It's official, Mike Francesa announces deal with Fox Sports 1 and 2
James Devaney/WireImageAfter over a month of waiting, the unwashed masses - deprived of seeing him on television - will once again get to eyeball Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa.
The pontiff revealed Wednesday his WFAN simulcast is headed for Fox Sports 1 and 2. The show will debut on Monday March 24. It will air Monday-Friday on FS1 from 1p.m.-4p.m. and FS2 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
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'We did have more than one offer, but clearly the Fox Sports people were most aggressive,' Francesa said on his show Wednesday. He said the deal was completed on Monday.
Francesa said his Fox contract is for four years. He did not disclose how much the Foxies are paying the Sports Vatican for his services.
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The move was made necessary following the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network's decision to dump Francesa, after a nearly 12-year simulcast run, in favor ESPN-98.7's 'The Michael Kay Show.'
In the past, Francesa contended YES parted ways with him because it wanted more editorial control of the show. Yet other sources said it was more a matter of economics with CBS, which owns FAN, wanting a much larger rights fee for the Pope's show than ESPN wanted for the Kay soiree.
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While, in terms of content, Kay and Francesa are competing they actually, from a corporate standpoint, are on the same team. Fox now owns 80% of YES, making it the majority owner.
David Nathanson, FS1/2's general manager verbally genuflected to His Holiness.
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'He is knowledgeable and opinionated with an ability to attract top-name guests,' Nathanson gushed in a statement.
Nathanson did not mention the Pope's 'ability' to fall asleep on the air.
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