Is Craig Carton Leaving WFAN? Why is Craig Leaving WFAN?
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Jun 16, 2023
Who is Craig Carton?
Craig Harris Carton, born on January 31, 1969, is a well-known American radio and television personality. He is currently serving as the co-host of the Carton and Roberts sports radio program on WFAN in New York City. Additionally, he hosts The Carton Show on Fox Sports 1, which is broadcast nationally. From 2007 to 2017, Carton co-hosted the highly successful Boomer and Carton show on WFAN and later on CBS Sports Network.
During its impressive 10-year run, Boomer and Carton achieved remarkable success, becoming the most popular show in WFAN history, particularly among men aged 25 to 54. Unfortunately, in September 2017, Carton resigned from the program and WFAN after being arrested for securities and wire fraud.
He received a prison sentence of three and a half years and was released after serving 12 months in 2020. Following his release, WFAN rehired him, and he currently co-hosts the top-rated afternoon-drive program alongside Evan Roberts.
In addition to his radio and television work, Carton also hosts a podcast and public service show called Hello, My Name Is Craig. This program aims to assist listeners in overcoming gambling addiction and addressing other related issues. Recently, the show celebrated its 100th episode, showcasing its growing popularity and impact
Is Craig Carton Leaving WFAN?
Yes, Craig Carton left the radio station and he decided to make some focus to deal with Fox Sports. Craig Carton, a prominent New York sports media personality, is set to leave WFAN, the radio station where he has been working for the past three years since his return from prison. Carton's departure is motivated by personal reasons and the opportunity to focus on his deal with Fox Sports.
In a statement to listeners, he expressed both happiness and sadness about his decision, emphasizing that it is unrelated to anyone at the station but rather stems from his personal life and the chance to host a show on Fox Sports 1. The contract with Fox Sports, signed last fall, is said to be worth a significant amount.
Carton gained fame as the co-host of WFAN's morning show alongside former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, taking over the slot previously held by Don Imus in 2007. After serving more than a year in prison for fraud-related charges, he was welcomed back to the station.
A documentary called "Wild Card: The Downfall of a Radio Loudmouth" aired on HBO, where Carton revealed his experience as a victim of sexual abuse as a child and his involvement in a ticket-sales fraud scheme to cover his gambling debts.
As part of his return to WFAN, Carton agreed to host a Saturday morning show called "Hello My Name is Craig," which focuses on providing resources to those affected by gambling addiction. This show is expected to continue airing even after his departure from the weekday afternoon slot on June 30.
WFAN, along with other radio assets, was acquired by Audacy (formerly Entercom) from CBS Corp. in 2017. Carton expressed the difficulty of his decision to walk away from radio, especially from WFAN. Reflecting on his past mistakes, he mentioned that three years ago, he woke up in federal prison as just a number. However, he held onto the dream of restarting his career, which ultimately helped him survive his time behind bar.
Why is Craig Leaving WFAN?
Craig Carton, a prominent sports media personality based in New York, has made the decision to depart from WFAN, a radio station where he was rehired three years ago. This return to the station followed Carton's incarceration resulting from his involvement in fraud due to his gambling addiction. His departure from WFAN is driven by his desire to shift his focus towards a new opportunity with Fox Sports.
Carton's decision to leave WFAN and pursue his deal with Fox Sports is primarily motivated by personal considerations and the well-being of his family. In a message addressed to the listeners, he clarified that his departure has no connection to anyone at WFAN, but rather stems from his own personal life and the prospects that await him at Fox Sports.
Specifically, Carton will be hosting a show on Fox Sports 1, and the contract for this venture is reported to be valued at several million dollars. The sports media personality gained considerable recognition through his role as a co-host alongside former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason on WFAN's morning show. This show, which began in 2007, replaced Don Imus in the same time slot.
Despite Carton's unfortunate involvement in fraudulent activities, he was welcomed back to WFAN after serving a prison sentence of over a year. To shed light on his experiences and challenges, HBO aired a documentary titled "Wild Card: The Downfall of a Radio Loudmouth," where Carton discussed his history of being sexually abused as a child as well as his participation in a ticket-sales fraud scheme to address his mounting gambling debts.
As part of his return to WFAN, Carton committed to hosting a Saturday morning show called "Hello My Name is Craig," which aims to provide resources and support for those affected by gambling addiction. This show is expected to continue airing even after his departure from the weekday afternoon slot on June 30.
It is worth noting that Audacy, formerly known as Entercom, acquired WFAN and other radio assets from CBS Corp. in 2017. Carton acknowledged the difficulty of his decision to step away from radio, particularly from WFAN, highlighting that three years ago, he woke up in federal prison as an anonymous inmate.
He reflected on the bad choices he made, which led him to that point, but he also shared how his dream of restarting his career played a crucial role in his survival during his time in prison.
In summary, Craig Carton, a prominent New York sports media personality, is leaving WFAN to focus on his new opportunity with Fox Sports. His decision is driven by personal factors and the chance to host a show on Fox Sports 1.
Despite his past legal troubles, Carton was rehired by WFAN after serving his prison sentence and has been hosting a successful afternoon-drive program. Additionally, he has been involved in a public service show offering support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction. Carton's departure from WFAN will not impact his Saturday morning show dedicated to helping those affected by gambling addiction.
WFAN
WFAN (660 AM) is a commercial radio station located in New York, New York. It operates with a sports radio format under the brand names "Sports Radio 66 AM and 101.9 FM" or "The Fan". The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. and primarily serves the New York metropolitan area. Its powerful 50,000-watt clear channel signal allows it to be heard at night across a large portion of the eastern United States and Canada.
WFAN's studios are situated in the Hudson Square neighborhood of lower Manhattan, while its transmitter is located on High Island in the Bronx. In addition to traditional analog broadcasting, WFAN is simulcast on WFAN-FM (101.9 FM) and can also be accessed online via Audacy's streaming platform.
The current WFAN, along with its sports format, represents the second iteration of the station in New York City. The original WFAN was launched on July 1, 1987, operating on the frequency 1050 AM. It was the world's first radio station to adopt a full-time sports radio format, offering sports-related programming around the clock.
On October 7, 1988, the WFAN call letters and sports format were transferred to the former WNBC at 660 kHz. WNBC had a long history that began in 1922 when it commenced operations as WEAF, licensed to Western Electric.
It was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1926 and became the flagship station of the NBC Radio Network, the first national radio network in the United States. Over the years, it underwent several call sign changes, evolving from WEAF to WRCA and eventually WNBC.
Today, WFAN continues to be a prominent sports radio station in New York City, delivering a wide range of sports-related content, including live game broadcasts, talk shows, and analysis. It is extensive coverage and large audience make it a significant player in the sports media landscape.
Is Craig Carton Leaving WFAN- FAQs
Craig Carton is an American radio and television personality who currently serves as the co-host of the Carton and Roberts sports radio program on WFAN in New York City. He is also the host of The Carton Show on Fox Sports 1.
WFAN is a commercial radio station located in New York, New York, with a sports radio format. It operates under the brand names "Sports Radio 66 AM and 101.9 FM" or "The Fan" and is owned by Audacy, Inc. WFAN is known for being the first radio station to adopt a full-time sports radio format around the clock.
Craig Carton is leaving WFAN to focus on his opportunity with Fox Sports. He made this decision based on personal reasons and the chance to host a show on Fox Sports 1. It is unrelated to anyone at WFAN.
Craig Carton was arrested for securities and wire fraud in 2017. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison but was released after serving 12 months in 2020. After his release, he was rehired by WFAN.
Craig Carton hosts a podcast and public service show called "Hello, My Name Is Craig." The show aims to help listeners work through their gambling addiction and other related issues.
Yes, Craig Carton's Saturday morning show, "Hello, My Name Is Craig," which focuses on providing resources for those affected by gambling addiction, will continue airing even after his departure from the weekday afternoon slot on WFAN.
WFAN's studios are located in the Hudson Square neighborhood of lower Manhattan in New York City.
The original WFAN was launched on July 1, 1987, making it the world's first radio station to adopt a full-time sports radio format. The current WFAN, operating on 660 AM, took on the call letters and sports format on October 7, 1988, after a frequency switch with WNBC