Mike Francesa has agreed to terms on a lucrative, long-term extension of his deal with CBS Radio/WFAN, which was set to expire this year.
Two people with knowledge of the deal told me this, but WFAN operations manager Mark Chernoff declined to comment on the matter and Francesa did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Even with the new morning show of Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton showing early ratings strength, Francesa is the most powerful and important personality on the station's roster in the post-Don Imus era.
I am told Francesa represented himself in the negotiations.
Last spring, Francesa and partner Chris Russo were harshly critical of CBS Radio management after Imus was fired.
Comments (18)
No word on salaries but Francesa will make more money than me next year but less than Kyle Farnsworth. Is there no justice in this world? Obviously not. We live in a world where Paris Hilton had to go to jail because a flunkie gave her wrong information on her license. Good help is so hard to find
Enjoy the replay of the Yankees vs Orioles game 4/7/07 on YES at 9AM. That is if the *30 episode of "Gobblin' Fever" at 830AM on Versus doesn't exhaust you with "A variety of exciting turkey hunts"
No worries to Mike that ESPN-radio is going to be much of a threat in much of Suffolk County.
I was in Stony Brook today and heard "The Peak" out of Briarcliff Manor (Westchester) on 107.1 and not ESPN on WLIR.
Are you sure? That's weird. I need to check this situation out if the Giants' season ever ends.
Mike Francesa is worth his weight in gold to WFAN/CBS radio.
Will he celebrate by cracking open a Diet Coke with a ripped off label?
In Commack I tried to get 107.1 again, this time in the car at 930AM, and I'm only getting The PEAK.
At night I get static.
I believe the simulcast for ESPN Radio starts next Monday the 28th.
Even if it starts on Monday I'll be getting the PEAK unless they change something with the LIR transmitter.
Neil,
"Francesa is the most powerful and important personality on the station's roster in the post-Don Imus era."
What...have you ever heard anyone say they listen to the FAN to hear the pompous one? How can anyone in the industry say that Mike is the most powerful guy at the station...is it because of his weekly football show? I honestly don't get it?
Rumor has it that the deal is for seven years which is unprecedented in the industry
I've heard ESPN cutting in and out of 107.1 while I was near Stony Brook. The simulcast started this past Monday.
Neil- What is Chris Russo's contact situation? I remember reading a feature (I think in Newsday) a few years back about how they are both paid they same salary and how trying the negogiations were.
Although I don't agree with most of their opinions, I can't imagine sports radio without Mike and Chris. I grew up listening to them, and they would be tough to replace
A Fan: I think Chris make a bit less than Mike does.
Rich: I'm going to have to figure out this 107.1 thing after SBXLII.
Thanks Neil. I guess you are right about Mike making more- he also does NFL Now, and I'm sure WNBC pays him a pretty penny. An educated guess from WFAN alone he probably makes betwen 1.5-1.7 million a year (maybe some incentives if they get certain ratings numbers?)
From Mrs Ahlaja Zainab Fuji Alliu
Email: zainab_alliu@yahoo.fr
Abidjan Cote 'D Ivoire
As_salamn Alaikum,
Dearest One.
In the name of Allah the most Beneficent and Most Merciful, His Holy Prophets and
the most respected of His Prophet-Prophet Mohammed (the Peace of Allah be with him) I say As salam Alaikum.
I do recognised the surprise this letter will bring to you, most especially as it comes from a stranger. I am Mrs. Ahlaja ZAINAB FUJI ALLIU. We are from Sao Tome I am married to Dr. FUJI ALLIU who was a wealthy cocoa merchant in Ivory Coast for years before he died in the year 2004. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only two weeks. Before his death we were both faithful Muslim.
Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the holy Quran is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited one truck box with a security company here in Abidjan which is valued of 10.5 Million USD.
Presently, though my late husband did not tell the security company what is inside the truck box. Recently, my Doctor told me that I have serious sickness which is cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness.
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My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Muslim. Whoever that wants to serve the mighty Allah must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Contact me on the above e_mail address for more information, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another Islamic or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply.Thanks.
Yours Sister in Islam,
Mrs AHLAJA ZAINAB FUJI ALLIU.
Reply to: "How can anyone in the industry say that Mike is the most powerful guy at the station".
And that's saying much?
By the way, this was way premature according to Newsday. Not sure what to believe.
www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spmike0622,0,842426.story
Neil- I fooled you with this one about *my* contract. I never signed that deal -handwave- to you for being wrong
F*ck Mike Francesca. The fat piece of chit. Lazy and unprepared is NO WAY of going through life. Just goes to show ya. All you farking left wing pieces of chit. Get the hell out of this country. It is, without a doubt, the best country in the world. If a fat, lazy piece of filth like MF can make that kind of money, you know THIS is the country that EVERYONE wants to live in.
In the old USSR, MF would be fertilizer......well, maybe communism isn't THAT bad afterall.