SYRACUSE -- Stories in the national trades report a big shakeup at syndicated talk host Michael Smerconish's home station in Philadelphia -- starting in 2011, he'll be on the air from 3-7pm there. But, his midday talk show will still air live from noon to 3pm, of which the first two hours are carried locally by 105.9 The Big Talker (WXTL).
Smerconish is currently on the air 7 hours every day -- four hours in morning drive locally for WPHT, followed later by his 3-hour national show. The trades reported that Smerconish wants to focus more on his national show, so he's giving up the morning show at WPHT. At first, there were conflicting reports on what would happen with the national show.
Here in Syracuse, Citadel operations manager Tom Mitchell says, "105.9 The Big Talker will continue to air Smerconish live 12noon-2pm."
At least one of the national trades made it sound as if Smerconish's show would be moving to the afternoon, forcing affiliates across the country to change their own schedules around. We didn't run a story yesterday because of the conflicting stories. But, as it turns out, the stories were talking about WPHT only -- where Smerconish will do a local hour just for WPHT from 3-4pm, and then his national show will be aired on delay.
For the rest of the country, including Syracuse, it'll be business as usual.