'Mike's On'- YES Network To Split After Nearly 12 Years

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- "Mike's On: Francesa on the FAN" will no longer be simulcast on the YES Network beginning in February, WFAN host Mike Francesa announced on Monday afternoon.

The legendary radio host reflected on his time with YES following the major announcement.

"We've had a great relationship," Francesa said. "I think they've been tremendous partners in every way ... What we always tried to do -- and we made it a little harder for YES, and they've done a great job with it -- we told them we wanted it to be a radio show that they kind of eavesdropped on, not a show that we played to the TV audience.

"...The difficulties we've had over the last 12 years I can count on one hand, if I can even count them on one hand. I don't think we've had three or four arguments in 12 years. They've been great partners in every way. We've enjoyed it, and it is coming to an end ... 12 years in TV is a long time, it's a long time."

The afternoon program -- formerly "Mike and the Mad Dog" -- which airs daily from 1 p.m-6:30 p.m., has been simulcast on YES since the network launched in 2002.

"It's not one reason, it never is one reason," Francesa said regarding the end of the partnership. "You'll see that economics is an issue ... Economics is always an issue. It's an issue in everything. That's just the way it is. Is it the only issue? No. It's not the only issue. There are other issues. Editorial control is definitely an issue, always has been an issue. It's always been a touchy issue."

Francesa said that he knew in the summer that the show wouldn't continue on the network, and that the program will be simulcast through the end of January before the sides go their separate ways.

Is has yet to be determined which network "Mike's On" will be simulcast on moving forward.

"We'll see what happens," Francesa said. "I'm not gonna have any discussions. There have been no discussions with anybody else, at least on our end ...  On my end, there have been no discussions. I haven't planned any yet. I have had people call, I've had people call today. But I'm not setting anything up until we finish with this program, which will be the end of January."

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