Junker fired by Fox Sports Net
Guy Junker, one of the most recognizable Pittsburgh television sports personalities in the past two decades, was fired by Fox Sports Net on Thursday.
Citing a "series of structural changes," Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh executives severed their ties with the Pittsburgh television and radio talk-show host.
Junker, 47, of Shaler, said Fox Sports general manager Larry Eldridge, news director Shawn McClintock and executive producer Paul Kosuth called him into an office on Thursday afternoon and told him his contract would not be renewed.
"I'm pretty stunned," Junker said Friday, before the final SportsBeat show since he started with the program on old KBL in March of 1991. "I'm almost speechless."
Junker also had worked for Fox on Pittsburgh Sports Tonight, a nightly regional sportscast.
Junker said farewell to his viewers at the conclusion of the SportsBeat show on Friday night, reiterating that his departure wasn't his decision. An emotional Stan Savran shook Junker's hand, calling his co-host of 3,000 shows a great partner and a better friend.
Junker said he will remain working for the Penn State Football Story and Penn State Hoops weekly television programs and the Steeler Radio Network.
Known for the "Stan, Guy, love the show" introduction used by many of the callers and his credible, wide-ranging knowledge of Pittsburgh sports, Junker said the decision met mixed reactions in the North Side offices.
"If one more person comes up to me in tears... ," Junker said. "I think mostly very few people were behind it. But it's the ones with the most power."
Eldridge said Fox Sports Net is undergoing a "series of structural changes" -- he would not elaborate -- and said the decision to fire Junker was not related to specifically anything in his on-air performance.
"Guy has been an integral part of the growth and success in what was KBL and now is Fox Sports Net," Eldridge said. "He's a very accomplished anchor and he's had a terrific career. This decision was based on the anticipated changes I see coming ahead."
Junker said he offered to work through the conclusion of his contract in June, but was turned down. Sources at the station said the reason for the dismissal was a personality conflict between McClintock and Junker.
"It was a little nitpicky," Junker said. "They said it was not air-related. The shows ratings are great. The work stands for itself. You'd have to ask them what the reasons are. They are not very substantial."
The Pittsburgh station also produces Fox Sports Net Midwest, which is seen in three million homes in the midwest, according to Eldridge.
"With some of the structural changes that are happening, when we evaluated the whole scenario, despite being painful and difficult, this is the decision we ended up making," Eldridge said.
Staff writer Ryan Buncher contributed to this report
