• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Bill Kimm bolting The Ball

What about Matt (from Matt & TJ fame)? Pencola is currently board watching for the Buzzard, maybe he could bring some life into the local sports radio market?
 
Having worked with the Freak, I can tell you he's good guy, but has alot of emotional issues to deal with first--he'd be hard to count on longterm IMO.
 
Someone should tell Pencola to apply. He would be great and his talent is wasted as a board op. He's got the right personality, etc. Can't believe he would just stay at CC when there's an opportunity like this!
 
MaskMan said:
Someone should tell Pencola to apply. He would be great and his talent is wasted as a board op. He's got the right personality, etc. Can't believe he would just stay at CC when there's an opportunity like this!




Being wasted is correct. I can't understand why he's not doing more...especially with the Chris & Chris beatdown of JB&B goin on. He'd be the perrrrrrrfect sidekick on a rock morning show if he's not doin sports
 
It is not always about the utilization of one's talent - it is about the money! I suspect Matt makes decent money with CC and they have a great benefits package - including 401K and health insurance. Would hard for The Ball to compete with that!
 
Re: ttt

NewtotheNasti said:
Its really ashame that a market the size of the TRIAD has not had a successful sportstalker......It seems the obvious problem is the lack of signal for the entire TRIAD.

The problem is that sports talk is BORING! It's nothing more than jock wanna-be's yammering endlessly about how someone could have made the extra effort, pulled a groin muscle, or gave "200 percent." It's something I get too much around the water cooler at work.

The old adage is that you need to make sports interesting for the 2/3rds of your audience who could care less.

Most of this market would rather listen to NPR than sports talk. That's the reason it's never been a success. I'D be ashamed if the market DID support s/t!

(OK -- pile on you sports nuts!)
 
XTalker said:
It is not always about the utilization of one's talent - it is about the money! I suspect Matt makes decent money with CC and they have a great benefits package - including 401K and health insurance. Would hard for The Ball to compete with that!
#1) How do you know that The Ball might not have good benefits? GHB has a number of stations around the south. In fact, I know they have health insurance and 401K.
#2) Wasting away at CC until they decide they don't need you any longer is not exactly making the most of your life. He's a board op!!! The man has talent and he's not using it. He's really quick and funny. I don't understand his staying there.
 
Sometimes you guys amaze me at how you seem to hate a comment that is to at least some degree thought provoking. GHB might have good benefits and a 401K - fine, still not not invalidate my comment about utilization of talent. What if they DON'T have a good benefits package! I don't know what they have. I just suggested that people don't make their decision based on talent utilization along! My comment stands.

As for CC, they are as flawed as any bean counter corporate radio operation - but truth is, there are lots of people who have good paying jobs and good benefits from the company. I worked for them for six years, and I can tell you, it was better than some of the small time operators I have worked for in the past!

What I generally find is people who work for CC are generally treated well and when they are used up, generally get a decent notice and severence package. More than you can say for - again - small time operators.

Matt is, I am sure, a pretty smart fellow. I suspect of there was a greener pasture for him he would probably look for it. Don't ya think?
 
Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers by disagreeing with you. I agree with you more often than not. You are correct about the CC benefits, AND about some of the small-time operators. Had that experience as well. As far as Matt is concerned, not so sure he is making the correct decision by NOT seizing an opportunity. The cocoon at CC can be pretty warm and cozy, however, even many of his co-workers have said that he is under utilizing his potential. I will be the first to admit that money isn't everything and security has a lot of appeal, however, it's a terrible thing to leave this life wondering what might have been. I've read many times that that is the #1 regret of people when they get close to dieing...that they did not take more chances and seize opportunity. GHB is a good company that treats its employees well. I know their General Manager, Susan Childress, and she is very committed to the News/Talk format. She was previously the Sales Manager for The Ticket. She's a good manager and she's very fair. GHB has a number of older employees and they don't seem to mind that, in fact, they seem to value experience...imagine that! Just putting in my two cents!
 
Re: ttt

allnews said:
NewtotheNasti said:
Its really ashame that a market the size of the TRIAD has not had a successful sportstalker......It seems the obvious problem is the lack of signal for the entire TRIAD.

The problem is that sports talk is BORING! It's nothing more than jock wanna-be's yammering endlessly about how someone could have made the extra effort, pulled a groin muscle, or gave "200 percent." It's something I get too much around the water cooler at work.

The old adage is that you need to make sports interesting for the 2/3rds of your audience who could care less.

Most of this market would rather listen to NPR than sports talk. That's the reason it's never been a success. I'D be ashamed if the market DID support s/t!

(OK -- pile on you sports nuts!)

Yeah, the TRIAD is an NPR kinda town! LOL :)

Sports talk is one of the most high revenue format's available because it targets the most difficult audience to attract--Men 25-54. Its a market that's never been properly exploited in the TRIAD and GHB, with little history with the format, really didn't go about it correctly hiring Marc Amazon as its signature host and PD. Wasted opportunity!

Do they have the signal to make it a TRIAD success??? Do they have the nads to pay up for bigtime talent??? Is Susan Childress a help or a hindrance???
 
XTalker said:
The other issue is that the male demos are not so popular with radio advertisers. The great bulk of ratings buys are based on female demos - assuming they influence the spending more. Only a few product categories follow male ratings!

Completely overlooked this comment. I can only assume its based on ignorance and an utter lack of understanding. Sportstalk is one of the biggest revenue generators in the business. That's stations such as the WFAN (maybe the 12th rated station in NY) is the highest billing.

While its true sportstalk stations have not done as well in the southeast (Nashville being one big exception), its 25054 Male demographic is one of the most coveted in the industry.
 
We're not talking about NY. We're talking about Greensboro and similar sized markets. I stand by the comment that the male demos are not as attractive to advertisers. While males, 25-54, may be "one of the most coveted" demos, it is not THE most coveted demo.

The primary reason FAN does well is it is pretty much a game unto itself while the more popular demos are spread among dozens of stations. With the exception of the top ten markets, there are not a lot of 12th ranked stations making much money - and certainly not competing for ratings driven dollars.

NewtotheNasti, I can understand you arguing a point, but don't get the personal attack. I spent 40 years in the radio business. I challenge you to add up all of the $$ from ratings based buys in any market you choose, and you will find the large portion of them are tied to female listeneers in various demos. This is particularly true as you get smaller in market size. Why, otherwise, would close to 3/4th of th stations in a market be targeted that way?

Full time sports on the radio has not done well in markets below 25 because the numbers are just not there. You can rank 12th in NY and have a 1 share, and you are still talking about a half-million people. Problem is when you get to markets of under 2-million, the tonage is just not there in the demo.

Now, we are talking about ratings! A station like The Ball can make a decent living for itself, but will never be competitive in the big picture.
 
XTalker said:
We're not talking about NY. We're talking about Greensboro and similar sized markets. I stand by the comment that the male demos are not as attractive to advertisers. While males, 25-54, may be "one of the most coveted" demos, it is not THE most coveted demo.

The primary reason FAN does well is it is pretty much a game unto itself while the more popular demos are spread among dozens of stations. With the exception of the top ten markets, there are not a lot of 12th ranked stations making much money - and certainly not competing for ratings driven dollars.

NewtotheNasti, I can understand you arguing a point, but don't get the personal attack. I spent 40 years in the radio business. I challenge you to add up all of the $$ from ratings based buys in any market you choose, and you will find the large portion of them are tied to female listeneers in various demos. This is particularly true as you get smaller in market size. Why, otherwise, would close to 3/4th of th stations in a market be targeted that way?

Full time sports on the radio has not done well in markets below 25 because the numbers are just not there. You can rank 12th in NY and have a 1 share, and you are still talking about a half-million people. Problem is when you get to markets of under 2-million, the tonage is just not there in the demo.

Now, we are talking about ratings! A station like The Ball can make a decent living for itself, but will never be competitive in the big picture.

Ignorance is not a slam, just a lack of understanding on your part. Perhaps "ill-informed" would be a better term. In any case, sincerely sorry to offend.

While I don't have 30 years in the business, I do work exclusively with sports talk formats.

Forget NY. There are several examples of markets under 2 million that have full-time sports ad revenues in the top 3-5 in their market, several of which are similar in size to the TRIAD. WGFX in Nashville (only one spot ahead of the Triad in the rankings), Oklahoma City, and Charlotte come to mind.

Again, your comment that fulltime sports in markets below 25 is simply ill-informed. For example, KC and Cincy, and other markets I have worked in have full-time sports juggernauts in both ratings and ad billing.

Its so frustrating because I love both the format and the TRIAD--my family in and around the area have no idea how big the format is because fulltime sports has been such a non-player EVER in the market. This may be because although the TRIAD is lumped as one fairly large market, in reality it is really 3 mcuh smaller markets. Also, the lack of quality signals place the format on that hit the entire Triad is another problem.

I dont know, I just wish the TRIAD had the opportunity to experience how compelling a quality sportstalker can be in the community...
 
New to the Nasti mentions some valid points. The Triad is REALLY 3 small markets lumped together by Arbitron. Also, the cities he mentions KC and Cincy both have pro teams to anchor the area. Charlotte has both a pro and strong college presence. Raleigh Durham has a strong college presence. What does the Triad have ? Wake outside of Winston-Salem. That's not enough to make it a sports market. Sports will work in the market. But sports is not the easiest format to launch. It takes an owner who will give it time to take root. the Ball has been sports 2 years now. give it another couple of years. If GHB can make money with the station I think the format stays. As for programming, the Packman is the best thing to have happened to the station. Maybe ownership is smart to treat the market more like an extension of Charlotte?
 
Some interesting discussion on here- glad to see it. Sports talk will never ever be a ratings winner in almost any market. Maybe the top 10 with all those teams might have some decent ratings but most ST will be in the one to two range. That being said every radio person I've talked too who worked in ST says it's a money maker if you are willing to stick with the format. It just takes a willingness to take the rough with the not so rough.

On another note- I know Matt P. Who says that the Ball DIDN'T go after Matt? Who's to say it wasn't a very solid offer and that the talent couldn't make a decision so the radio station moved on? Twice!!
 
I agree 100% with Little Larry and I believe GHB has the guts and the desire to stick with the station and the format. I also heard the same thing about Matt P. Too bad he couldn't make up his mind. Opportunity knocked and he wouldn't open the door. I also think they (GHB) are treating the station like an extension of Charlotte. Packman is huge there and a lot of his callers are from the Triad. After all, we don't have a pro team here and Charlotte does.
 
littlelarry said:
On another note- I know Matt P. Who says that the Ball DIDN'T go after Matt? Who's to say it wasn't a very solid offer and that the talent couldn't make a decision so the radio station moved on? Twice!!

What's the definition of a "Solid" offer? Was it more than he makes now? Was it as much as he makes now? What about the benefits package? Was it smaller than what he gets now? Nearly anyone will change jobs if the total pay and benefits package is better than what they get now as long as there is a reasonable expectation that the job itself is stable. But even if the job is a stable one, if the offer is for less money and fewer benefits, it's hard to justify making a move. Unless we know the specifics of the offer and how it ranks to what he already has, it is hard to say who has made the wrong decision. About the only time you will get someone making a move for less money is when that person feels that the job they have now is unstable and they could be without any job in the near future. And I would say that if someone gets a job offer and they "Can't make a decision", then actually that person did make a decision and that was to stick with what they have now.
 
A silly question, but when was the last time Matt P was on the air doing a full time shift? From the posts it appears he is riding a board for a syndicated show and doing updates. How much should you pay a guy who apparently hasn't been on the air "full time" in years? And isn't that a huge risk for any radio station to put a guy on the air who hasn't been doing it full time for years?
 
Not doing a full time air shift is not a determining factor in whether or not someone can do a good job. Steve Harvey was not doing a full time air shift when he started his current job and he is certainly doing alright. Whoopi Goldberg is another example. Talent is what counts. Before Matt started doing his show to begin with, he had never been on the air before. If he could do a great job then, he still could.
 
For Matt, or anyone else for that matter, it is about if he wants to do the job! Money, benefits, who knows, but eckwood is right, the definition of a solid offer is in the eye of the beholder! That GHB considered the offer solid makes no difference. If Matt felt more confortable remaining in place, that's his call. Most often, the grass is not greener!
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom