Ordway explains his exit from WEEI

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EntercomLongtime Boston sports talker Glenn Ordway has been let go, the victim of a ratings drop. Entercom’s WEEI announced it has decided to part ways with Ordway, co-host of the afternoon drive-time ‘‘The Big Show,’’ after 27 years. Ordway’s last day will be Friday.  Michael Holley will serve as host of “The Big Show” for the foreseeable future and WEEI expects to make an announcement in the coming days about his new co-host.


Ordway signed a $1 million-per-year contract in 2009 but had it cut in half in 2011 after not meeting certain ratings numbers. He told listeners that sports radio is a ratings-driven business and ‘‘it’s obvious’’ his show isn’t ‘‘getting the ratings,’’ reports The Boston Globe.

He refused to be critical of the station. ‘‘You’re going to hear nothing negative about anybody here,’’ he said.

Ordway, 62, said he has no plans to retire and will work on other media projects, mentioning that Internet radio is the way the industry is moving.

“He is an icon in this business and he helped build WEEI into arguably the most successful sports station in history,’’ said Jason Wolfe, vice president of programming and operations for station owner, Entercom Boston. “He’s a true professional and that was clearer than ever in his comments (Wednesday).’’ Michael Holley, Ordway’s co-host on ‘‘The Big Show,’’ will stay on and Ordway will be replaced by Mike Salk, a 34-year-old Boston-area native currently working in the Seattle market.

WEEI’s ratings have taken a hit since CBS Radio’s WBZ-FM, “The Sports Hub,”  was launched in August 2009. Ordway acknowledged that the newer station’s FM signal appealed more to the younger crowd, when WEEI was still operating only on the AM band. WEEI has since started broadcasting on FM too, as part of its regional network of stations.

See the Boston Globe story here