Cumulus Braves play by play

[jaxradidio]

First industry suggestion that Cumulus could fire the Braves radio play by play announcers and simulcast TV audio in order to...save money! Apparently that's what was done up in Long Island for Islander games.

http://insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com/2009/07/disneys-new-radio-killer.html

 

[Firebird]

I was under the impression that the radio team is employed by the Atlanta Braves and not the flagship station.

 

[TheRealOtherNeil]

Firebird is correct, teams control who is their on air voice. In addition, Don Sutton and Jim Powell just signed new contracts for five-years each. This is Chip Carey's last year on his deal. It has not been a good one for him in many ways (loss of his father, loss of his national TV deal, being put on radio and local TV.) He could go back to Chicago but the Cubbies, currently in a state of ownership flux that may extend to TV and radio, recently inked Len Kasper through 2011.

 

[LarryWachs]

Good news Don Sutton is going to be around for a while. He may be the best baseball announcer I've ever heard. Now, if they would send Lemke packing, we'd really be onto something.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Good news Don Sutton is going to be around for a while. He may be the best baseball announcer I've ever heard. Now, if they would send Lemke packing, we'd really be onto something.

You and I have similar taste. I think Sutton is so insightful; points out things no one else does. Agree with you on Lemke, too .

 

[musicfan101]

Firebird is correct, teams control who is their on air voice. In addition, Don Sutton and Jim Powell just signed new contracts for five-years each. This is Chip Carey's last year on his deal. It has not been a good one for him in many ways (loss of his father, loss of his national TV deal, being put on radio and local TV.) He could go back to Chicago but the Cubbies, currently in a state of ownership flux that may extend to TV and radio, recently inked Len Kasper through 2011.

What loss of his national TV deal? He's still on TBS.

 

[RTibbs]

Thumbs up on sutton also. He is great can;t believe they ever let him go.

Lemke slightly reminds me of Barney from the Simpsons. Its that aaaahhhh. And thats not good.

Chip caray I have never liked. Can put my finger on it but something about him I do not care for.

 

[TheRealOtherNeil]

Firebird is correct, teams control who is their on air voice. In addition, Don Sutton and Jim Powell just signed new contracts for five-years each. This is Chip Caray's last year on his deal. It has not been a good one for him in many ways (loss of his father, loss of his national TV deal, being put on radio and local TV.) He could go back to Chicago but the Cubbies, currently in a state of ownership flux that may extend to TV and radio, recently inked Len Kasper through 2011.

What loss of his national TV deal? He's still on TBS.

When Chip left the Friendly Confines for Atlanta, the Braves were on TBS (the national cable station) for about 40-60 games per year. Now the Braves are on Peacthree TV, (a local station). He does one game per week on TBS, 45 games on Peachtree TV and some radio games. Not really national exposure that he signed on for.

If he went back to Chicago, he'd get 65-82 games on the WGN America. There is no chance for more than one national game per week if he stays in Atlanta. That said, Chip also does TBS football games for SEC and Big 12. Lastly, he is the main PBP man for TBS playoff coverage.

 

[CompleteGame]

I dont think Chip would go back to Chicago, even if he wanted to. IIRC, he wasn't exactly run out of Chicago, but there was a lot of animosity toward him for his criticisms of the Cubs. A little bit of good riddance.

Hard for him to compete with his grandfather in chicago and hard for him to compete with his father in Atlanta. He'd probably do well to start over in another market. I'm sure he'd have his pick of any opening.

 

[RhubarbFan]

Yes the Braves get to decide who their play-by-play men are,Don Sutton and Jim Powell are employed by the Braves. I have heard no memtion of Chip Caray losing his national tv deal. I like Mark Lemke,he does agreat job fillin in when Don Sutton or Jim Powell are out. There is no way Chip will go back to Chicago because he and the Cubs mutialy agreed to part ways because he critized the team. I know back in '94 he had a two game tryout with the Cardnials.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Who's to say the Braves won't drop their announcers. Didn't they just get sold to Liberty Media? New owner may need to cut costs to service the debt.

My favorite pair was Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Weiren. Listening to the Braves on WSB on a hot August night in south Georgia, Ernie Johnson WAS Braves baseball to me.

 

[RhubarbFan]

Yes they were sold to Liberty,but that has no effect on the radio broadcst,that is a seperate deal,yes Ernie johnson and Pete Van Wern were Atlanta Braves baseball,I can still hear SkipCaray say "The Atlanta Braves have given you a Championship,Listen to this crowd."

 

[jimbo722]

Yes they were sold to Liberty,but that has no effect on the radio broadcst,that is a seperate deal,yes Ernie johnson and Pete Van Wern were Atlanta Braves baseball,I can still hear SkipCaray say "The Atlanta Braves have given you a Championship,Listen to this crowd."

And weren't the Braves on WGST when they won the Championship? I know they wERE when Bream slid into home and Caray yelled " BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN.....BRAVES WIN"
The dumbest thing WSB did though was put Skip in that little booth in the plaza to do his pre-game show. He looked (and sounded) absolutley miserable.
If 680 can bring in Matt Stewart to do the pre and post game shows, that would be awesome. He did a great job when GST had them the first time.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Yes they were sold to Liberty,but that has no effect on the radio broadcst,that is a seperate deal,

Sorry Rhubarb, but I have been in radio long enough to know that NOTHING is a done deal. If Liberty thought they could get away with it, those guys would be gone in a New York second.

 

[DToTheJ]

Bring back Turner South! ;D

 

[RhubarbFan]

They were on WSB when the won the World Series,that was in '95 when the Braves went back to WSB after being on WGST,they were on WGST and 94.9 it was Peach back then when Sid slid. Liberty would not get away with that here in Atlanta,i remember in 2003 or 2004 when Time Warner took Skip and Pete off the tv cast and all the outrage that caused. The only thing that made Skip Caray upsset about doing the pre-game show ws the idiots who would always call asking about the infield fly rule.

 

[RTibbs]

Skip and Pete were instiutions and the braves were still popular. I don't think the same outrage would occur if they made a broadcasting change. Most people can even name the radio pbp guy.

 

[FloydB]

Besides, Liberty already lost a lot of core fans with the Tom Glavine debacle. If they LEARN from their mistakes (instead of doing like the rest of current media) and NOT repeat their mistakes, they'll leave the broadcast team in tact.

 

[musicfan101]

Firebird is correct, teams control who is their on air voice. In addition, Don Sutton and Jim Powell just signed new contracts for five-years each. This is Chip Caray's last year on his deal. It has not been a good one for him in many ways (loss of his father, loss of his national TV deal, being put on radio and local TV.) He could go back to Chicago but the Cubbies, currently in a state of ownership flux that may extend to TV and radio, recently inked Len Kasper through 2011.

What loss of his national TV deal? He's still on TBS.

When Chip left the Friendly Confines for Atlanta, the Braves were on TBS (the national cable station) for about 40-60 games per year. Now the Braves are on Peacthree TV, (a local station). He does one game per week on TBS, 45 games on Peachtree TV and some radio games. Not really national exposure that he signed on for.

If he went back to Chicago, he'd get 65-82 games on the WGN America. There is no chance for more than one national game per week if he stays in Atlanta. That said, Chip also does TBS football games for SEC and Big 12. Lastly, he is the main PBP man for TBS playoff coverage.

Oh, now I get what you're saying. Yeah, I don't think Chip had calling a bunch of non-Braves games in mind. I don't know, it just seems like Chip doesn't want to be broadcasting from 26 different cities during the regular baseball season, and we all know he does a horrible job in calling playoff games.

Does anyone watching any baseball coverage on TBS? It seems as no one does...

 

[stod]

Floyd,

What Glavine debacle? Hanson has lost, what 2 games? Glavine hasn't been picked up by another team.