Basketball on the radio

[toombs44]

I know Georgia is a football state, but I will ask this question anyway. Why don't more stations carry high school basketball?

Is it because it is hard to sell? Nobody wants to hear it? You have to carry both the girl's and the boy's game? Or, you can't find anybody who can do it?

On Friday nights there is high school football all over the airways..on Friday nights... during basketball season..its all music.

After calling games for over two decades on the radio, I haven't done one, on the radio, in three years. Instead I have been doing them on the Internet- for little or no pay, to a little or no audience.

Can't one of you media decision makers..give an old, washed up announcer one more chance to call a basketball game on the radio?

Here is a sample of my most recent work..Brewton Parker College versus Lee University on January 25, 2007. It was on the Internet, but not live and for no compensation. I doubt anybody has even listened to it.

http://roundballcoach.com/downloads/basketballmp3.mp3

 

[SuperQ]

Reasons why basketball is not broadcast as much as football.

1. It's a lot of games. 25-30 nights, 50-60 actual games. That eats up a lot of air time, plus more talent fees, board ops, etc. And there are some different nights involved beside just Tuesday-Friday. People don't always know when to find the games like football.

2. You pretty much have to do boys and girls. Both teams are not usually good, which drags down some interest.

3. It is harder to sell because there is usuallly less interest than football, although there are exceptions. If you are lucky, you can get the same weekly revenue from sponsors, but that's for two or three nights a week instead of one.

4. The games are at a time when a lot of advertisers don't advertise much.

5. Most of the people who really care are at the home games.

6. There are fewer kids on the teams, therefore fewer grandmoms and uncles who might tune in.

7. Did I mention that it's harder to sell in the South and that are a ton of games?

In competitive situations, sometimes you agree to do basketball just to make sure you can get football. Sometimes you do it because you're a prosperous station and it seems like the right thing to do for the community.

And the small colleges like B-P in a small town can be a real challenge to sell. It's not your sponsors kids and neighbors on the team. They're kids from New Jersey and Florida who go to school at the local college. So there's less of a "support the team" advertising foundation.

I do high school hoops on my little station. My boys team is 3-17. The girls team is 8-12. I get down on my knees every night and pray for the end of the season to get here.

 

[radionut925]

Reasons why basketball is not broadcast as much as football.

1. It's a lot of games. 25-30 nights, 50-60 actual games. That eats up a lot of air time, plus more talent fees, board ops, etc. And there are some different nights involved beside just Tuesday-Friday. People don't always know when to find the games like football.

2. You pretty much have to do boys and girls. Both teams are not usually good, which drags down some interest.

3. It is harder to sell because there is usuallly less interest than football, although there are exceptions. If you are lucky, you can get the same weekly revenue from sponsors, but that's for two or three nights a week instead of one.

4. The games are at a time when a lot of advertisers don't advertise much.

5. Most of the people who really care are at the home games.

6. There are fewer kids on the teams, therefore fewer grandmoms and uncles who might tune in.

7. Did I mention that it's harder to sell in the South and that are a ton of games?

In competitive situations, sometimes you agree to do basketball just to make sure you can get football. Sometimes you do it because you're a prosperous station and it seems like the right thing to do for the community.

And the small colleges like B-P in a small town can be a real challenge to sell. It's not your sponsors kids and neighbors on the team. They're kids from New Jersey and Florida who go to school at the local college. So there's less of a "support the team" advertising foundation.

I do high school hoops on my little station. My boys team is 3-17. The girls team is 8-12. I get down on my knees every night and pray for the end of the season to get here.

The lack of basketball play-by-play on the radio in Georgia, especially south Georgia, isn't just limited to the high school, or even the college level. Note the handful of stations that carry Atlanta Hawks games.

Atlanta Hawks Radio Network:

http://www.nba.com/hawks/tv_radio/Hawks_Radio_Main_Page.html#affiliates

 

[toombs44]

Thanks for your comments. They sort of enhance my conclusion that my profession (play-by-play) is obsolete. That is why I am thinking about taking my 24-year communication background and getting a job at Walmart as a greeter.

"Would you like a cart? Have a nice day." "Would you like a cart? Have a nice day." "Would you like a cart? Have a nice day." "Would you like a cart? Have a nice day." "Would you like a cart? Have a nice day." "Would you like a cart? Have a nice day."

This comment really got me, "I do high school hoops on my little station. My boys team is 3-17. The girls team is 8-12. I get down on my knees every night and pray for the end of the season to get here."

No wonder why nobody wants to do basketball on the radio.

I will say this. When I called the Griffin Bears back in the late 80's and early 90's. The team was very good, the fans were into the team and the station made alot of money on the broadcasts. Infact, we had to extend the pre and post game show just to get all the commercials in.

Ah the good ole days-

I still think if anybody out there has a hot team, with interested fans that you could make some money on them.

 

[radionut925]

Thanks for your comments. They sort of enhance my conclusion that my profession (play-by-play) is obsolete. That is why I am thinking about taking my 24-year communication background and getting a job at Walmart as a greeter.

Well, not entirely. There are still a few stations, at least in Georgia, that still do play-by-play of hoops, at the small college, as well as high school levels. Some examples to ponder.

Georgia Southwestern State University on WDEC-94.7 FM Americus

http://www.teamline.cc/teampage?teamcode=2143

Bainbridge Bearcats on WBGE-Live 101.9

http://www.live1019.com

The "Hometown Basketball" series on WTIF-107.5 FM Tifton (features Tift County High School and Abraham Baldwin College basketball)

http://www.1075wtif.com/onlineradio.htm

Georgia College & State University and local high school basketball on WMVG/WKZR Milledgeville

http://www.country102fm.com

North Georgia College & State University and local high school basketball on WGTJ Gainesville

http://www.glory1330.com

 

[SuperQ]

There are still some places that value hoops, but it's getting harder and harder to sell as the Wal-Mart-ization of America drives away a lot of the little community support advertisers, and the ones that are left have to use their ad dollars to sell sell sell.

I did Dalton Jr College games way back when (now Dalton State), and we made a ton of money, went to the national tournament two years in a row, and had a ton of fun packing the little cracker box gym that had bleachers on only one side.

When we would travel to ABAC, Truett McConnell, or even Brunswick, there would be more Dalton fans who made the trip than local fans would show up.

Unfortunately, DJC had the best team that money could buy and had to shut the program down a couple of years later.

Fun while it lasted, but that was more than 30 years ago...The times they have changed.

BTW, I have to travel 110 miles to call my crummy girls and boys teams tonight against two Top 10 teams. I would gladly spend a comparable amount of time handing out shopping carts instead.

 

[trevor2]

Hank and the folks at WNNG 1350 still run high school basketball. I caught a little bit tonight driving home. Northside (Warner Robins) High School, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[JeffMcDermott]

Savannah College of Art and Design has dipped their toes into the water - this year, they began broadcasting a handful of their b-ball games, on WJLG-AM 900. The audio is taken from their netcast on scadradio.org.

 

[radionut925]

Savannah College of Art and Design has dipped their toes into the water - this year, they began broadcasting a handful of their b-ball games, on WJLG-AM 900. The audio is taken from their netcast on scadradio.org.

At last check, WJLG was still urban gospel, right? Maybe that station flipped to sports. Does anybody know?

 

[Radio1360]

Savannah College of Art and Design has dipped their toes into the water - this year, they began broadcasting a handful of their b-ball games, on WJLG-AM 900. The audio is taken from their netcast on scadradio.org.

At last check, WJLG was still urban gospel, right? Maybe that station flipped to sports. Does anybody know?

Me too, radionutt. I'm a former savannahian myself.

 

[billwhite]

No flip at WJLG. Also as far as basketball coverage. WBMQ covers Georgia Bulldogs basketball. Full schedule can be found at georgiadogs.com and we run every game.

 

[production]

WIFO still does HS basketball, but only home games. Still, there are lots of phone calls as to "what happened" if the broadcast is delayed due to JV running long. As to selling it, it's part of our football package that is billed from sept-feb. As to UGA/Tech hoops, We carry both on either 105.5 or 1370. Days of the week, there are patterns, usually TUE/FRI for HS. I think the reason for Baloncesta not being so great on radio unlike Baseball or Football is that you can only say "Top of the Key" so many times, there just isn't time to develop a story line while describing every pass or 3 point attempt. Plus that damn buzzer is annoying as hell on AM radio.

 

[toombs44]

OOO..I disagree..I find basketball on the radio can be very exciting to listen to ..Try Joe Tait on 1100 AM out of Cleveland..he is the best.

Update...Nate Hrisch at Radio Statesboro called and gave me the opportunity to call the Portal Panthers in the Region 3-A Tournament in Savannah. Nate believes in high school sports. He had three games on last night..Statesboro girl's and boy's on ESPN 850 and I called Portal vs Calvary Day on Star 107.3.

This was a mighty fine game...very entertaining. Calvary won it 74-70. Here is an audio story on the game.
http://roundballcoach.com/downloads/portalcalvarymp3.mp3

 

[radionut925]

OOO..I disagree..I find basketball on the radio can be very exciting to listen to ..Try Joe Tait on 1100 AM out of Cleveland..he is the best.

Update...Nate Hrisch at Radio Statesboro called and gave me the opportunity to call the Portal Panthers in the Region 3-A Tournament in Savannah. Nate believes in high school sports. He had three games on last night..Statesboro girl's and boy's on ESPN 850 and I called Portal vs Calvary Day on Star 107.3.

This was a mighty fine game...very entertaining. Calvary won it 74-70. Here is an audio story on the game.
http://roundballcoach.com/downloads/portalcalvarymp3.mp3

Agreed. It's just too bad there aren't more games like these broadcast statewide, especially in Southwest Georgia.

 

[jal41]

Well, not entirely. There are still a few stations, at least in Georgia, that still do play-by-play of hoops, at the small college, as well as high school levels. Some examples to ponder.

Georgia Southwestern State University on WDEC-94.7 FM Americus

http://www.teamline.cc/teampage?teamcode=2143

Bainbridge Bearcats on WBGE-Live 101.9

http://www.live1019.com

The "Hometown Basketball" series on WTIF-107.5 FM Tifton (features Tift County High School and Abraham Baldwin College basketball)

http://www.1075wtif.com/onlineradio.htm

Georgia College & State University and local high school basketball on WMVG/WKZR Milledgeville

http://www.country102fm.com

North Georgia College & State University and local high school basketball on WGTJ Gainesville

http://www.glory1330.com

WNSY "Sunny 100" Canton used to have Kennesaw State basketball and baseball (even though you couldn't get the station on campus with a cheap radio), but it ended last month with the flip to Mexican.

 

[radionut925]

WNSY "Sunny 100" Canton used to have Kennesaw State basketball and baseball (even though you couldn't get the station on campus with a cheap radio), but it ended last month with the flip to Mexican.
[/quote]

Very sad, isn't it? Now KSU fans have to log on to http://ksuowls.cstv.com, and log on to "Gametracker", just to keep up with their favorite teams. Again, that's just sad. :'(

 

[toombs44]

Here is more proof that high school basketball on the radio can be as stimualting as your average ordinary Friday night football game. This matchup was Wilcox County at Portal in the first round of the Class A state tourney. Portal is a town without a stop light with only a convenience store, a Dollar General and a BB&T branch. Yet the gym was pretty much packed and the game was a thriller. Portal won 73-71. Here is the game story with play-by-play highlights and interviews.

http://roundballcoach.com/downloads/portalwilcoxmp3.mp3

Somebody please explain to me..why this is not worthy of being aired.

 

[tlyle]

Hey Barney,

Is Dave Pena still doing play by play? He was at WSSA with me in the late 80's and most of the 90's when Morrow had the powerhouse team. We were doing Basketball also at that time including some early Clayton State games after they added BB.

Also, liked your mp3's. You still sounded great, and it made me get into the game. Keep at it if you can. I had to get out of radio and get a real job (IT architecture programming manager). Had to feed to wife and kids, but I still keep up with you guys who still do it.

TLYLE
Former Radio employee

Small town radio - Where we all learned what radio was really about, the listener and the community, while having fun.

 

[toombs44]

David Pena e-mailed me recently and said he was doing Clayton State basketball on the Internet.

 

[middlega]

... in the late 80's and most of the 90's when Morrow had the powerhouse team.

Although I don't recall the other broadcasters, I definitely remember some of those Morrow teams. I was doing pbp for Sequoyah at the time & always dreaded seeing Morrow coming up in the bracket. Very very good Lady Mustangs (IIRC) teams.