EAGLES FOOTBALL RETURN TO WIP 610 AM NEXT SEASON

[DToTheJ]

I think KYW should broadcast all the Phillies games and then WPHT can broadcast KYW's news so you don't miss the news if you don't want to listen to the Phillies.

Well, up the Interstate, WCBS-AM, the Yankees flagship station, which is all-news, broadcasts a web-only live news stream during the extent of Yankees broadcasts. I'd reckon KYW would have the power to try something like that.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

One reason folks listen to the radio coverage of the game even when sitting in the stands at the game vs the audio of the TV coverage is that the radio guys have to fill time with more stats and information and better descriptions of what's going on, etc, that the visual sportscaster don't have to as there is a picture to view requiring less description from the TV guys. So if you're going to listen to a radio broadcast, who wouldn't prefer to hear it in static free stereo on FM vs the less appealing mono static filled AM? Even NPR programs use stereo to enhance their news shows like All Things Considered and it is amazing how great it sounds in stereo with the sounds of a jungle, etc in the background as they cover a story, so why not a football game? That's the great thing about radio, is it's power to add to the theatre of your mind with sound.

Also, as the younger demo that the advertisers drool over generally don't listen to AM so the move to FM is a smart choice if you want that younger demo to listen. The U of Del has moved their football games from the AM powerhouse in Wilmington (WDEL) to a FM powerhouse (WDSD) which technically is in Dover, but has a city grade signal in Wilmington and throughout the state of Delaware. By the way, most of my listening is on AM, but when FM carries the programming I want, I listen to FM.

 

[aindik]

I guess you don't understand that football is the BIGGEST sport in this country. Don't give me "dilutes the format"! While MMR & RFF are rocking, WYSP is making money hand over fist running the most popular game in town. If you don't get that, you don't have a very good understanding of business.

Nobody is listening? Says who? Another thread on this board talks about WYSP's January cume being down. Hmm, wonder why that is? Maybe because the Eagles season ended in December! I'm sure you'll counter by saying that the numbers for the regular format are down. Compared to where they were before the FREE-FM debacle, yeah, sure they are. But they are still pulling way bigger numbers since the flip back to rock. I guess you didn't see the stories about CBS's 4th quarter. Ratings and revenue are up.

Yes, football is huge. Yes, for four hours a week on a sixteen Sundays a year, WYSP has lots of people listening (to content it probably pays a lot of money to air). What about the rest of the week?

The cume thread proves that people listen to the games on WYSP and don't stick around the rest of the week for the rock format. The audiences obviously aren't as compatible as people thought. The Eagles as an exclusive on WIP would be more likely to drive people listening to the sports talk format. The content is more valuable when it can drive listenership to the station when the content isn't on. Especially when it's football, which is only on 64 hours a year (or more if they make the playoffs).

So because WIP doesn't have all the play-by-play in town they aren't the sports leader? Where's the logic there? Just because, I'm guessing, you don't like sports, games shouldn't be on stations you want to listen to...right? You ever think that maybe it's the Eagles themselves that want the games on FM? I guarantee you that if CBS came to the Eagles and said they wanted to put the team exclusively on WIP that CBS would immediately begin courting another station group in town that will give them what they want. Their team on FM.

You guess wrong. I like sports. I even like sports on the radio. Why do you assume my posts are based on my personal preferences? Are yours?

WIP wants, or should want, people in Philly to think of WIP as the one stop hub for local sports. People's first thought should be that a professional sporting event is on WIP, and that's where people go after the games to talk about them.

Why would the Eagles care about FM versus AM? All they care about is how many people listen. They only care about audio quality if bad audio quality drives away listeners.

As for your last point, I don't think you could be more incorrect. They might not care if you ask them about it in conversation, but the minute you put the game back on AM the same people would be complaining that the games sound like crap. Remember, an overwhelming majority of the public don't listen to the radio like you and I do. They just know what they like. I promise you that there would be a HUGE public outcry if the games went to any station on the AM band.

A huge public outcry? Maybe. But, in the end, just as many people would listen as before.

Listen to the games on HD Radio, huh? What about the 99.5% of the population in the Greater Philadelphia area that have been smart enough not to buy one?

They're the same people who don't really care that the football game doesn't sound as good anymore.

 

[Kyle D]

Yes, football is huge. Yes, for four hours a week on a sixteen Sundays a year, WYSP has lots of people listening (to content it probably pays a lot of money to air). What about the rest of the week?

The cume thread proves that people listen to the games on WYSP and don't stick around the rest of the week for the rock format. The audiences obviously aren't as compatible as people thought. The Eagles as an exclusive on WIP would be more likely to drive people listening to the sports talk format. The content is more valuable when it can drive listenership to the station when the content isn't on. Especially when it's football, which is only on 64 hours a year (or more if they make the playoffs).

The rock being back on WYSP is still in its infancy. It's going to take time for them to build back the audience regardless of carrying the Eagles, or not. Also remember that the numbers are now PPM which are a heck of a lot more apt to change (and are more accurate). Stations and advertisers are both still adjusting to the new numbers. After a few more years of data stations will be able to more accurately see trends during different months.

As for driving listenership to WIP, where've you been? WIP has been talking sports for nearly 20 years now. I think fans know where to go to find sports talk.

WIP wants, or should want, people in Philly to think of WIP as the one stop hub for local sports. People's first thought should be that a professional sporting event is on WIP, and that's where people go after the games to talk about them.

Again, it doesn't matter if the game is there, or not. People have been calling WIP for 20 years after games to talk about them. They don't need the game content.

Also remember that both stations are owned by the same company. They have the football market covered.

Why would the Eagles care about FM versus AM? All they care about is how many people listen. They only care about audio quality if bad audio quality drives away listeners.

I can guarantee you 100-percent that they care, or else they wouldn't have made the move in the first place. You coudln't be more incorrect on this facet of the discussion.

A huge public outcry? Maybe. But, in the end, just as many people would listen as before.

I don't think as many people would listen, because with the games on AM more people would have reception problems. AM frequencies generally have more holes in their coverage of the market and can't be heard in many steel structure buildings.

They're the same people who don't really care that the football game doesn't sound as good anymore.

Obfuscate much? HD radio is a disaster, and the fact that you would even bring it up as a solution shows me exactly where you're coming from.

 

[DToTheJ]

Again, it doesn't matter if the game is there, or not. People have been calling WIP for 20 years after games to talk about them.

Wait, what about the time 1210 was "The Game/WGMP" for twelve minutes? :

Incidentally, did WPHT (modern-day 1210) suffer a bigger setback after the Phillies' season was done? From what I recall, huge numbers in that regard, too.

 

[Jul]

What if the Flyers, Sixers play at the same time while the eagles are playing

Do you think that WOGL and/or KYW will carry the sixers, and/or Flyers games that might happen at the same time period while the Eagles are playing. That would be the smart thing to do or airing the flyers or sixers games on WYSP or WIP on tape delay. I don't think that CBS radio wants to put some of the games on 1340 or a poor signal station in the city that no one can hear. Daily News has a story about this: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/15831907.html

 

[Dancerev889]

Moving the Eagles off WYSP is a bad mistake. Imagine having WIP on your home theater system? Nothing like great AM audio going through those speakers. Most people are listening to the games at home and turning off the tv audio and turning up Merrill Reese. All the interference that AM has makes listening to game unenjoyable.

Now having them both on at the same time isnt a bad idea. CBS saves money. No host(s) and no update person. Just a board op.