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97.5 Flips to Sports on Monday

This could mean huge problems for WIP...Mike Missinelli is already taking a chunk of Howard Eskin's ratings...I think WIP has it coming though. They are not the sports powerhouse they used to be ..their line-up has got progressively worse..It almost seems like they will just throw anyone on the air...Paul Jolivitz is by far the most unlistenable talent I have heard on WIP...and now he's on alot. Ike Reese was a disaster by himself at night..Rob Cherry, I like but everyone I know Can not stand him. I still think the mid day show is quality. I think they should get Ike Reese off Howard Eskin's show immediatley and get him a new partner immediatley.
I'm curious is this why WPEN got rid of Jodi Mac? I liked him alot better than the always shouting "Swarts"...I find Harry Mays likeable, however.
This is a smart move by 97.5...I think 610 WIP has become somewhat stale compared to the old product. I remember the days of Angelo..Mac and Mac..Missinelli and Fredricks...Howard Eskin....and...ok I hated G Cobb but the rest was dynamite.
 
So we've all speculated...does it mean WYSP becomes the other FM sports talker? I honestly don't think so, but the guessing game is fun.
 
All this move does is help the terrible signal problem, and it fits in with Greater Media's reputation for being cheap, as this move makes some noise in the market and it doesn't cost any big time capital (other than the loss of not making the previous FM format work). However, until the folks at corporate in Mass. decide to INVEST in their product, and not just the terrestrial radio product, it doesn't matter how better a signal is, you can't cover-up non-compelling content. You get what you pay for. If it's not "must listen" it doesn't matter if it's AM/FM/satellite or online, and unfortunately, very little of the station's overall programming is compelling.
 
This will be great. And IP definitely needs to find an FM home now. YSP is the logical choice.

Two FM sport talkers in Philly. How wild would that be. Pretty cool for the greatest sports town in America.
 
Honest question for debate/discussion: how big a deal is it for talk on AM vs FM. I'm thinking, as a listener, it really doesn't make a difference to me whether the latest call from Bob in Marlton complaining about Andy Ried/Charlie Manuel/whoever is on 950, 610, 97.5 or 94.1. Is it a big deal? Does it make the complaining about whatever allegedly boneheaded move someone made all that much better because it's on the FM band?
 
imhomerjay said:
Honest question for debate/discussion: how big a deal is it for talk on AM vs FM. I'm thinking, as a listener, it really doesn't make a difference to me whether the latest call from Bob in Marlton complaining about Andy Ried/Charlie Manuel/whoever is on 950, 610, 97.5 or 94.1. Is it a big deal? Does it make the complaining about whatever allegedly boneheaded move someone made all that much better because it's on the FM band?
Click to expand...

Yes, because FM isn't subject to the same signal issues that AM is - especially at night and near powerlines. And while not that important for talk, it does make games sound better (background sounds print better and it sounds more lifelike). This also helps with young'ns who don't listen to AM but who like FM.

I hope classic oldies lands on 950 - GM has oldies on their NJ AM properties, and WMTR does fairly well in the ratings considering its signal and proximity to WCBS-FM
 
Not sure I'd go the music route again on 950. I would add another local show to 97.5 and put Full time ESPN on 950.
Clear ESPN on 97.5 on weekends and at night.

I would also make a major push to grab a major property....ala the Phillies. An FM stick might be the one way to lure them away from 1210.

And when you had sports conflicts, you could put the Villanova Football games on 950, for example.
 
"I would add another local show to 97.5..."

"I would also make a major push to grab a major property....ala the Phillies. An FM stick might be the one way to lure them away from 1210..."

Hey Seltzer, an honest question. Do you really think Greater Media would invest the kind of money needed to properly accomplish the two items you mention?
If they do, I'll be the first to say, "Congratulations, you are serious about the sports radio marketplace in Philly." But I wouldn't hold my breath, especially with the way the economy is still acting up, and the Phillies value has never been higher.
 
Bsquared,

You very well may be correct. GM may not make the investment.

Moving to FM is the first sign of a commitment, although I think CBS will follow suit and move WIP to FM as well.

PEN need to be as local as possible to compete with IP.

It's up to them. Talk programming done right, either regular or sports, is a lot more expensive than a music format.

This is Philadelphia. Done right, this station could make a ton of money.

It's up to them.
 
How about Preston and Steve as the new local morning show on 97.5? Put something with a lot more music in the morning on MMR (maybe the current afternoon show?). Then leave weekday morning/afternoon ESPN programming on 950. Simulcast the ESPN stuff on both stations in the off hours.

So what do people think? Do P&S fit better on a rock station or an FM sports station?
 
Monday has arrived.

I am listening to PEN on the NUW website.

This is going to be great,

How long til CBS makes their move?
 
Monday has arrived.

I am listening to PEN on the NUW website.

This is going to be great,

How long til CBS makes their move?
 
As for what happens to WPEN... I have a suggestion. Now, bear with me for a second. They can pick Classic Oldies, Standards/AC (perhaps a bit more modern than they were before) or even Classic Country (this last option being a bit less likely).

But here's the difference this time: They run it pretty much the way Ben-FM was run - totally automated with news/weather/sports/traffic inserts from Metro in AM and PM drive. Make the automation slick and tight, and use interesting and clever imaging and liners. But essentially run it staff-free (production would be picked up by existing Greater Media personel). Maybe a request show on a Saturday night - provided it was sponsored (and, therefore, profitable).

What's more, every time a professional or major college sports game needs an outlet due to contractual obligations on any other station, you put it on WPEN. Again, a guaranteed money-maker.

There are those who say it's not worth trying music again on AM. But, frankly, I can't see another talk format in Philly. I'm sure you can fill the schedule with syndicated talk - but that's sure to lose just as it does in most markets. The only way I can see talk working is if it's 100 percent local, very good and highly promoted. And I don't see Greater Media making that kind of commitment. What's more - no one has ever tried music on WPEN since the power increase.

But - PUH-LEEZE - don't waste 50 thousand watts at the center of the AM dial on brokered time or religion.
 
I think CBS will move 'IP ASAP. I wouldn't be surprised if they're on 94.1 by Monday. By the way, I like the idea of P&S on 97.5. They essentially do a guy-talk show anyway.
 
Preston & Steve would make great sense for 97.5 The Fanatic in the morning.

And, if CBS follows suit and puts WIP on 94.1, that's one less rock competitor for MMR.
 
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