Big Lead Sports Bar

7/07/2009

THE END OF "SAVRAN ON SPORTSBEAT"



After an amazing 18-year run, FSN's Savran on Sportsbeat will be cancelled due to strictly financial reasons, according to FSN owner Liberty Media.

The show debuted on March 11, 1991, originally titled only as Sportsbeat. Stan Savran has been the host since February, 1992, co-hosting with Guy Junker from '92 through 2003 and flying solo from 2003 until now.

The show became somewhat of a Pittsburgh institution, with the "Stan...Guy...love the show" line etching a permanent mark in the dialect affectionately known as Pittsburghese. Savran's knowledgeable and personable style meshed perfectly with Junker's, and together they developed into a duo that Pittsburgh sports fans felt very comfortable with.

While Savran's future with FSN looks to be unknown, he can still be heard every day with Junker and Chris Mack on ESPN 1250 AM, where they were reunited last year.

I had the opportunity to interview Stan and Guy after the taping of their radio show last year, and I can tell you that they were very accommodating and told some fantastic stories. Most of all, though, their true love of sports really shined through. Many personalities in the genre these days fill their show with talk about celebrities, politics, etc.; but this pair is about sports...period. The exit of Sportsbeat is about to leave be a gaping hole in the Pittsburgh sports media universe. I don't know what FSN has planned as a replacement, but odds are that it will not have anywhere near the impact that this program had on the local sports scene.

"Savran on Sportsbeat'' to be cancelled [Bob Smizik Blog]
MONDESI'S HOUSE INTERVIEW: ESPN 1250'S STAN SAVRAN AND GUY JUNKER [MH]

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18 comments:

Rege said...

This is like a death in the family.

Anonymous said...

This news and Sonni Abatta leaving makes this the worst week in Pittsburgh media history.

AJ said...

Seriously... I watch this show every night while I eat dinner.

Life won't be the same without the Tunch-a-strator, the annual NFL mock draft, or hearing Stan tell 15 callers every night that they have to turn down the volume on their TV.

I only hope that WPXI counters this by moving the Fedko Fone Zone into this time slot.

Robert Ullman said...

Does FSN Pittsburgh ever make good decisions? First Mike Lange, now this...what a joke of a network. At least the radio show is still entertaining, and I can listen to it in Virginia!

Jeff_King_Fan said...

my favorite SOS moment was when there was a call-in contest. stan read the question: "Who is behind Franco Harris for the Steelers all-time touchdown leader?" He told viewers about the great prize for the 15th caller who answered the question correctly. He paused, then TRIED to read the contest question again. "Jerome Bettis, who has...wait....oops." It was classic Stan as he gave away the answer before the contest even started. He was laughing, the crew was laughing, and I'm sure the viewers got a kick out of it. Hope we dont have to wait long to see him back on TV

BURGH08 said...

It's just the slow death of the sports media market here. The guys like Steigerwald/Colony/Savaran get squeezed out or minimized.

Meanwhile, they hire the Jory Rands, Mike Logan's and Eddy Crow's.

I guess you truly do get what you pay for.

Real McCoy said...

I might not go as far as saying a death in the family.

At least a good solid kick in the nuts and a perfect ending to what has been a pretty lousy day.

RizzoSports said...

In what parallel universe can Stan's show get canceled, and ESPN 1250's theDrive still be on the air. Does this make my show the longest running in Western PA over 6 years now? However I think Bob Tatrn has been going on for longer. Stan was great, but could he compete with this, http://www.familylifetv.com/VOD/SPORTS/RIZ-09-0630.html

RizzoSports said...

In what parallel universe can Stan's show get canceled, and ESPN 1250's theDrive still be on the air. Does this make my show the longest running in Western PA over 6 years now? However I think Bob Tatrn has been going on for longer. Stan was great, but could he compete with this, http://www.familylifetv.com/VOD/SPORTS/RIZ-09-0630.html

BURGH08 said...

The Drive is horrible, but nobody knows or cares about you Rizzo.

jmarinara said...

Who the heck is this Rizzo dude?

I never watched SOS, but I generally liked Stan. Hopefully someone competent can take over FSN, and soon. Losing Mike Lange was one of the worst decision in the history of ALL TIME decisions.

Ed B said...

I like many other transplanted pittsburghers have been watching religiously Savarn on sportsbeat since november of 2000. I am crushed. This was the link to my home. For the past two years I have canceled the baseball package because the Pirates were a horrible example of a major league operation. But Sportsbeat that was the bomb. I have not missed an episode thanks to TIVO since 2000. I have never called but faithfully watched. This is a sad day here in Denver for me and those who I have turned on to the program. When I last visited pittsburgh I met my two nephews and got behind the windows and was able to come home and ser them thanks to tivo.Stan and your team, you have done a super job for all of us across the country and you and your staff will sorely be missed, thankyou for all you did. Hope somehow you get back on the air. I still can not erase the last couple of shows. Over all the years you never had unkind words to say to even the worst callers, you always allowed them to keep their dignity.We will miss you its like loosing a tremendous friend.
Ed Bannias in Denver Colorado

Unknown said...

The best,simply the best.Living in Cumberland, Maryland, Stan is my lifeline to Pittsburgh sports. Class,Warmth and Style.
Thank You,STAN

MrZIp66 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MrZIp66 said...

Next to the cups and the superbowl wins, the best part was coming home from work the next day after every game and watching Stan Savran on the tivo. Was a fixture in our house, and our connection to the burgh. Living in the southwest, its all we really had.

Good luck stan. You'll be missed. I have absolutely no reason to watch FSN now. You can fill his spot with even more fluff I guess if thats what people want. Damn shame.

jessnpcola said...

Where do i sign the petition?They can't take Stan off the air.Where am i going to get my steeler coverage and pirates and pens,this is a sad day.Stan is the best and someone needs to put him back on tv.It lloks like i will be cancelling my fsn package but i will wait to see if stans on the pirates pregame.HEY RIZZO you are a STUP you say stan couldn't compete i never even heard of you.You will never make it as far as Stan or last as long,I already don't like you.BRING BACK STAN!

Rich Krall said...

I just can't believe this, Stan is gone? This was my only link to the Burgh having moved many years ago and I so enjoyed Stan and the sports beat with all my favorite teams. I am sure they could have found other ways to fix their issues but taking Stan off the air was a big mistake. I will miss you Stan and hope to see you on the air again soon!

Unknown said...

This is awful. What will we do without Stan? Surely there's a way to bring him back. Tom & Judy