In N.Y., Andrew Marchand cites sources as saying that the future of WFAN's "Carlin, Maggie & Bart" is "in question," even as they "generate very strong ratings." WFAN's parent company, Entercom, "may prefer slicing three salaries off the books and moving to the more traditional three shows rather than four during the day." If WFAN host Mike Francesa "can get his plans straight and commit" to the station, CMB "may be in trouble, despite their success." Sources said that Bart Scott's contract is "up at the end of the year, while Entercom has a company option on Maggie Gray and Chris Carlin" (N.Y. POST, 6/13).
STRONG SUPPORT: In Toronto, Doug Smith writes the number of TV viewers in Canada for Warriors-Raptors Game 5 was "startling." Averaging 6.4 million viewers and "topping out at 13.4 million is astonishing." That number represents the "biggest TV audience for any show of any kind in this calendar and broadcast year" in Canada, and "that's impressive." Smith: "I'm extremely happy for NBA Canada" (TORONTO STAR, 6/13).
LARGER THAN LIFE: THE RINGER's Haley O'Shaughnessy wrote ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has spent the past decade "evolving from journalist to talking head to caricature of a talking head, his celebrity steadily rising throughout." He "doesn't have to be right, just entertaining" (THERINGER.com, 6/12).
