Today, it’s the opener for a new season in sports radio, headed by a familiar superstar. Move aside, Giancarlo Stanton, another big name is about to reclaim the New York City sports stage, and this time, he’s going national as well.
“Ladies and gentlemen, leading off for the FNTSY Sports Radio Network, please welcome back Craig Carton.”
SportsGrid, which owns a constellation of properties including radio with terrestrial and digital distribution, announced the return of Craig Carton to the broadcast airwaves. Carton, the longtime and former host of the iconic “Boomer and Carton” show on WFAN Radio, will now pilot a new morning/afternoon show that will be broadcast right across the street from Madison Square Garden, putting him firmly back in the heart of sports in New York City while also being broadcast on significant national platforms.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return to the airwaves live in Manhattan and create some amazing content with a company that has already established relationships with the same demographic of listeners that are loyal to me,” said Carton. “Together we will become the show of choice for this audience and we will continue to engage with them on the airwaves, as well as through the many platforms that SportsGrid has.”
The new show “Craig Carton & Friends” airs weekdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm ET, in front of a live audience at Studio 34, located right near “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Studio 34 is a uniquely located studio that is found inside Rock & Reilly’s NYC upscale gastropub on the fifth floor of the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel at 218 W 35th St. Carton’s fans will be able to watch the daily show inside the Irish pub also known for its hip East Coast style. The show will be produced by Chris Cannon, who has an extensive career in both producing and hosting audio programming. Carton will be joined in-studio by Corey Parson, who has been an on-air talent for Sirius/XM, Sports Illustrated, and several other major media outlets, and Michelle Serpico, an MMA analyst who appears regularly on Tony Siragusa’s “Podcave” podcast.
“Craig Carton and Friends” will now have an official and extensive national reach. You will be able to find it for free across several media platforms, with streaming audio on the digital websites and apps of the FNTSY Sports Radio Network, iHeart, TuneIn and SportsGrid partners such as the New York Daily News. The streaming audio broadcasts can also be heard on the intelligent personal assistant devices Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple HomePod by speaking the words, “Play “F-N-T-S-Y Sports Radio Network.” On demand versions of the programs will be available on all the major podcast carriers. including iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, iHeart, TuneIn and more.
Live free video simulcasts will stream on YouTube, Twitter, TwitchTV, Periscope, Mixer and Facebook, where on demand versions can also be found after each daily program. Both the audio and video of Craig Carton Live will also be available for simulcast and syndication.
“Craig is one of the iconic voices in the industry, and his return to the airwaves is a victory for all of sports radio and his fans,” said Louis M. Maione, President of SportsGrid. “The debut of Carton & Friends is just the beginning of our exciting growth plans. Being able to launch with a seasoned talent from and in New York City is just one signal that we are curating the best in class content that is set to be a major force in all sports, news and entertainment.”
SportsGrid’s properties include digital subscription, OTT video, and radio with terrestrial and digital distribution. The company operates fantasy sports industry leaders dailyroto.com and rotoexperts.com, FNTSY Sports Network, FNTSY Sports Radio Network, in addition to Esports properties pwn.gg, and Esports Network. Its partners include the NBA, ESPN, Associated Press, New York Daily News, and NFL team websites.
Craig Carton is a native of New Rochelle, New York and a graduate of Syracuse University. He has been a professional broadcaster since 1991 and hosted “Boomer and Carton” from 2007 to 2017 on WFAN, and it was also simulcast on MSG Network and the CBS Sports Network. In 2013, he released his first book, Loudmouth: Tales (and Fantasies) of Sports, Sex, and Salvation from Behind the Microphone.
Photo Credit: AP (Kathy Willens)
