Milwaukee’s “The Fan” (WSSP/1250) appears to have dropped all local programming, including a show that had been syndicated statewide.
Former producer and host Evan Heffelfinger Tweeted on Tuesday that he and others were out, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that a source confirmed that the staff had been let go. The station’s website now lists CBS Sports Radio programming being carried 24 hours per day.
Some unfortunate news, today is my last day at @1250AMTheFan … well I guess it’s actually everyone’s. It’s been a dream come true to talk Wisconsin sports with you these last 5 years
— Evan Heffelfinger (@evanheff25) August 16, 2022
I still have a drive and passion for the radio medium, my DMs are open for future opportunities
RadioInsight reported that an Audacy station in Las Vegas made a similar change, and that cuts were also underway at other Audacy stations across the country.
WSSP had carried 12 hours of local sports talk each weekday with hosts including Bart Winkler, Gary Ellerson, LeRoy Butler, Steve “Sparky” Fifer, and Tim Allen. The midday show, branded “Wendy’s Big Show,” was syndicated to more than a half-dozen stations across Wisconsin at one time.
“The Fan” is in an unusually-crowded field of sports talkers that also includes two major FM signals, Good Karma Brands “94.5 ESPN Milwaukee” (WKTI) and iHeartMedia’s “97-3 The Game” (WRNW), as well as iHeart’s “The Big 920” (WOKY). Both FM signals also carry local sports talk shows throughout the day and WOKY carries Bill Michaels’ syndicated midday show.