Paul Finebaum starts new radio show today on ESPN: But will you be able to hear him?

Posted on by

Paul Finebaum begins his new radio gig today at ESPN. The four-hour show debuts at 2 p.m. ET.

The question is where?

This is from the official release from ESPN:

******

ESPN Audio has selected Cumulus Media Networks to secure terrestrial radio distribution for Finebaum’s show.

ESPN affiliated stations in every market will have the first opportunity to carry the show. His former home station in Birmingham, Ala., WJOX 94.5 FM, as well as WAPI 100.5 FM, will offer the show.  His previous show attracted nearly a quarter of the adult male listeners in Birmingham, ESPN’s highest-rated college football television market the past several years.

ESPN Audio is overseeing satellite and digital distribution.

Paul Finebaum on ESPN

Finebaum will appear on a variety of other ESPN shows and outlets, including SportsCenter, College Football Live, College GameDay and in ESPN The Magazine.  Starting in August 2014, when the  SEC Network launches, a television simulcast of Finebaum’s radio show will anchor the network’s afternoon lineup.

********

In a USA Today story, Finebaum “could not confirm how many affiliates have committed to airing the show.”

So I guess, check your local listings.

Hopefully, ESPN will find a way to place Finebaum’s show nationally on a Sirius XM outlet. Otherwise, I’ll never hear his show in Chicago. There’s no room at the Inn here.

That’s also the case for me with shows such as John Feinstein’s on CBS Sports Radio and Brian Kenny’s on NBC Sports Radio. I know, I know: Those programs are available on the Internet, but I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone work and listen to the radio.

As a result, the bulk of my radio listening in the car. Since I am in the car quite a bit, I hear a lot of radio, which is a big reason why I subscribe to Sirius XM. That’s where I heard Finebaum prior to him making the jump to ESPN.

There’s little question that this is a great move for Finebaum, especially when the SEC Network gets up and running. However, it isn’t so great for people like me who won’t be able to hear his show.

*****

As for the show, Finebaum told USA Today the format will remain the same.

So what will be different about the show? Finebaum doesn’t anticipate changes other than it will be broadcasted from Charlotte, N.C. and have better resources being an ESPN product.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it as long as I’m doing radio,” Finebaum said. “There are better shows in the country with better guests, who may have better hosts, but no show has better callers.”

 

 

 

11 thoughts on “Paul Finebaum starts new radio show today on ESPN: But will you be able to hear him?”

  1. Ed,

    Do you have a smartphone? You can also listen online via mobile apps. If you’re car has a AUX outlet, you can get a $10 cord and plug your phone into the AUX outlet and listen via the car’s speakers.

    I listen to SiriusXM via my phone that way, as well as CBS Sports Radio through the Radio.com app; same with NBC Sports Radio via the TuneIn App or the NBC Sports Radio app.

    • Yes, Blowtorch, I will give a try. However, I’m a channel flipper. Don’t like to listen to one show at a time. I like things easy and convenient.

      • The only caveat to using the smartphone is data. If you have unlimited, you’re OK. If you have a Verizon plan where you have 1 or 2 gigs, a month, then it get’s dicey.

        At 1 or 2 gigs, you’re probably OK if you were to listen to an hour of radio a day on your smartphone.

        Be well.

  3. I also spend lot of time in my car. I am from Birmingham, and was excited to read in “USA Today” that Finebaum was starting his show today, Aug. 12, 2013, on ESPN Radio. It didn’t happen. I also picked up ESPN Radio on terrestrial stations. No dice. What’s up with that?

    • I believe it is airing on a Birmingham station. You’ll need to check your local listings.

  4. I too can listen to Sirius on my laptop and in my car and still can’t find him. What am I missing?

  5. I’m in the same boat. Always listened to Paul on Sirius/XM. I live in Central Florida between Tampa and Orlando. Problem is we don’t have a ESPN affiliate down here. So now I don’t get to listen to Finebaum.

  6. I heart radio from your smart phone works well. I had all my old Akron Ohio buddies listening last year! Just find the JOX on IHeart and go from there!

Comments are closed.