Talk show host prepares move to rival

BOSTON --Talk show host and Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr has accepted an offer to move from WRKO-AM radio to rival station WTKK-FM, filling the morning drive time slot vacated after Don Imus uttered a racial slur and lost his national radio program, his lawyer said Monday.

Carr has agreed to a five-year deal beginning Oct. 1, said Bret Cohen, of Mintz Levin Cohen Glovksy and Popeo, who is representing Carr and to whom WTTK referred calls for comment.

A spokesman for WRKO called the announcement "incredibly premature."

"Howie Carr is under contract to Entercom. He is a tremendous asset to WRKO and Entercom has every intention of retaining his services for many years to come," WRKO spokesman George Regan said in a statement.

Carr is making the switch "because he believes WTTK provides a better opportunity and a better platform for him and he's particularly interested in the FM format," Cohen said. "It presents a step up as an opportunity. This is not about money. I'm not allowed to get into the specifics of the amount...I think it's fair to say he's not getting a huge raise," Cohen said.

Carr is to stay at WRKO until his contract there ends Sept. 19, Cohen said.

Cohen said that Entercom Boston, LLC, the owner of WRKO-AM, has voiced objections to Carr's move, and he and Carr are prepared for a possible legal dispute.

In his new job, Carr would be on the air opposite former House Speaker Tom Finneran's morning show on WRKO.