Imagine dedicating over three decades of your life to a career you love, only to have it abruptly taken away. That’s exactly what happened to Eric Worden, the beloved morning radio host of 93.7 BOB FM in Norfolk, Virginia. But here’s where it gets heartbreaking—after more than 35 years on the air, Eric and his wife Julianne, who served as the station’s general sales manager and program director, were informed their time at the station was over—just moments after his final show aired on Wednesday. In an emotional Facebook Live announcement (https://www.facebook.com/MorningGuyEric/videos/1579438853027065), Eric shared, ‘I’m really broken-hearted to tell you that today it came to an end. We’re both still very numb.’ He went on to express his gratitude to listeners, saying, ‘I want to tell you guys how much I appreciate the amazing support you’ve given me and Jules. Combined, we’ve had 60 years of service to this radio station group.’
Owned by Sinclair Communications (https://sinclairstations.com/), the company has been in a state of transition since the passing of its longtime owner, Bob Sinclair Sr., earlier this year (https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/05/03/bob-sinclair-obit/?clearUserState=true). And this is the part most people miss—while Eric acknowledged that radio layoffs often stem from ratings, he emphasized, ‘Our numbers have been outstanding.’ So, what really happened? According to a statement from Bob Sinclair Jr., the current General Manager, the decision was purely financial: ‘In a fragmented and challenging media landscape, sometimes difficult decisions must be made… These decisions were purely financial and not based on performance.’
But here’s the controversial part: If it wasn’t about performance, why let go of two seasoned professionals with a combined six decades of experience? Is this a sign of deeper troubles within the industry, or a strategic shift by new leadership? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Meanwhile, WAVY is still investigating how many other Sinclair employees were affected. Stay tuned to WAVY.com for updates, and let’s keep the conversation going about the future of local radio.
