Broadcaster Paul Finebaum "is leaving the Birmingham, Ala., market where his contract expired in January, for Charlotte, N.C., and a national forum: ESPN," according to Rachel Bachman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Finebaum signed "a five-year contract," but "neither he nor ESPN would give financial details." His "multi-tiered platform will include a radio program on ESPN networks, 100 televised appearances annually on ESPN and a TV simulcast of his radio show on the ESPN-owned SEC Network launching in August 2014." Finebaum’s four-hour daily radio show on Birmingham-based WJOX-FM was “syndicated on nearly 30 stations across the South and revolved around legions of listeners.” Bachman: "The question is whether Finebaum can retain the distinctly southern feel of the show in a slick, nationally packaged product.” ESPN Senior VP/Programming Justin Connolly said that Finebaum's radio show “at first will air primarily in the Southeast.” Finebaum also will “appear on a range of ESPN TV programs that relate to college football before the debut of the SEC Network” (WSJ.com, 5/21). In Birmingham, Bob Carlton notes Finebaum “began his radio career in Birmingham” in ’85. His show, which “later became known as ‘The Paul Finebaum Radio Network,’ quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, but year after year, it was consistently one of the top-rated radio shows in Birmingham.” But since Finebaum’s contract with WJOX owner Cumulus Media expired in January, he has been off the air "while pondering his next move” (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/22).
