Isles Lay Off Radio Team In Favor Of Simulcasting TV Broadcast
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Mears (l), King Fired As Isles Radio Voices,
Will Be Replaced By Simulcast Of TV Broadcast |
Islanders radio play-by-play announcer Steve Mears and analyst Chris King "were fired last week" by Islanders President Chris Dey after MSG, which has the team's TV and radio rights, "gave the Islanders permission to use the simulcast signal of the television broadcast," according to Greg Logan of NEWSDAY. King and Mears were informed that their "contracts won't be renewed for next season," and the two will be replaced on the radio broadcast by Islanders TV announcers Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe. Dey said of the move, "Once we were presented with this opportunity, I notified them of what we were planning to do." Logan notes King "has been a part of every Islanders radio broadcast for the past 15 seasons," while Mears was in his "first NHL job." King said, "I'm thankful I had the job full-time for 11 years." Mears added, "I truly have no bad feelings on a personal level." Meanwhile, in an "unrelated move," sources confirmed that MSG "declined to renew the contract of C.J. Papa, who handled intermission and postgame interviews on Islanders telecasts" (NEWSDAY, 7/22). Logan noted it is "still possible King will do pregame and postgame radio shows, and he might even land a full-time job elsewhere in the organization." However, Mears will "try to continue his hockey announcing career elsewhere." Logan wrote it is "hard to believe that, at a time when the franchise has an opportunity to turn things around with the drafting of John Tavares, it cuts back the number of people who tell the team's story to the public" (NEWSDAY.com, 7/21).
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