Prior to its Reverse Morris Trust-fueled tax-free merger with Entercom, CBS Radio’s EVP/Programming was Chris Oliviero.
“Oliviero is recognized for his pivotal role in the creation of CBS Radio’s best-in-class sports audio platform that includes many of the nation’s most successful FM sports properties along with the CBS Sports Radio national syndication network,” Entercom says on a web page devoted to Oliviero.
That page at Entercom.com will soon be deleted. Oliviero’s final day at the company is set for July 6.
In a letter sent Friday (6/22) to all Entercom employees, President/CEO David Field noted that Oliviero will remain in an advisory role through the end of 2018. “Chris has been a key leader over many years at CBS Radio and, more recently, at Entercom,” Field said. “He has made a great impact on the organization. We are saddened that Chris is leaving the company, but wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Despite Oliviero’s departure, Field rallied the troops by asserting that Entercom’s programming organization “will remain the best in the industry.” President of Programming Pat Paxton and SVP/Radio and Radio.com Programming Jeff Sottolano are now charged, at least in the interim, with operational oversight of all station groups’ programming.
Oliviero began his career in radio in 1996, as an intern on The Howard Stern Show. He had been EVP/Programming at CBS Radio since his appointment to the role in 2013. For four years prior to that, he was SVP/Programming.
After his NYU-era stint with Stern, Oliviero joined pioneering Sports Talker WFAN-AM 660 as a producer upon graduation in 1998. He was named Executive Producer for WNEW-FM 102.7 in 2000, during its Hot Talk period, and became part of CBS Radio’s corporate staff in 2004, following WNEW’s ill-fated format change to AC as “Blink.”
