'The Spread' show terminated

Former Husker All-American Jason Peter was told Monday his radio show, “The Spread” on ESPN 1480, was terminated immediately by Three Eagles Communications.

The sports talk show featured Peter and  Jeff Wilkerson from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and had been on the air since the summer of  2007.

“They, the general manager Joy Patten and program director Mark Taylor, called us in and said it was an economy thing and we were done,” Peter said. “They said more changes were coming at the station but didn’t say what.”

Peter said he was puzzled by the move just days  before Nebraska plays Texas in the Big 12 title game in Dallas. He said he was told two months ago that “everything was fine and that ratings were far beyond what was expected.”

He added: “I don’t know how they explain to advertisers who joined on because of my voice or the show.”

Wilkerson also was perplexed. Three Eagles let him go as the station’s program director as well.

“This is local radio in a recession,” Wilkerson said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

Patten was unavailable for comment, failing to return phone messages Monday afternoon.

Three Eagles replaced “The Spread”  Monday with a nationally syndicated show from ESPN Radio hosted by former Oklahoma State basketball player Doug Gottlieb.

“The Spread” began in September 2007 with  then-program director Chris Schmidt, Peter and part-timer Wilkerson as hosts. It replaced the locally produced “Average Joe Show.”

Three Eagles removed Schmidt from the show the following year and released him in November 2008.

Wilkerson was hired full-time and became program director following Schmidt’s departure from the show.

Ratings surveys showed “The Spread”  held its own  among its target demographic, men ages 25 to 54.

According to Arbitron, the station ranked fourth in the demographic during drive time (3 to 7 p.m.) in the Spring 2009 survey, finishing behind 96KX, KLIN and Froggy 98.

“The Spread” was No. 1 among men ages 25 to 54 last fall during the college and pro football season.

 “I thought we did a good production,” Wilkerson said. “I thought the show was good. Obviously, it took time for us to get on track. That happens with any new show.”

Peter, who wrote a New York Times bestseller, “Hero of the Underground,”  said he will continue with a weekly show “Under the Helmet,” with Elissa Campbell Walker on radio in Texas and will pursue other radio or TV jobs. He will also continue his public speaking and fundraising efforts.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com. Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.