Boston Radio: WEEI Decision Day On Red Sox Coming

WEEI 93.7 FM, clawing its way back into contention after
 years of domination by WBZ 98.5 FM/The Sports Hub, faces a big decision in early 2015 — whether or not to extend its long-standing, but expensive, contract to air Red Sox baseball games.

The Boston Herald reports WEEI, which has been choking on the 
$17 million a year it pays 
for the Sox play-by-play, 
has to tell the team early next year whether it plans 
to exercise its option to keep the broadcast rights in 2017 and 2018.

There were rumors that Entercom, the station’s parent company, has already told the team they want out. But both Entercom and the Red Sox say that’s not true. Still, it seems that everyone expects ’EEI to at least take a swing at renegotiating the deal.

Most radio pundits agree that the station overpaid for the broadcast rights back in 2006: $200 million for a 
10-year deal, creating a debt load that eats up much of ’EEIs profits.

Add to that the Sox’ 
inconsistent performance over the past three years — two years in last place sandwiching their 2013 World Series victory — and it’s pretty clear that being the radio “Home of Red Sox Baseball” is no bargain.

Still, Entercom Boston boss Phil Zachary says he hopes to keep airing the games past the 2016 season.