By Dave Hughes, DRTV.com

After reportedly more than a month of negotiations on a new contract, Anita Marks and CBS Radio's Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, will be parting ways after four years.

Rumblings-a-plenty surfaced since WJZ-FM launched its sports talk format in late 2008 claiming the two halves of its afternoon show, Scott Garceau and Marks, didn't get along -- despite both denying any rift between them.

According to Jim Williams at the Examiner, Marks and WJZ-FM could not craft an agreement that would give her the freedom to explore other national TV options while working for CBS Radio.

However, others say CBS Radio just didn't want her back on the show, as supported by anti-Marks postings on Baltimore Sun's Web site after it reported Marks' departure.

Sun media columnist David Zurawik said he detected some "sociological undercurrents" in the pile of anti-Marks comments he's received as well as a strong hint of "sexism" from many male posters.

"I believe men will accept certain kinds of women sportscasters -- particularly ones who go out of their way to defer to male knowledge and authority. The one thing no one will ever accuse Marks of being is deferential," he wrote in his "Z On TV" blog at BaltimoreSun.com.

It is not clear yet what CBS will do to replace Marks on "Scott Garceau and Anita Marks Show" which is currently "The Scott Garceau Show." The most likely option, at least for the time being, is to keep Garceau a solo host with a parade of guest hosts.

"I had a great run in Baltimore, but in the end I had to do what is best for my career so it is time to move on,” Marks said in a statement. “They say success is a journey not a specific destination and this part of my journey has been wonderful.

“I want to thank the management of CBS Radio in Baltimore as well as the people in promotions, production, sales and all of the sponsors who were so helpful and so kind to me throughout my entire stay in Baltimore. I would also like to thank the on-air staff and of course Scott who made coming to work every day both a professional challenge as well as a true joy.

“I would like to thank the fans for being so wonderful to me over the years. You have taken me in as a real member of the community and allowed me to experience the passion, honor and love for your city and your sports teams. I love you all for that more than you will ever know."

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Baltimore sports talker WVIE, Fox 1370, asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to triple its nighttime power to 24,000 watts, more than three times its current post-sunset power level. WVIE already sports a 50,000-watt daytime signal, which gives it decent coverage even throughout the Washington, D.C., area.

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As part of Comcast's recently-launched ESPN On-Demand offering, which includes sports documentaries from ESPN's critically acclaimed "30 for 30" film series, digital TV customers in the Washington and Baltimore areas can now watch a batch of "regionally relevant" documentaries including "Without Bias" about University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias and "The Band That Wouldn't Die" about the Baltimore Colts marching band after the team moved to Indianapolis. The programs are available in the "Get Local" folder of Comcast's main On-Demand menu, under "Sports" and "ESPN 30 for 30" menus.

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Comcast SportsNet said it posted all-time record ratings for regular season Washington Capitals coverage -- earning a 3.3 household rating and a 6.5 rating in the key demographic, men age 25-54, during a recent road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The National Hockey League's premier rivalry attracted an average of 88,000 combined households in the Washington (76,000) and Baltimore (12,000) markets during the Capitals' 6-3 win over the Penguins. During the third period, the game earned peak ratings of 4.2 in Washington and 1.5 in Baltimore, which equates to 113,000 combined households.

Posted January 28, 2010