This is all very simple -- As long as Hooters supplies the dough, there will always be a show. If there was not a major sponsor involved with this program, there is no doubt this show would not exist. This scenario is also a problem with WWBA and its awful mix of block programming on weekends, as "Smedge" has pointed out. Simply put, these stations are comprising their content for a quick financial fix. Unfortunately, the stations with low/no ratings feel the need to do this instead of doing things the right way. For example, I would listen to The Beast much more if the weekday lineup was Tony Bruno 9A-Noon, JP Peterson Noon-3P and Bobby Fenton 3P-6P (Fenton is just 27, but he's a future talent. I've been listening to him with Earnest Graham on that Jim Brown Dodge NFL Playoff show and he is really good). I don't think there's any question that those three programs would be a quality mix of national/local sports radio and could at least take some share away from WDAE with Beckles/Diaz 9A-Noon, Jim Rome Noon-3P and Steve Duemig 3P-7P. I listen to a lot of sports radio and signal aside, The Beast could at least compete with a guy like Peterson instead of the Chix. Seriously, WDAE's lineup is not that good, but its signal is incredible. Speaking of signal, WHBO's is just awful. I would like to listen to Peterson's Noon-3P program more, but that signal is just terrible. Unfortunately, Scot Brantley follows Peterson and would be terrible on a station with a blow torch for a signal. I think Brantley's situation is similar to the Chix. He's been around Tampa Bay for 28 years and brings WHBO advertisers, but can any knowledgeable sports radio listener stand to listen? One would think CBS radio could lure Peterson from WHBO and think about "long term radio gains" than the "short term radio pains" of the Chix. Why can't these stations realize that quality programming equals more listeners equals higher ratings equals more advertising dollars equals a winning situation for everyone involved? Instead, The Beast is comprising its programming with the Chix, which gives the station minimal/no share and sports radio listeners in Tampa like me look elsewhere.
