Radio deal has Dennis and Callahan boxed out
In sports lingo, you might say Dennis and Callahan have been boxed out.
Entercom Communications Corp., the parent corporation for WEEI sports radio, has cut a syndication deal to place its sports content on 11 Nassau Broadcasting radio stations around New England.
But more importantly, Entercom also is buying 50 percent of a 12th station, WCRB, a classical music station owned by Nassau that was said to be in negotiations with WEEI’s premier sports talk hosts, John Dennis and Gerry Callahan, who have been off the air in a contract dispute with WEEI.
Under that possible deal, WCRB would have switched to a sports format.
Today's deal keeps WCRB a classical station and effectively removes a potential alternate outlet for Dennis and Callahan while giving WEEI a sweeping new entry into more New England markets.
Julie Kahn, vice president and New England market manager for Entercom, today said the deal with Nassau had nothing to do with the possibility of Dennis and Callahan bolting to a competitor.
‘‘We’re hopeful that we can continue negotiations with them,’’ she said. ‘‘We are currently still supportive of continuing the relationship.’’
Terms of the deal between Entercom and Nassau were not disclosed. It will add WEEI programming to markets in Portland, Maine; Cape Cod; Lebanon, N.H.; Concord, N.H.; and Montpelier, Vt., among others.
(By Christopher Rowland, Globe staff)
