World Football Daily
World Football Daily, formerly known as World Soccer Daily, is a sports radio talk show hosted by Steven Cohen and Kenny Hassan. The show is currently available via Ustream, live streaming audio over the internet, and audio podcast. When known as World Soccer Daily, it aired live on weekdays from 10:00 a.m.â12:00 p.m. PST on Sirius Channel 125.
The hosts discuss a broad range of topics related to association football. The primary topics discussed include the Premier League; UEFA Champions League; FIFA World Cup, including qualification; United States men's national soccer team, and England national football team.
History of the show
World Soccer Daily
In 2002, Steven Cohen and Nick Geber founded Soccer Weekly Inc, with Cohen acting as CEO and Geber as President. The two began hosting World Soccer Weekly on Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles, California. As the show grew into new markets and became a weekly show the name was eventually re-titled World Soccer Daily. On February 26, 2007, it was announced on air that sometime in April 2007 Geber would be leaving the show in order to pursue other projects, including an expanded format for his current Bluff Magazine poker radio program. It was announced at the time that he would instead become the first option fill-in host, while Howard Rogers, the previous first option fill-in host, would be taking over Nick's duties as full time co-host. Geber remains a partner in the company that owns the radio program and has filled in as a guest host when available.
In March 2007, Cohen and Geber were featured in FourFourTwo, a British association football magazine. They were also in the Australian and American edition. The radio show is the top soccer-related show in North America, and at one point was one of the top 10 most popular sports podcasts on iTunes.
On February 5, 2008, Steven parted ways with Howard Rogers. Kenny Hassan replaced Rogers as co-host.
Controversy and cancellation
Host Steven Cohen has faced criticism as a result of statements he has made in regards to the Hillsborough Disaster. Liverpool fans were the root cause and perpetrators of the incident.. This sparked a boycott of the show as well as a letter-writing campaign to the shows sponsors by certain Liverpool supporters groups. Cohen cancelled World Soccer Daily on August 21, 2009.
World Football Daily
On August 27, 2009 it was announced via their web site that World Football Daily would launch on August 31, 2009 as a new program. The new format for the show was launched with the intent to "change the way football is discussed by bringing a football show of the people, for the people and by the people straight to the people" The show is now run on a subscription service.
Show personnel
Current
- Steven Cohen - Full time host
- Kenny Hassan - Full time host
- Rafael Gonzales - Producer
- Casey Keirnan - Intern
- James Cranford - Intern
In addition to the show's regular staff and hosts, a number of guests often make appearances as fill-in hosts for Cohen and Hassan. Guest hosts of the past include former full-time WSD host Nick Geber, ESPN's Georgie Bingham, Howard Rogers, Sir Harvey Cohen (Steven's father) and Fox Soccer Channel's Nick Webster.
Guests and correspondents
In early 2008, World Soccer Daily increased the frequency of guest appearances on the show. These guests include:
- football commentator Martin Tyler
- football pundit Robbie Earle
- Fox Soccer Channel's Bobby McMahon
- ESPN's commentator Derek Rae
- Setanta Sports commentator Pat Dolan
- Daniel King of London's Daily Mail
- International referee Graham Poll
- Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl
And in an effort live up to its name and expand its coverage beyond the EPL the show has brought on a number of regular foreign correspondents. These include:
- Massimo Lopes Pena of La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy
- Phil Ball from San Sebastian, Spain
- Johannes Berendt of Germany
- Tim Vickery who covers South America for BBC Sport
- Sayed Otaru of Nigeria
- Andy Brassell who covers Europe
- Sean Wheelock who covers CONCACAF for BBC Sport
Former personnel
- Nick Geber - former co-host (replaced by Howard Rogers)
- Howard Rogers - former co-host (replaced by Kenny Hassan)
- Mauro Toledo - former South American correspondent (replaced by Tim Vickery)
- Matt Schaben - former producer (Now Nick Geber's Producer)
See also
- Sirius Satellite Radio
- Fox Football Fone-in