NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, and WEEI Sports Radio, New England’s top-rated sports radio station, announced that they have entered into a programming partnership to simulcast The Dennis and Callahan Show on weekday mornings live from 6-9 a.m. Beginning Nov. 16, 2010, The Dennis and Callahan Show will be available on NESN in New England and across the country on NESN National.
“This programming partnership brings together the two most popular sports media companies in New England in a way that we think complements the strengths of each organization,” said Sean McGrail, NESN’s president and CEO. “We have worked closely with WEEI for several years to produce the annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. We now look forward to working with WEEI on a daily basis to bring The Dennis and Callahan Show to our television audience.”
“We’re excited because this is the next logical step in our progression as a powerful brand, giving us the ability to provide our great content far and wide,” said Julie Kahn, Entercom New England’s vice president, New England market manager. “We’ve built an unprecedented regional radio network, we stream our radio content worldwide via the web, we have original web content, mobile streaming … and now we will be available regionally and nationally on TV. Nobody in our business offers what we do the way we do … and this NESN partnership impressively expands on that.”
“When they see them on TV, people may be shocked to learn how handsome John [Dennis] and Gerry [Callahan] are,” added Kahn.
“Dennis and Callahan have achieved tremendous success in morning drive on WEEI, and this new partnership with NESN provides the perfect opportunity to expand their footprint across the region. NESN is the ideal partner for us given the incredible power of its reach across New England, and the combination of our two networks will make this new project an instant hit,” said Jason Wolfe, Entercom New England’s vice president of a.m. programming.
“This is a natural fit for NESN. Dennis and Callahan is the ‘go-to’ show in the morning for sports and entertainment,” said Joel Feld, NESN executive vice president, programming and executive producer. “Passionate hosts, loyal fans and no holds-barred discussion. NESN viewers get that with our Red Sox, Bruins and other sports and lifestyle programming so this is a logical way to enhance how we entertain our audience.”
NESN will install four remotely controlled HD cameras in WEEI’s studio in Brighton, Mass., and fiber the feeds back to the NESN HD Television Center in Watertown, Mass., where NESN will direct the four feeds and add graphics. In addition to the live simulcast every weekday morning, NESN will also replay The Dennis and Callahan Show in primetime on NESN National. A one-hour Best of Dennis and Callahan is also planned for late night. The partnership also includes regular appearances by WEEI personalities on NESN’s Red Sox pregame shows and other sports programs.
Dennis and Callahan were paired together on WEEI in October of 1997 from 10 a.m. to noon and after immense success, were shifted to morning drive in September of 1999, where they’ve been ever since. The show made an immediate impact in the market and has consistently been the No. 1-rated morning show in Boston.
About NESN
NESN is owned by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins and is delivered to over four million homes throughout the six-state New England region and nationally as NESN National. The definitive home for New England sports programming, NESN is the television home of the Red Sox and Bruins and has consistently been one of the top rated regional sports networks in the country. The network and its popular website, NESN.com, produce award winning content including, NESN Daily, a nightly sports news and debate program, over 100 NESN University college sporting events annually and distinctive Original NESN Entertainment (ONE) productions.
About Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE: ETM) is one of the five largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States, with a nationwide portfolio of 110 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Kansas City. Known for developing unique and highly successful locally programmed stations, Entercom is home to some of radio’s most distinguished brands and compelling personalities. The company is also the radio broadcast partner of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Kansas City Royals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Sabres. Entercom focuses on creating effective integrated marketing solutions for its customers that incorporate the company’s audio, digital and experiential assets. Additionally, the company has a long-standing commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and environmental stewardship. Entercom stations play a vital, hands-on role in improving their communities, providing over $100 million in annual support for local charitable organizations. The company’s radio stations have received numerous awards, including multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Marconi Awards for excellence in radio broadcasting. In 2007, Forbes magazine named Entercom one of America’s “Most Trustworthy Companies.”
