Andy Bloom out at SportsRadio 94.1 WIP

Sportsradio 94.1 WIP operations manager Andy Bloom appears to be the latest casualty of cutbacks that have hit both CBS Radio and TV hard this year in Philadelphia.

"It is part of another restructure and strictly a budgetary move," Bloom said Friday afternoon. "That has happened across the industry over the past several years. It's been an incredible 8 years with CBS Philly."

David Yadgaroff, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Philly, would only confirm that Bloom "is no longer with CBS Radio."

The move comes as WIP's chief competitor, 97.5 The Fanatic, has reignited a ratings war by hiring former WIP host Anthony Gargano as a new morning host, where he has developed into a serious challenger to reigning morning champ Angelo Cataldi.

The timing of Bloom's departure is surprising, considering the proximity to Christmas and Wing Bowl 24, the station's largest event. No word if program director Spike Eskin, who is also a co-host of "The Josh Innes Show," will shoulder some of Bloom's responsibilities.

In addition of overseeing WIP, Bloom had been in charge of the struggling 1210 WPHT, the least popular of all six local CBS stations thanks to ratings declines.

Earlier this year, new management at CBS3 fired Beasley Reece, Kathy Orr and Chris May. Longtime KYW Newsradio newsman Vince Hill was also laid off back in July.