JMV quits WNDE radio show

One of the city’s most popular talk radio hosts is moving on.
 
John Michael Vincent, host of The Drive with JMV on WNDE-AM 1260, has quit his job as afternoon drive time host on the sports-talk station. Rick Green, Clear Channel’s local market manager, confirmed Vincent’s departure this morning. JMV hosted his show through last week. Monday, he was suddenly replaced by Jimmy “Mad Dog” Matis. San Antonio-based Clear Channel owns WNDE along with WFBQ-FM 94.7 and WRZX-FM 103.3.

Vincent resigned without giving any advance notice on Monday, Green said "for what he termed personal reasons."

Vincent’s role with WTHR-TV Channel 13 will not change, according to the station’s general manager, Jim Tellus.

“He will continue to be a free-lance, weekend sports anchor and field reporter for us,” Tellus said. “He does a lot of work in the field during the Colts games, doing man-on-the street stuff with the tailgate crowd and he’s very good at that.”

Tellus, who was unaware this morning of Vincent’s departure from WNDE, said JMV has no long-term contract with the station.
 
Vincent had been locked in a ratings battle with WFNI-AM 1070’s afternoon sports-talk show hosted by Indianapolis Star sports columnist Bob Kravitz and Eddie White. WFNI’s parent company, locally-based Emmis Communications Corp., has poured tens of thousands of dollars into marketing White and Kravitz’s show, and during the most recently released ratings by New York-based Arbitron Inc., WFNI edged in front of WNDE in the afternoon drive-time ratings. 

Clear Channel's Green said he hopes to hire a permanent replacement for JMV by Jan. 1.

"We want to get someone in place because we're going to have a busy January with the Colts," Green said. "We're going to look to hire the best on-air talent we can find. If that person has local ties, that would be our preference, but we'll have a broad search."

Matis and a cadre of JMV's former special guests will work as fill-in hosts on the afternoon show until a permanent replacement is hired, Green said.