Braves 2010

[Hotseat]

Roddy discussed this in his blog. Where could they end up? Personally I hope WSB, but they're just fine without them. 680/100.5 possible, neither signal doesn't go too far ENE. Would Citadel spend the money and put them on 106.7? Probably not. CBS and 92.9? Maybe. Any other scenarios?
Don and Jim do a fine job on the broadcasts. I do miss Skip and Pete.

 

[charlestondxman]

I hope that they end up with 680 and 100.5, as 680 does a great job with pregame, as they have a pregame show every weeknight before the Braves game.

They do have a bad signal, but their radio network (which is the largest in MLB) could help things. In most of the towns and cities in GA, they are on the top radio station.

WSB would be good, but you would probably have to put games on a FM station, as well. The Braves want the younger audience, and getting an FM would get that.

 

[TheMusicMan]

WSB would be good, but you would probably have to put games on a FM station, as well. The Braves want the younger audience, and getting an FM would get that.

If Cox acquired broadcasting rights for the Braves and wanted an FM outlet, they could simulcast on The River. I think a good segment of the Classic Hits demo (men in their 40s-50s) would be interested in the games, and none of Cox's FM signals are anywhere near warranting a format flip.

 

[RTibbs]

I hope that they end up with 680 and 100.5, as 680 does a great job with pregame, as they have a pregame show every weeknight before the Braves game.

They do have a bad signal, but their radio network (which is the largest in MLB) could help things. In most of the towns and cities in GA, they are on the top radio station.

WSB would be good, but you would probably have to put games on a FM station, as well. The Braves want the younger audience, and getting an FM would get that.

680 the Fan has a good pre-game show? Really? Buck Belue I didn;t think did a good job at anything.

790 the Zone and Chris Dimino, a baseball man, do a better job. Dimino is the best baseballl interviewer out there.
Listen to the Ted Williams interview. It doesn;t get any better than that.

 

[jabba17]

WSB would be good, but you would probably have to put games on a FM station, as well. The Braves want the younger audience, and getting an FM would get that.

If Cox acquired broadcasting rights for the Braves and wanted an FM outlet, they could simulcast on The River. I think a good segment of the Classic Hits demo (men in their 40s-50s) would be interested in the games, and none of Cox's FM signals are anywhere near warranting a format flip.

I wonder how River's ratings are after PM drive, when most of the ballgames would be on...classic hits doesn't strike me as being strong at that hour. Ditto for AC (B98.5), but I don't think that they'd want to 86 Delilah.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Ditto for AC (B98.5), but I don't think that they'd want to 86 Delilah.

Braves wouldn't fit very well on a station targeted to women.

 

[jabba17]

Ditto for AC (B98.5), but I don't think that they'd want to 86 Delilah.

Braves wouldn't fit very well on a station targeted to women.

Maybe, although there are lots of female Braves fans and could help to expand their audience. But it would definitely put their position as "The Number One Station To Listen To At Work(R)" in jeopardy, at least on days with day games.

 

[Insideradio]

WSB would be good, but you would probably have to put games on a FM station, as well. The Braves want the younger audience, and getting an FM would get that.

If Cox acquired broadcasting rights for the Braves and wanted an FM outlet, they could simulcast on The River. I think a good segment of the Classic Hits demo (men in their 40s-50s) would be interested in the games, and none of Cox's FM signals are anywhere near warranting a format flip.

Cox doesn't have any money... whoever gets the Braves gets them on the cheap I bet!!!

 

[fussbudget]

A very long time ago, before Al Gore invented the internet, the Braves were on 680. Complaints about the signal drove them off 680 and back to WSB. It would be nice to have them back on a blow torch but I'm not counting on it. There are so many ways to get the game now that did not exist back when 680 had the contract. Expect MLB to offer televised Braves games
on the internet by 2010, with no blackout. Of course, they'll charge" a small fee" for this service.

 

[Firebird]

Could the Braves buy time on a station?

 

[jal41]

Ditto for AC (B98.5), but I don't think that they'd want to 86 Delilah.

Braves wouldn't fit very well on a station targeted to women.

B98.5 won't even 86 Delilah for theme weekends. Plus...interrupting workplace music would be bad, as that is the station's bread and butter. And when an AC competitor came to town...

In the early 90's, Braves games were on WPCH (AC) in addition to WGST due to the lack of the latter's nighttime signal. That was only night games though.

I would suspect that well over 60% of Braves fans, if not more, are female. I see more Braves shirts and jerseys on women then I do men. Go to the Varsity in Midtown after Braves games and you will see. 94.9 The Bull thought this formula would work...female skewing country with the Braves...obviously it didn't, and the FM simulcast is now on Project, which targets testostorone-driven men...who are not the bulk of the Braves audience (94.9 is a much better fit). It is CC's misteps that is costing them the Braves.

As for the River...very compatable for sports. Remember...Cox corporate policy only allows for FM music stations to be used as backup in case the news/talk AM has a carriage conflict.

Also...Cox Radio is now private, and they have the $$$$$$ to get Braves rights should they wish to pursue them. The question is will they.

The Falcons currently operate a buy-time agreement with 92.9. The Braves may have to do something similar if no one steps up to the plate. With the team in current condition (thanks to Liberty Media, the team's owner), I don't know.

Side note...Cox's black talk WENN-AM (formerly WPSB-AM) in Birmingham got the Braves rights recently. This appears to be a good sign for WSB-AM getting them back.

Also...WSB-AM did fine because of a presidential election that occured this past year. The next election cycle (2012) will involve an incumbant (next contested election cycle no earlier than 2016), and the Braves rights would go until 2015, so WSB-AM would be better served with Braves games.

My prediction...WSB-AM will get the rights on the cheap...because of 1) Poor economy at the time of negotiations 2) Poor team performance at the time of negotiations 3) No one else wants them, or is on a poor signal. Although a format flip by a non-CC station between now and when negoitations happen could change things.

 

[jabba17]

My money is on, in order:

1) WSB-AM--and NO FM, or maybe only FM for selected games as a trial (or when the Braves interfere with UGA). As a class A clear channel station, WSB really doesn't need the FM side as much as everyone else. All the GenYers would probably stream the games on their iPhones, anyway, versus tuning into FM to avoid those icky AM stations.

2) 680 The Fan + 100.5. Except for Gwinnett and some other parts of the northside, 680 has a decent night signal, especially on the southside. Better than anyone else except #1. IMNSHO Rock 100.5 is the current odd man out in the ATL AOR market and will continue to lose share.

Cumulus has an FM station in Lake City, SC (WWFN, www.thefanfm.com) that was oldies Fun 100 (great station), then was flipped to 100.1 The Fan (note the clever reuse of the same calls, as well as the 680 branding) when Cumulus bought them. Although this station just plays the ESPN Radio feed, Cumulus is no stranger to FM sportstalk.

3) Longshot: 790 The Zone + 94Q Star 94. Could give 790 some sports cred now that nobody in their right mind will listen to Tech on them anymore. But the negative impact on Star 94's listener base could kill this deal.

4) Longer shot: CC re-ups with WGST and pays a LOT less. FM side either stays put on Project or moves to a flipped 105.7.

I think the Braves are still a hot enough property to get someone to pay them (as opposed to having to buy time), if they aren't too picky about signals. If they insist on a 100k FM then the Bravos might have to pony up.

 

[I Know it]

680 the Fan with a FM partner. They will get a good deal given the decline of the Braves and the economy. 92.9 is in bed with 790 unofficially so no go there.

The 680 pre game show is not good and either but the Dickey boys are loading up for big moves. They could get Chris Dimino after 790 the Zone sells or goes belly up. By the way Ted Williams died in 2002…the last time 790 had a good interview coincidently.

 

[RhubarbFan]

It would make sense for the Braves to go back to WSB because they always do,when the Braves left after the '91 season they went to GST and Peach but in 1995 they went back to WSB and won the World Series. I did not know the Braves were on 680,I know they were on there a few times when Cox owned 680 because of a conf;ict with the Hawks or UGA.

 

[DToTheJ]

Could the Braves buy time on a station?

It's the Brokered Braves! ;D

 

[jabba17]

How about this for an idea--could someone use WYAY (True Oldies) as their FM partner? Maybe 790 like they are doing next year with Tech? I would imagine that WYAY's ratings after PM drive aren't that stellar.