a former Major League Baseball player. Merloni was scouted by hall of fame scout 'Buzz' Bowers, and played for his hometown Boston Red Sox from -...
, Sean McAdam, and Steve Buckley. Greg DickersonGreg DickersonGreg Dickerson is a Boston sportscaster currently serving as the Boston Celtics sideline reporter and host of The Baseball Show for Comcast SportsNet New England.Dickerson's career began in 1995 at WWTM in Worcester, Massachusetts and WBZ radio in Boston...
replaced Felger in July 2009 following Felger's move to WBZ-FM. WEEI dropped The Baseball Show following the 2010 season; it will continue to air on Comcast SportsNet.
Hosts
- Glenn OrdwayGlenn OrdwayGlenn Ordway is an American sports radio and television personality based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. He is a former commentator for the Boston Celtics radio broadcasts...
– The Big Show - Gerry CallahanGerry CallahanDennis and Callahan is an American morning radio show on WEEI, a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. On November 16, 2010, a live three-hour simulcast began airing on NESN from 6-9AM Eastern time each weekday. The show combines talk of sports and politics, along with current or "water...
– Dennis and Callahan - John DennisJohn Dennis (talk show host)John Dennis is an American radio talk show host for WEEI, known for the Dennis and Callahan show.-Biography:...
– Dennis and Callahan - Michael HolleyMichael HolleyMichael Holley is an American television and radio sports commentator, sports reporter and author. He formerly wrote columns for the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, The Plain Dealer, and Akron Beacon Journal.-Career:...
– The Big Show - Dale ArnoldDale ArnoldDale Arnold is a New England sportscaster who hosts Boston Bruins broadcasts on NESN. He is formerly the co-host of a popular midday sports talk radio show on WEEI and formerly the Bruins' play-by-play announcer on NESN...
– Weekend/Fill-in and Red Sox play-by-play - Mike AdamsPlanet MikeyPlanet Mikey is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 kHz AM. The show was officially announced on December 15, 2005 and runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. The host is Mike Adams, an experienced Boston sports talk show host...
– Planet Mikey - Mike Mutnansky – Mut and Merloni
- Rob Bradford – Sports Saturday; Weekend/Fill-in
- Jon RishJon RishJon Rish is an American radio personality.Rish is a radio host for WEEI in Boston. He hosts the Boston Red Sox pre and post game show on the Boston Red Sox Radio Network. Rish has also served in the Red Sox broadcast booth alongside Joe Castiglione since 2008, sharing time with Dale Arnold and Dave...
– Red Sox coverage - Joe CastiglioneJoe CastiglioneJoseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
– Red Sox play-by-play - Dave O'Brien – Red Sox play-by-play
- Butch StearnsButch StearnsButch Stearns is an American television and radio personality. He is a former sports anchor for WFXT and radio host for WEEI, both located in Boston, Massachusetts.-Television:...
– Weekend host - Sean GrandeSean GrandeSean David Grande is an American television and radio sportscaster.Grande provides play-by-play coverage alongside analyst Cedric Maxwell for all Boston Celtics games. The duo is known as “Grande and Max.” As of the 2008-2009 season, only legendary Celtic voices Johnny Most and Mike Gorman have...
– Celtics play-by-play - Cedric MaxwellCedric MaxwellCedric Bryan Maxwell is a retired American professional basketball player now in radio broadcasting. Nicknamed "Cornbread", he played 11 seasons in the NBA, and played a key role in two championships with the Boston Celtics.-College career:Maxwell was a star forward/center for the Charlotte 49ers...
– Celtics color commentator - Lou MerloniLou MerloniLouis William "Lou" Merloni is an American radio personality and a former Major League Baseball player. Merloni was scouted by hall of fame scout 'Buzz' Bowers, and played for his hometown Boston Red Sox from -...
- Mut and Merloni - John RyderJohn RyderJohn Ryder was the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Connor, from 1743 to 1752, and then Archbishop of Tuam, from 1752 to his death in 1775.-Life:...
- Sports Saturday; Planet Mikey - Kirk Minihane - Sports Saturday; Weekend/Fill-in
- Lenny Megliola - Planet Mikey
Flash anchors
The flash anchors provide the sports updates heard at the top of each hour during the day and at the top and bottom of each hour on nights and weekends.- Mikey Adams - The Big Show
- Adam BagniAdam Bagni-College:Bagni is a graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia. While at La Salle, Bagni served as General Manager of WEXP and was the play-by-play voice for the campus radio broadcasts. He was also a writer for The Collegian and the host of "Controversial Opinion" on La Salle...
- Fill-In/Weekend - John Chandler – Fill-In/Weekend
- Rory Duyon – Fill-In/Weekend
- Jack Levangie - Fill-In/Weekend
- Jon Meterparel – Dennis and Callahan
- Mike Riley - Fill-In/Weekend
- John Ryder – Planet Mikey
- John Saucier – Fill-In/Weekend
- Dan Steven – Fill-In/Weekend
- Chris Villani – Mut & Merloni/Weekend
Former staff
- Michael Andelman: SportsRap (1994–1995)
- Fred B. Cole — Carnival of Music host (1946–1967)
- Eddie AndelmanEddie AndelmanEddie Andelman is an American sports radio talk show host. He has worked over 40 years in sports talk radio in Boston and has appeared on over 100 sports stations all over the country.- Career :...
: (1991–2001) - Michael FelgerMichael FelgerMichael "Mike" Felger is a television sports reporter and anchorman for Comcast SportsNet New England. He also co-hosts an afternoon sports radio talk with The Boston Globe online columnist Tony Massarotti on WBZ-FM "98.5 The Sports Hub" in Boston....
: former Big Show co-host and fill-in host, now with WBZ-FMWBZ-FMWBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their... - Bob NeumeierBob NeumeierRobin "Bob" Neumeier is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports and Comcast SportsNet New England, specializing in thoroughbred horse racing. Neumeier is originally from Weymouth, Massachusetts and is a 1972 graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in television and...
: Dale & Neumy Show (2002–2005) now broadcasts for NBC SportsNBC SportsNBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others... - Ted SarandisTed SarandisTed Sarandis is a sports radio personality in Boston. Sarandis, who lives in Winthrop, is best remembered for being the host of the Ted Nation show that was broadcast from 7 PM to midnight weekdays on Boston sports radio station WEEI from 1992 until September 2005...
: Ted Nation (1992–2005), - Dave SheaDave Shea (broadcaster)David W. Shea is an Irish-American sportscaster, who is best known as the former ice hockey announcer for Hockey East and the Boston Bruins. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame on November 19, 2008. - Career :...
: co-host on The Big ShowThe Big Show (sports radio show)The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway and former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley...
(1995) - Pete SheppardPete SheppardPete Sheppard is an Italian-American radio host, formerly heard on WEEI 850-AM in Boston. Sheppard, a native of Narragansett, Rhode Island is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island and the Connecticut School of Broadcasting...
: Big Show flashboy and fill-in host (1999–2010) - Jon Wallach: Dale and Holley flashboy, now with WBZ-FMWBZ-FMWBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their...
WEEI/NESN Radio-Telethon
Each year since 2002, New England Sports NetworkNew England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
(NESN) and WEEI have teamed up to raise money for the Jimmy Fund by holding a Radio-Telethon. For two days every August the event is simulcast on WEEI and NESN. WEEI radio personalities conduct auctions and interviews with cancer patients and survivors, doctors, athletes and celebrities. Since 2002, this event has raised around $17 million for the Jimmy Fund and has received donations from all 50 states.
Simulcasts
A number of other stations in the New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region carry most of WEEI's local programming. The stations are branded as "Sports Radio WEEI", and many carry call letters similar to the Boston flagship station.
WEEI's sports play-by-play broadcasts are distributed separately, though some games originated by WEEI may air on some of the other affiliated stations by way of a separate deal. Some of the stations have picked up play-by-play rights in concert with WEEI after their conversion to the simulcast. Most stations carry either ESPN Radio or Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
when the flagship station carries games or when WEEI is not airing local programming.
- WEEI 850 AM, Boston, MassachusettsBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
(co-flagship) - WEEI-FMWEEI-FMWVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications...
93.7 FM, Lawrence, MassachusettsLawrence, MassachusettsLawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
(serves Boston, co-flagship) - WEEYWEEYWTSL is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Hanover, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area...
93.5 FM, Swanzey, New HampshireSwanzey, New HampshireSwanzey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,230 at the 2010 census. In addition to the town center, Swanzey includes the villages of East Swanzey, West Swanzey, North Swanzey, and Westport.-History:...
(serves KeeneKeene, New HampshireKeene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
, also carries Keene-area sports, does not carry Red Sox games or Celtics games) - WEII 96.3 FM, Dennis, MassachusettsDennis, MassachusettsDennis is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,207 at the 2010 census.The town encompasses five distinct villages, each of which has its own post office...
(serves Cape CodCape CodCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
) - WPEI 95.9 FM, Saco, MaineSaco, MaineSaco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems , a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics...
(serves PortlandPortland, MainePortland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
) - WPPIWPPIWXYG is an American radio station intended to serve Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, USA. The station is part of the Tri-County Broadcasting group and the construction permit is held by Herbert M. Hoppe. WXYG recently signed on the air with a classic rock format.-History:This station received its original...
95.5 FM, Topsham, Maine (serves Portland) - WVEI 1440 AM, Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, MassachusettsWorcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
- WVEI-FM 103.7 FM, Westerly, Rhode Island (serves ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
) - WWEIWWEIWWEI is a radio station in Easthampton, Massachusetts, serving Springfield with a sports radio format. The station is owned by Entercom Communications...
105.5 FM, Easthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
(serves SpringfieldSpringfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
)
Entercom's initial plan to syndicate WEEI programming was to place it on stations owned by Nassau Broadcasting
Nassau Broadcasting Partners
Nassau Broadcasting Partners LP is a company based in Princeton, New Jersey that owns radio stations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Nassau's stations, which include both AM and FM frequencies, are located in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey,...
in 13 more markets, but the deal between the two companies ended up collapsing. The first of WEEI's eventual affiliates began airing its programming in September 2008. WPPI, one of the first affiliates, initially carried WEEI programming (as WGEI) from September 2008 until April 2009, when it began simulcasting talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station WLOB
WLOB
WLOB is a news/talk radio station in the Portland, Maine area. The current owner is Atlantic Coast Radio. In the 1960's McGavern/Guild Media NYC owned WLOB AM 1310/FM 98 as Atlantic States Industries Div...
; it rejoined the network in August 2011. Additionally, WAEI (910 AM and 97.1 FM) in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
carried WEEI programming from September 2008 until January 2010, when Blueberry Broadcasting terminated its affiliation following a breach-of-contract dispute.
Quotes
- "HavlicekJohn HavlicekJohn J. "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons....
Stole The Ball!" — Johnny MostJohnny MostJohn M. "Johnny" Most was an American sports announcer, known primarily as the raspy radio voice of the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1953 to 1990....
's description of the play that allowed the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
to win Game 7 of the 1965 National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
Eastern Conference Finals; allowing the Celtics to keep their streak of NBA championships alive (station was WHDH). - "It's All Over! It's All Over! The Celtics Are Again NBA Champions!" — Most's frequently-used call when the Celtics won the NBA title; the station (as WHDH) carried the Celtics during their first ten NBA championship seasons, including eight (1959–66) in a row.
- "The pitch is looped towards shortstopShortstopShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. PetrocelliRico PetrocelliAmerico Peter "Rico" Petrocelli is an American retired baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career in the American League with the Boston Red Sox...
's back. He's got it! The Red Sox win! And there's pandemonium on the field! Listen!" — Ned MartinNed MartinEdwin Martin was an American sportscaster, known primarily as a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox from to...
's call of the final out of the 1967 Boston Red Sox "Impossible Dream" regular season (station was WHDH) - "You're just in time for the ballgame; you're just in time for excitement and fun. WHDH has reserved your place; so glad you could make it, so glad that you've come! Here's Ken ColemanKen ColemanKenneth R. Coleman was an American radio and television sportscaster for 38 years . He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts....
standing by -- the Voice of the Red Sox, a real nice guy. You're just in time -- for the ballgame; you're just in time for excitement and fun. All the play-by-play is brought to you by, by the Voice of Sports on 85! WHDH...WHDH...Here's Ken!"-Jingle played before each Red Sox game ca. 1973 (station was WHDH) - "The Red Sox win the pennant! They have beaten the Oakland A'sOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
three in a row!" — Martin's call of the final out of the 1975 American League Championship Series1975 American League Championship Series-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsBoston Red Sox starter Luis Tiant allowed just one run on three hits to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 7–1, in the ALCS opener....
(station was WHDH) - "The 1-0 pitch. Swing and ground ball to second base. Pokey Reese has it. He throws to first and the Red Sox have won the American League pennant! The Boston Red Sox have pulled the greatest victory in team history!"- Joe CastiglioneJoe CastiglioneJoseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
calling the 2004 American League Championship Series2004 American League Championship SeriesThe 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series to decide the American League champion for the 2004 season. It was played between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, at Fenway Park and the original Yankee Stadium, from October 12 to October 20, 2004...
in which the Red Sox came back from a three game deficit to win four straight against the New York Yankees. - "Foulke to the set. The 1-0 pitch. Here it is. Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first. And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's World Championship! Can you believe it?!"-Joe CastiglioneJoe CastiglioneJoseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
's final call of the 2004 World Series2004 World SeriesThe 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals... - "The Red Sox have come from two games down to beat the Cleveland Indians!" — Joe CastiglioneJoe CastiglioneJoseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
's final call of the 2007 American League Division Series2007 American League Division Series-Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, October 3:Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsIn Game 1, Boston starter Josh Beckett threw a complete-game shut out, allowing the Red Sox to win the opener... - "Kyle OrtonKyle OrtonKyle Orton is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
will be a Pro Bowl player. Mark it down." — Pete SheppardPete SheppardPete Sheppard is an Italian-American radio host, formerly heard on WEEI 850-AM in Boston. Sheppard, a native of Narragansett, Rhode Island is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island and the Connecticut School of Broadcasting... - "Seven!" —Joe CastiglioneJoe CastiglioneJoseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
External links
- WEEI — official website
- WEEI Network Stations — station map and list
- WEEI 103.7FM Providence
- http://www.weeifm.com/ — possibly out-of-date WEEI 103.7 FM homepage