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Braves Stations

T

trusty

Just curious here... When the Braves moved to Atlanta in the 60s, their games were broadcast on, of course, WSB. Does anyone have a "diary" of which stations picked them up when they parted ways with WSB (WGST .. 96rock .. WYAY .. 100.5, etc.)? Fill in the blanks; Thanx.

dates: _____ - _____, station: _________
dates: _____ - _____, station: _________
etc.
 
I can't answer your question entirely, but when I moved to Atlanta in 1994 the Braves were on WGST. But, during WGST's run with the team, the Braves had surprisingly become championship caliber. WSB, which was on its big ratings rebound under Greg Moceri, wanted the Braves back and had the wherewithal to outbid Jacor, which owned WGST, for the team to return to 750 for the 1995 season.

Jacor CEO Randy Michaels was quoted in the AJC as saying the dollar amounts had gotten crazy. And the morning the change was announced, I recall WGST's Tom Hughes joking that the Braves were leaving WGST because he refused to wear his hair like Don Sutton.

Then following a few years (not sure of the exact number) on WSB, the station decided the rights were just not worth keeping the team, and the Braves returned to what had become Clear Channel. And then of course on to Dickey/Cumulus. WSB's dropping the team turned out to be a good move because it didn't hurt ratings at all, and the station probably wasn't making anything significant if at all with the broadcasts.
 
At the beginning of the 1991 season, WSB said that they were dropping the Braves at the end of the season. This was, of course, after a dreadful last-place 1990 season and before the worst-to-first 1991 season and the Atlanta Braves' first World Series. WGST/Jacor picked up the Braves on a 3 year deal shortly after WSB announced their decision--fortuitous timing on Jacor's part. The lack of a good night signal for 640 (vs. class A WSB) was part of the impetus for Jacor to first LMA WCHK-FM 105.7 and then buy it outright from McClure, so they wouldn't have to use Peach 94.9 for night coverage.

AFAIK the Braves were always on WSB from the time they came to town until 1992.

After the Braves left WSB at the end of the 1995 deal, it's been a merry-go-round of owners and stations.

I'm wondering how much PXP makes these days--the Stripers and Glads are on the 97.7 TOSOTR translator (I still think this deal is to spite WDUN 550), the Hawks were on the 99X 98.9 translator until 92.9 picked them up, and Georgia Tech is on WCNN 680 and its translator. Not surprising that the sportstalkers want the PXP--but the oddity is UGA still being on WSB--and WNGC 106.1, and WXKT 103.7. Either Cox makes a bunch of money off of the Bulldogs or they are paying Cox a fortune.
 
I know the Braves moved to 640 in 1992, with night games on, I believe, 94.9. They moved back to WSB for 1995 and stayed there until 2005 when the team moved back to 640 and 96 Rock. They stayed on 640 through the 2009 season but the FM was 96.1 for 2005-06, 94.9 The Bull from 2007-08 and back to Project 9-6-1 in 2009. It's been on 680 The Fan since 2010. The FM home became Rock 100.5, moved to 106.7 in 2014 and moved back to 100.5 this year.

But I don't remember what I had for lunch yesterday.
 
jabba17 said:
I'm wondering how much PXP makes these days--the Stripers and Glads are on the 97.7 TOSOTR translator (I still think this deal is to spite WDUN 550), the Hawks were on the 99X 98.9 translator until 92.9 picked them up, and Georgia Tech is on WCNN 680 and its translator. Not surprising that the sportstalkers want the PXP--but the oddity is UGA still being on WSB--and WNGC 106.1, and WXKT 103.7. Either Cox makes a bunch of money off of the Bulldogs or they are paying Cox a fortune.
Click to expand...

I don't quite understand the economics either. I do understand the small town stations who pick up the Braves or UGA (or both) as a way to goose revenue. If you're WLJA and can get a couple hundred bucks a month from a dentist who wants to support the Braves, that's great and probably the Braves are a substantial part of their monthly billing.

But that business model doesn't seem to translate to a well-rated major market station like Wiz-Bee.
 
RoddyFreeman said:
As I recall, WSB made a financial decision. The station didn't feel the benefits of carrying the Braves outweighed the high rights cost.
Click to expand...
It was financial, allright. Heard Mark Arum last night say Clear Channel (iHeart) outbid WSB by a couple o' million.
 
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