Mike "Cowhead" Calta signs three-year deal with Cox Radio's WHPT-FM (The Bone)
Not long after scoring top ratings as part of the revamp which brought Bubba the Love Sponge Clem back to local "terrestrial" radio, Mike "Cowhead" Calta has signed a new three-year deal with Cox Radio's WHPT-102.5 FM (The Bone).
It's an expected move, given the success Cowhead and Bubba have seen since Calta agreed to shift to afternoon drive on WHPT, making room for Clem's show in January. Here's Cox Radio's press release on it all:
TAMPA, FL – JULY 1, 2008 – Cowhead, host of the #1 rated afternoon show, The Cowhead Show, inked a new three year deal with Cox Radio today. In their first rating book after moving from morning drive to afternoon drive, The Cowhead Show, on Tampa Bay radio station WHPT, 102.5 The Bone, took the #1 spot in Arbitron’s Winter ratings.
The Winter Arbitron radio ratings survey, released on May 2 and covering the period from January 10 to April 2, shows that The Cowhead Show, broadcast live weekday afternoons from 3pm – 7pm on Cox Radio’s 102.5 The Bone (WHPT-FM), is the most-listened-to in the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater market. The Cowhead Show is number one with adults 25-54 (7.4 share), and with men 25-54 (9.7 share).
The Cowhead show was the morning show on WHPT up until the return of Bubba The Love Sponge ® on 1/08/08. At which time the entire cast of The Cowhead Show moved to afternoon drive. Cowhead has been an on-air talent on Tampa Radio since the early 90’s.
Cowhead commented, “I’m glad to be here working with my friends at Cox Radio. I am thrilled to know that Cox believes in the Show and I look forward to many years ahead entertaining the listeners of Tampa Bay!
Keith Lawless, WHPT Vice President and General Manager, said, “The Cowhead Show is different than any other afternoon drive show in Tampa Bay. Clearly this is what Tampa Bay listeners wanted. I am proud of Cowhead and his entire team and their quick rise to the top in afternoon drive.“ The Cowhead show members include Cowhead, Galvin, Moose, and Dina. For more information, visit www.theboneonline.com.
The Feed is a blog on TV, media and modern life by St. Petersburg Times TV/media critic Eric Deggans. Possibly the most critical guy at the Times, he has served as music, media and TV critic at various times over 10 years.
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Congrats Cow & crew!!! Glad to see you as a permanent staple in the market, you've earned it! Awsome!!! Hope to see you all soon, Poopie (Tim)
Posted by: POOPIE | July 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Yea I agree less music more talk
Posted by: RJB113 | July 05, 2008 at 10:23 AM
We all love the show, the same 5-10 songs every day ??? not so much, actually not at all.
hopefully cox will see that there's more people who want less music and more talk than vice versa.
mahande's a tool
Posted by: viking jake a.k.a. viking joe | July 03, 2008 at 12:48 AM
If you want more talk with less commericials, fork over $12.95 a month and get Sat Radio. No commericials on music stations and very limited commericials on talk channels. Then you can hear the real Bubba show on your way home from work. No bleeps and all of the Nedley Mandingo fun you can handle.
I haven't listened listened to local radio in more than three years and do not miss it at all!
Posted by: 630R63 VV | July 02, 2008 at 02:56 PM
While I won't be listening to that Alcoholic on the other station, I agree 100% with RobDiesel. C'mon Cox management, this show could be getting Bubbaesque ratings if they didn't have to play so much music. We tune in to listen to what Cowhead, Galvin, Moose and Dinah are talking about, Period. I don't mind having to sit through some commercials, I mean they have to pay for the show somehow, but then to have to wait through another 10 minutes of music too? Please, wake up.
Posted by: NewWaveDave | July 02, 2008 at 02:50 PM
AWESOME. Best Show in town! Glad to ehar the good news
Posted by: Webster | July 02, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Excellent! Love the show. You guys are awesome. Glad to hear you will be sticking around.
Posted by: Melissa | July 02, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Good for the Cowhead show! I have to admit I have been an avid listener for many years...since the Power Pig days with Bubba. More recently I have been listening to the Big Dawg on 620 WDAE because the Cow show plays to many damned commercials and music (not to knock the show...it is awesome when the guys are actually on). Every time I switch back to 102.5 from the WDAE commercial break, the Cow show is playing music or on a commercial! When is the management @ Cox radio going to pull their heads out of their asses and realize that the listeners want more talk and less BS? Ratings would improve and more listeners would stick around for the whole show....but then again what in the hell do I know??
Posted by: RobDiesel | July 02, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Way to go Mike. It's about time the big guys realize they have a real talent there. Mabe now they can throw another squirrel on the thread mill so I can hear you in Coral Springs.
Posted by: Cousin Sal | July 02, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Congrats cow and gang. Your show is awesome.
Posted by: Que | July 02, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Any chance he makes it to the end of the contract without getting fired?
Posted by: Cliff | July 01, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Glad to hear it. Best show in the Bay Area since Ron and Ron.
Posted by: BillK | July 01, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Ms. Martin, it made the news because the career moves of people in the media is in and of itself news. Why do you people always as "why" something is news? There is more to "news" than the election, and Iraq, foreclosures.
Posted by: Nathan | July 01, 2008 at 09:44 PM
ok. good for him. this made the news why?
Posted by: Ms Martin | July 01, 2008 at 07:06 PM