By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

Word out of Providence has filtered to The Shanty that 790 AM/99.7 FM The Score has announced a format change for WSKO and as a result both Scott Zolak and Andy Gresh have been dumped by the station, according to a source close to the situation. We are currently efforting official word from Citadel Broadcasting which owns and operates The Score. Company spokesperson Patricia Stratford is said to be out of the office and her secretary could offer no one else to speak with. A message has also been left with WSKO Program Director Ron St. Pierre.

Citadel had an abysmal fourth quarter and is believed to be shaking up formats all over the country in an effort to cost-cut and cost-save.

The “Gresh and Zo Show” ran from 9 a.m. to Noon on weekdays. With a format change, it is likely that “The Beat with Scott Cordischi,” which went from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., is also done. There has been fallout in other markets from the earnings report as well. Citadel has recently appointed a new CFO.

We will have more news on this when and if it becomes available.

UPDATE (6 p.m.) : The ProJo’s Art Martone has comments from local Citadel peeps and confirms Cordischi is also out and reports the format change could be to “a syndicated oldies-music format.”

Chalk another dead sports talk radio entity up to the Entercommers, as Martone indicates.

UPDATE, No. 2 (11:30 p.m.)
WSKO’s website has already been absconded by the format change’s new logo and a producer at the station, John Crowe, had some tame parting words at his blog. (Crowe does some nice stuff at the Nest, by the way - and appears to be a good, Madness-abiding college hoops head, too.)

. . . All sorts of spin being spun on this one. But the truth of the matter is it’s a cost-cutter and the trend of now in the business.

. . . Zolak - who had been in the running for the CN8 11:30 p.m. “Out of Bounds” hosting gig - would seem to a perfect option for WEEI, except the Entercommers are top heavy on Pats peeps. He’d also be logical for ESPN 890, except ESPN 890 probably isn’t in any position to be taking on more salary or even contract appearance fees. (Not to mention Mike Felger is already strong enough on football - he needs guys for other sports.) There is still that low murmur that says the Patriots would like to get Zolak more involved in Kraft Productions products and even the lingering test ballon that was sent up mid-season to indicate Gino Cap could be on his way out with Zo has his radio replacement.

Gresh, meanwhile, has some roots in the ground in Bristol and you can likely look for him to get further entrenched. We could also see a pick-up in his Comcast SportsNet appearances.

. . . Lots of nationwide Citadel bloodletting recently.