Tweet
This was posted earlier on a different message board....
---------------------------------
``Savran on Sportsbeat'' to be cancelled
By Bob Smizik | Tuesday 9:05 a.m.
``Savran on Sportsbeat,’’ the longest running sports show in the Pittsburgh market, will leave the air permanently in the days ahead and the future of host Stan Savran at FSN Pittsburgh is in doubt.
Liberty Media, which has owned FSN for little more than a year, made the decision to cancel the show, which has been on the air since March 11, 1991, and then known as ``Sportsbeat.’’
Savran joined the show about a year later and for close to a decade teamed with Guy Junker. When Junker was fired in May of 2003, the show changed its name its current one a few months later.
Savran is believed to be working without a contract and could follow his show out the door. According to sources, he is currently engaged in negotiations. His contract either has expired or is about to expire.
Executives at FSN Pittsburgh did not immediately respond to requests for comments about the cancellation of ``Savran on Sportsbeat'' or the future of Savran.''
The decision to cancel the show, while shocking, still was not totally unexpected given the current economy and the lack of commitment to original programming that Liberty Media has shown. It has nothing to do with the job Savran was doing. Station management continues to hold him in the highest regard. Ratings have been as good or better than in the past.This was strictly financial.
Based on how it operates in other cities, Liberty stands strongly behind continuing to carry the games of its partners, the Penguins and Pirates, but wants little else in the way of programming. The station already has cutback in other original programming areas.
With Savran's show leaving the air, it will probably result in job reductions at FSN. Not only might Savran be out, but so could people who worked in the production end of the show.
For close to two decades, ``Sportsbeat'' and ``Savran on Sportsbeat'' has been the face of the station. Savran, who previously worked as a sports anchor at WTAE and at several radio stations as a talk-show host, has been the man whose opinions dedicated Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fans wanted to hear.
As Chuck Finder wrote in the Post-Gazette following the firing of Junker and the changing of the show's name;
``Fox Sports Net types are tinkering with the franchise that has been the channel's face, the channel's spirit and, outside of relatively fluctuating numbers for Penguins and Pirates broadcasts, the channel's ratings stability since its . . . inception.''
Savran, a native of Cleveland who has never lost his love of the Indians despite being a Pittsburgher for more than 30 years, began his Pittsburgh career at KQV in the mid-1970s and later did talks shows at WWSW (now Fox Sports Radio 970) and WTAE (now 1250 ESPN) in addition to reporting and anchoring at WTAE. Over the years, he built a loyal following based on tireless work and strong opinions.
After he left WTAE, his background and following made him the natural choice to take over ``Sportsbeat.'' In that role, he continued to develop a devoted following, which, thanks to satellite, stretched to Pittsburgh sports fans across the country.
He easily is the most trusted sports voice in Pittsburgh radio and television.
Savran will continue to co-host a 10 a.m. to noon talk show with Junker on 1250 ESPN.
---------------------------------
``Savran on Sportsbeat'' to be cancelled
By Bob Smizik | Tuesday 9:05 a.m.
``Savran on Sportsbeat,’’ the longest running sports show in the Pittsburgh market, will leave the air permanently in the days ahead and the future of host Stan Savran at FSN Pittsburgh is in doubt.
Liberty Media, which has owned FSN for little more than a year, made the decision to cancel the show, which has been on the air since March 11, 1991, and then known as ``Sportsbeat.’’
Savran joined the show about a year later and for close to a decade teamed with Guy Junker. When Junker was fired in May of 2003, the show changed its name its current one a few months later.
Savran is believed to be working without a contract and could follow his show out the door. According to sources, he is currently engaged in negotiations. His contract either has expired or is about to expire.
Executives at FSN Pittsburgh did not immediately respond to requests for comments about the cancellation of ``Savran on Sportsbeat'' or the future of Savran.''
The decision to cancel the show, while shocking, still was not totally unexpected given the current economy and the lack of commitment to original programming that Liberty Media has shown. It has nothing to do with the job Savran was doing. Station management continues to hold him in the highest regard. Ratings have been as good or better than in the past.This was strictly financial.
Based on how it operates in other cities, Liberty stands strongly behind continuing to carry the games of its partners, the Penguins and Pirates, but wants little else in the way of programming. The station already has cutback in other original programming areas.
With Savran's show leaving the air, it will probably result in job reductions at FSN. Not only might Savran be out, but so could people who worked in the production end of the show.
For close to two decades, ``Sportsbeat'' and ``Savran on Sportsbeat'' has been the face of the station. Savran, who previously worked as a sports anchor at WTAE and at several radio stations as a talk-show host, has been the man whose opinions dedicated Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fans wanted to hear.
As Chuck Finder wrote in the Post-Gazette following the firing of Junker and the changing of the show's name;
``Fox Sports Net types are tinkering with the franchise that has been the channel's face, the channel's spirit and, outside of relatively fluctuating numbers for Penguins and Pirates broadcasts, the channel's ratings stability since its . . . inception.''
Savran, a native of Cleveland who has never lost his love of the Indians despite being a Pittsburgher for more than 30 years, began his Pittsburgh career at KQV in the mid-1970s and later did talks shows at WWSW (now Fox Sports Radio 970) and WTAE (now 1250 ESPN) in addition to reporting and anchoring at WTAE. Over the years, he built a loyal following based on tireless work and strong opinions.
After he left WTAE, his background and following made him the natural choice to take over ``Sportsbeat.'' In that role, he continued to develop a devoted following, which, thanks to satellite, stretched to Pittsburgh sports fans across the country.
He easily is the most trusted sports voice in Pittsburgh radio and television.
Savran will continue to co-host a 10 a.m. to noon talk show with Junker on 1250 ESPN.
Comment