Thank goodness. Kudos to JC for the scoop.

Basilio accepts WKVL offer

By Chuck Cavalaris, News-Sentinel sportswriter

Tony Basilio is back in the game.
The local sports talk host will return to the air waves on Feb. 4 at WKVL 850-AM, Horne Radio Group general manager Mike Beverly confirmed Monday.

Basilio had spent almost four years with WTXM (95.7-FM, 1240-AM), which canceled its 24-hour sports talk format earlier this month.

"Our official stance is as soon as we heard Tony was available we jumped on it," said Beverly, who manages 11 stations between Sweetwater and Morristown. "The timing is good because Tony will be coming back on the Monday before national signing day (Feb. 6) for college football."

Basilio was visiting relatives in Philadelphia and was not available for comment. He had classified his reaction as "one of total shock and complete surprise" when informed of WTXM's programming change eight days ago.

"My goal is to re-emerge in this market in the afternoon," Basilio said last week.

He is getting his wish, on a 50,000 watt station located near Watt Road.

Basilio will be on the air in his usual 3-6 p.m. slot and will follow former sidekick Dewey Warren. The weekday show of the former University of Tennessee quarterback will be expanded by an hour, airing from noon until 3.

The syndicated "Southern Sports Tonight" is scheduled for 6-9 p.m., giving WKVL a nine-hour block of sports programming on week days. The former "Conference Calls" show is produced in Memphis.

The status of the on-air talent called "The Team" that Basilio assembled at his previous station has not been determined.

"Right now, it's just Tony," Beverly said. "We will talk to the other sidekicks after Tony gets over here."













Copyright 2001 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.
Click for permission to reprint




January 15, 2002

I'm pleasantly surprised because I thought Tony was probably through with Knoxville after getting burned by TXM. Hopefully with Tony & Dewey being on the air back to back they can challenge each other to bring better sports talk radio to a city/area in desperate need of it.

Now if only KVL could get Bruno on in the mornings. I'm not a fan of Southern Sheep Tonight, just never been big on Howell and McKinney. The Station loses power in the mid afternoon anyway and it's hard to hear over the scrambled signals.

I need my Bruno fix in the mornings.

-------------------------
Demand Excellence
from your University!
..so says the Mouthpiece

1-4 vs. UGA & LSU 2000-2001
disgusting

MOUTHPIECE. Beggars can't be chooser's. -Having Basilio
back is a BIG relief, but Bruno is still tearing at me.
I am addicted, and my skin is starting to crawl. -We
have to get FOX sports back, at least in the AM.

Appreciate being able to read the news right out of the gate this AM.
Also props are due to JC. He does have connections, thats for sure.

The fact that he is no longer on the air in Knoxville is an outrage.