Curtis doing Sports in Greeensboro Market

[MaskMan]

I've heard the rumors that Curtis is going to air sports on some of their AM stations in the GSO market, and today I heard proof. WMFR was carrying Packman this afternoon. I just heard a little of the show, but it was Packman on 1230 AM. Can't imagine WBLO is going to last very long without Packman. If Curtis does Sports-Talk the right way, with a live show, they'll make money. You have to have a local show, something WBLO either couldn't afford, or just wouldn't do. They had one for a while, but never replaced the guy when he left for another market.

 

[quadraphonic]

Their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Triad-Sports-Network/135194756510787

 

[tothedj]

Re: Curtis doing Sports in Greensboro Market

I just noticed the logo on the "Facebook" page, WMFR, WSML, and WCOG?, i have to admit it's a good move, especially because WBLO will probably go in another direction, and WSML breaking away from the simulcast
of WSJS?, not surprising since 600 AM eventually will move to FM down the road.

 

[stafferman]

I heard Taylor Zarsur (SP?) around 1130 today on WMFR. It didn't sound all that bad and he was talking NC Sports which was very refreshing to hear. That with the addition of Pacman makes for an interesting combo.

A lot more draw than the Atlanta Braves and Jim Rome.

As long as they have several hours of local talk, even if it is statewide, it should have a good chance. It was very spotty in between, PSA's and some dead air which would be an indicator it's being broadcast out of somewhere other than the Triad as they're probably trying to work out some network kinks. I hope the network affiliate is going to be ESPN Radio because Sporting News and Fox Sports Radio are 2nd and 3rd tier by a long shot.

I also like how it's on 3 AM stations, all of which before this, were doing nothing except 1200.

 

[DToTheJ]

I heard Taylor Zarsur (SP?) around 1130 today on WMFR. It didn't sound all that bad and he was talking NC Sports which was very refreshing to hear... A lot more draw than the Atlanta Braves and Jim Rome.

As Romey would say, have a local take and don't suck.

 

[MaskMan]

Guess it's official. Curtis does Sports-Talk in the Triad is one of the lead stories on Radio-info today. Smart move. Great that ESPN is the network instead of Fox. The lineup sounds great. Best of luck Curtis!

 

[FIDELIPACK]

I listened today and wasn't expecting much but it's decent. The imaging was very good and sounded like Chuck Matthews. I'm a big Dave Glenn fan from his ACC Journal and was disappointed to hear him off the air. In general though, its damn good use of some pretty rotten signals. If Curtis strategy is to build a strong talk position with SJS and 101.1 it bears watching. I give them points for innovation.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I listened today and wasn't expecting much but it's decent. The imaging was very good and sounded like Chuck Matthews. I'm a big Dave Glenn fan from his ACC Journal and was disappointed to hear him off the air. In general though, its damn good use of some pretty rotten signals. If Curtis strategy is to build a strong talk position with SJS and 101.1 it bears watching. I give them points for innovation.

Yes, the imaging voice is indeed long-time OMW reader (and Northern Ohio native) Chuck Matthews who, of course, has history in Raleigh. Did it take him a half-hour to do the legal ID? Heh.

I wonder if they're going to do anything Triad-specific. Using the Triangle shows Curtis already has the rights to (plus Packman) is a good idea, but I don't know the market well enough to know if the Triad needs anything more specific.

Does this indeed, as someone questioned, mean WSJS hits FM at some point? And how does WZTK play into all this? Their stronger signal area is in the same general part of the area that WSML is in, IIRC.

I wonder how they're gonna use the 3 signals for regional/HS sports.

 

[XTalker]

Hey, guys, stations don't just "jump to FM". Look for SJS to continue at the 600 spot on the AM dial. It would be foolish to mess with ZTK. Only way it happens is to acquire another FM frequency which is not likely in the Triad market.

 

[Matt]

It might be more realistic for WSJS to buy an FM translator from WBFJ and simulcast.

Later . . . .

 

[triadradionewsman]

With all the talk about WSJS going to FM I have to ask, which FM station? Are you trying to say Curtis is buying another FM in or around the Triad, or are you're saying Curtis will put WSJS on 101.1. Is the programming, or what's left of the programming, on WSJS important enough to put on FM? WSJS relied too much on Rush and he took a lot of the audience with him. It appears that they managed to pull numbers in the past with the right content. CMG needs to develop some regional NC programming to put on WSJS, WPTF & some of their AMs in other markets. Possibly offer that regional programming to other stations in markets they don't compete in. WSJS & WPTF would be very strong affiliates in a network that concentrates on regional programming in NC. I hope the folks at Curtis are innovative enough to face this challenge and not throw in the towel too soon. Their recent changes in the triad with the sports programming prove they have some good ideas. Of course they can always sell WSJS and WPTF to the Eppersons. I'm sure there's some who think we need more religion here in the bible belt. Or possibly Spanish, either way I would hate to see these historic stations go down those roads. I realize its just AM and its the romantic in me wanting to see them succeed.

 

[turkeydance]

romantic/fantasy here we go:

a state-wide network of AM stations on the same format,
with reception available from "Manteo to Murphy".
you know: the NC News Network on the hour and half/hour
and *whatever* programming in between. when on the road,
losing one signal means to scan for another. beat Sirius at
its own game with its own rules.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Mike, you'd certainly know this.

How much did 1200 help WSJS, and how much will not having it cause them problems?

Is Curtis just content to have WZTK be the talk format choice east of Greensboro? Even 600 is not perfect in G-boro, if I remember right.

 

[tothedj]

The idea to create a statewide "news and talk" network from Curtis Media sounds good to me, it could be called,
"The North Carolina News/Talk Network", some affiliates could include the AM's Curtis has in the mountains, WSJS
in the Triad, 1480 in Charlotte, WPTF in Raleigh, WNCT-AM in Greenville, and maybe others, plus live streaming as
well.

 

[ECRadioGuy]

Curtis doesn't own WNCT-AM in Greenville. They do however have a part ownership of 103.7 WTIB and 94.1 the Talk FM both which are talk stations.

 

[tothedj]

That's true, but since Curtis owns NCNN, they could agree in principle to carry the talk programs, or maybe Inner Banks Media can purchase 1070, the current format will fade soon.

 

[MaskMan]

There's some brain power at Curtis. I was never one to count them out after Rush radio. I think they've got a great opportunity here. WUNC had been touting the state-wide news thing for some time, for NPR and public radio. Curtis can be the network for commercial radio. Smart!

 

[2BZ4BS]

I'm rooting for Curtis Media! I would really love to see them make a place for Dennis Miller on ZTK. His show is great and would give them a little star power! And great choice for going sports on WMFR, WSML, and 1320.

 

[XTalker]

To be real honest, I never felt the 1200 signal did much for WSJS.

It was hard to tell in the ratings because of the way the calls were used. Very, very few people wrote WSML or 1200AM. Now, I am sure a lot of the Alamance diary mentions probably came from 1200 listening, but virtually impossible to tell.

I personally never felt it added much for the advertiser. I often campaigned to split the commercials and have a more regional sales effort in Burlington. About the only time we did that was for high school football and college sports (NC State on both stations, but different commercials - sold by the NC State folks).

The problem with moving content (and WSJS and WPTF calls to an FM signal) is what would you do with the AMs. Both have good signals that cover their trading areas and it would be a waste to not be productive with them.

Caught a little of the sports network today. Sounds OK, but the signals in Forsyth County suck! Couldn't hear 1200 well at all. 1230 and 1320 were about the same and highly susceptible to the computer controlled signal lights and high tension power lines. Never did figure why the FCC didn't protect AM that interference back in the day! Too late now.

I applaud Curtis for trying something different. Don has always cared about the local nature of radio and Phil is a sharp operator. If AM can continue to work, they are the ones to do it.

 

[HGR1290]

Back in the day---the 1200 signal was way down on the list of ways to improve WSJS coverage of the Triad. WSML never offered a reliable day signal in Greensboro--- it was a great Alamance signal, but I am not sure the average Alamance resident cared. And forget about night with that tight night pattern on 1200.
At one time they could have upgraded 1200 day and night, but that was the subject of too much talk and never any action.

There was some pretty serious talk about obtaining the 830 signal---but that ended up going to the Channel 12 folks. 920 was a second choice. This in the mid-90's way to much flood water under the bridge in the intervening years.

I fear that a local afternoon show on WSJS will eventually be afternoon long "paid commercials". Don't get me wrong---that can work (and they have worked) as long as the content and host are above the carnival barker noise. Control would be the watch word. (Also known as "good radio"---look that one up)