The Lions' long-time radio partner, WXYT-FM, asserted that the team's decision to switch to WJR-AM was made because the franchise "couldn't control the commentary of their sports-talk hosts," according to Tony Paul of the DETROIT NEWS. The Lions have denied that, claiming that WJR "simply made, by far, the better financial offer." Lions Senior VP/Marketing & Partnerships Elizabeth Parkinson: "If we were trying to practice any sort of censorship, we certainly would've done it (the switch) much sooner." The Lions on Friday announced that WJR "would start carrying the team's games" in '16. WXYT has "been the Lions' flagship station for 18 years, and was involved in the bidding process to extend the relationship." CBS Radio Detroit Senior VP & Market Manager Debbie Kenyon, whose company owns WXYT, said, "In the end it came down to the integrity of CBS -- the refusal to be censored in talking about the team and making honest assessments on the air about this team." Paul noted WXYT host Mike Valenti has been one of the Lions' "biggest critics," but Parkinson "disputed the switch was made over Valenti or any other host." However, when asked whether the Lions "ever have contacted WXYT to discuss content," Parkinson "wouldn't deny that." Asked if Valenti specifically was a problem, Parkinson said, "I'm not going to single out any one individual." But Mort Meisner Valenti's agent, said that the Lions "demanded Valenti be fired as part of any new pact between the team and the station." Valenti on his show Friday said, "Why would it be personal and why would they want me fired? Here is the problem with your football team here. They care more with what [co-host Terry Foster] and I say here than they do about the product on the field." The Lions "declined to respond to remarks made on Valenti's show Friday" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/21).
HE SAID, SHE SAID: In Detroit, Bill Shea noted WXYT's accusations that the team "sought to stifle criticism ... emerged shortly after the announcement" of the team's switch to WJR on Friday. Kenyon: "CBS Radio says it has been negotiating with the Lions a long time." She "did not provide specifics" on the team allegedly seeking to "tamper criticism of the team." Parkinson: "WJR came to the table with a better deal. It was a pure business decision." Meisner in a statement said Valenti's firing was "one of the conditions set forth by the Detroit Lions if they were to stay" at WXYT. Parkinson called Meisner's accusation "categorically a lie" and "untrue" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 11/20). Valenti said of the Lions, "This is an organization that has systematically made our lives miserable here at the station." He added, "This is a petty, juvenile, nasty organization. They don't like me because I don't fear them" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/21). Parkinson said that part of the Lions' media/PR department's job is to "alert outlets of inaccuracies in their reporting." She said, "We know there's a clear separation between business and editorial. Do we wish everyone was always saying good things about the Detroit Lions? Absolutely. But we also realize that's not pure reporting and that's not what people are paid to do." In Michigan, Justin Rogers noted the Lions' decision to switch to WJR was "driven by multiple factors, namely a bigger compensation package." Parkinson acknowledged that the team's PR staff "did have a seat at the negotiation table, but were not involved in the decision-making process." The Lions said that the decision to leave WXYT for WJR was "made by former team president Tom Lewand, on the recommendation of Parkinson" (MLIVE.com, 11/20).
