NEW YORK and WASHINGTON — CBS RADIO and XM Satellite Radio today announced an unprecedented agreement that will mark the return of OPIE AND ANTHONY (Gregg “Opie” Hughes and “Anthony” Cumia) to CBS RADIO stations in seven major markets — New York, Dallas, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and West Palm Beach — beginning on Wednesday, April 26.
Under the terms of the agreement, CBS RADIO will broadcast a three-hour version of the popular Opie & Anthony show on their stations from 6:00-9:00AM, ET each weekday morning (3:00-6:00PM, ET in Cleveland). This show will originate from CBS RADIO’s WFNY-FM 92.3 FREE FM studio in New York and be simulcast on XM uncensored. Opie and Anthony will continue to broadcast from 9:00-11:00AM, ET exclusively for XM’s more than 6.5 million subscribers live from their current XM studio in New York.
Additionally, CBS RADIO stations in New York, Dallas and Philadelphia will stream the three-hour show online at http://www.923freefm.com, http://www.1053freefm.com and http://www.941freefm.com, respectively. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“With the combination of XM and CBS RADIO, we now have the best gig in the business. The O & A Show is going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Gregg “Opie” Hughes.
“We’ll now be able to reach millions of new fans and old fans with our new morning show on CBS while offering our loyal XM listeners an uncut show and two extra hours that will only be available on XM,” said Anthony Cumia.
“Opie and Anthony have proven their determination to succeed in this business, and have a relationship with their audience that is second to none in the industry,” said Joel Hollander, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CBS RADIO. “CBS RADIO is well known for having among its portfolio some of the best brands in radio, and it’s great to have O&A among that stable again. Loyal listeners of O&A have grown accustomed to a show that’s real and entertaining. As we move forward, we do so with confidence that this new enterprise will continue in that same spirit.”
“XM’s agreement with CBS RADIO is a big win for everyone,” said Hugh Panero, President and CEO, XM Satellite Radio. “Opie & Anthony will now reach millions of new listeners and will continue to entertain the more than 6.5 million XM subscribers who have made their exclusive show on XM one of our most popular. XM is committed to creating the best content in radio and today’s announcement is an example of how we’re able to leverage it in a variety of ways that help build our business.”
Opie and Anthony will be heard on the following CBS RADIO stations:
New York — WFNY 92.3
Dallas — KLLI 105.3
Philadelphia — WYSP 94.1
Boston — WBCN 104.1
Pittsburgh — WRKZ 93.7
Cleveland — WXRK 92.3
West Palm Beach — WPBZ 103.1
Gregg “Opie” Hughes and Anthony Cumia joined XM Satellite Radio in 2004. Since their satellite radio debut in October 2004, the talk duo have become one of the most popular programs on XM’s lineup. Hughes and Cumia first teamed up in 1994 hosting an evening program for WBAB-FM in Long Island, NY. In early 1995, the duo moved to WAAF-FM in Worcester, MA, where they began hosting “Opie and Anthony Show” in the afternoons and became one of the Boston market’s most popular radio shows. The team left Boston in 1998 and moved to New York’s WNEW-FM, where they became the number one afternoon drive show. Their show was syndicated to 22 markets around the country.