espn 92.9

[elvez]

right from the horses a$$ mouth.

To Entercom Memphis Employees,



Today we begin a new era of broadcasting for Entercom Memphis as we usher in an iconic brand on the FM band in Memphis: ESPN is now on 92.9FM and 680AM. Combining the historical presence of 680 AM with the power and reach of 92.9 FM make for a great broadcast choice for Memphians and Mid-Southerners. 92.9 has a history of attracting large audiences when offering long formatted, talk programming; ESPN 92.9 will be a welcomed addition for the sports enthusiasts and we are proud to be the first to claim the all sports position on the FM band in Memphis.



As we move forward, we leave behind the legacy of a station with a passionate following built by talented, enthusiastic broadcasters. I appreciate all of their efforts. Most recently Crate, Syd, Beck and Rover have worked daily to create compelling content that has entertained and informed fervent fans. I know you join me in thanking them and wishing them the best as they blaze new trails.



I hope you enjoy ESPN on WMFS 92.9/680. It’s in good company with FM100-Today’s Best Mix, WRVR-Continuous Soft Rock, KQK-Classic Hits and WMC 79-Country Legends. I look forward to your helping us build this business as we tap into passionate sports enthusiasts and into the marketplace.



Best,

Dan

 

[KarsonWithaK]

Boo.

 

[radioman148]

Boo.

Soon the AM band will be all infomercials all the time.
"Get your colon cleanser here"

 

[Neanderpaul]

Power & Reach?

Hmmm...did MFS get a signal upgrade since I was there?

Anyone know what they did with staff? I'd like to find Sydney and see how she's doing.

if anyone knows her, please have her contact me: [email protected]

 

[sjs1959]

Power & Reach?

Hmmm...did MFS get a signal upgrade since I was there?

Yeah, no kidding. AM 680 goes a LOT farther than 92.9 does. This is strictly done for the cheap.

 

[jharmon]

It is always done for the money savings. But this might be a good idea to have sports on FM on such a big sports town like Memphis.
Grizzlies...always hoping but never there.
University of Memphis with a new coach and a questionable year ahead
Memphis Redbirds...baseball on radio, nice.
And the other sports.

Wonder what the other 2 AM signals are planning now...

 

[Zeke_Terry]

Hmmm ... who wants to bet that the 'Real' format kicks off tomorrow? And that this sports simulcast is just a filler?

Making a switch like this a day BEFORE the actual switch would stir up some conversations and such, and IF they do make another 'switch' on Friday afternoon - that gives no time to make any other adjustments to other stations.

Let's wait a week and see if 92.9 is still a "Sports" station. If it is -- I'll be VERY suprised.

 

[sjs1959]

I doubt it, Zeke, Entercom is too cheap for that, from what I've seen. It might help ESPN here, but it might not.

They have NOTHING local except the Cardinals and UT Sports; 560 and 730 have the local talk locked up between them.

This is just a cheap way to fill a slot and a way to see if FM sports talk will work in the market, because they get NO reach
with it, since AM680 has a much stronger signal than 92.9.

 

[SonoSational18]

There is no law that says two stations can't selectively simulcast parts of the day. That's just someone running his mouth and making excuses. The only thing that a 24-hour simulcast will get you is a combined number in Arbitron.... which isn't that important since nobody uses the actual book and all the software programs that salespeople use (Tapscan, Maximiser, Strata, Marketron, etc.) will allow you to creat your own combos to show to prospective clients and agencies.

I got a look at the ratings and MFS isn't exactly knocking 'em dead either, so maybe the glass house rule should be in place here. And MFS doesn't exactly stand for "mighty fine signal." It's a suburban Class A with way less coverage than the AM station. Doesn't really even fill in any nighttime coverage holes.

 

[makinmoney]

boo you...we wish you would go away too

 

[KarsonWithaK]

boo you...we wish you would go away too

You wish I would go away?

K~

 

[StereoBrain]

I guess first question is,

Why is Yes.com still has music registering Alternative at 6:50 P.M.? The music log is updating itself as if the station is on-going... fishy.

http://www.yes.com/#WMFS

I'm saddened that 93X is gone, though I knew it was inevitable. I have grown up with the station. But there could have been some changes (debatable of course) that could have been done to avoid a format change. I still personally think that musically it had a niche, but the morning show brought the station down. Not that I didn't like Rover, I just felt it didn't fit this market or the station. But of course, Rover thinks differently, check out his blog below.

http://www.roverradio.com/index.php...ticle&id=7298:hey-memphis&catid=36&Itemid=133

Is he really right about those rating rankings?

Anyways, it's going to be interesting how 98.1 will react. I predict more Rock Currents.

 

[jpanzer]

Anytime a letter is written like that, it is their way of BS'ing the public. That's probably the best BS letter I have seen in a while.

I thought years ago about getting into the radio business, but sadly saw the impending shadow of doom: corporatization and voicetracking.

Really though, I am not that surprised- who really listens to radio anymore? Especially metal? Virtually no one. And those who do have iPods.

Of course, I am an avid supporter of the "old" ways of radio - and wish those who are in the business well. And, as long as I get to wake up with D&Z, i'm happy.

-jp

 

[rapmaster]

maybe prestahookamoe..tom...will be doing afternoons before it's over. He could sing the stories like Frank Sanatra. Or raise money for kids since he is a dead ringer for Jerry Lewis...It doesn't matter to me who does it but I like sports a lot better. Local input needs to be there. The runaway kids that listened to 93x can find a new place to go. They will survive it all. It's all about the benjamins people. dx77re..yeah.

 

[Rusty Muck]

There is no law that says two stations can't selectively simulcast parts of the day. That's just someone running his mouth and making excuses. The only thing that a 24-hour simulcast will get you is a combined number in Arbitron.... which isn't that important since nobody uses the actual book and all the software programs that salespeople use (Tapscan, Maximiser, Strata, Marketron, etc.) will allow you to creat your own combos to show to prospective clients and agencies.

I got a look at the ratings and MFS isn't exactly knocking 'em dead either, so maybe the glass house rule should be in place here. And MFS doesn't exactly stand for "mighty fine signal." It's a suburban Class A with way less coverage than the AM station. Doesn't really even fill in any nighttime coverage holes.

WMFS is kinda forced to drop Rover and simulcast Mike & Mike, not because of the FCC or any regulations... but really because of ESPN Radio's insistance that Mike & Mike get clearances on almost all of their affiliates. Even as M&M pales in comparison to Rover.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Yeah, no kidding. AM 680 goes a LOT farther than 92.9 does.

The superior footprint of AM doesn't overcome its biggest flaws in today's landscape. Granted, 92.9 is a small class A, but turn off that stereo--it'll pick up just fine in the cars (and cell phones) of the Memphians they're trying to reach. The local competition lives solely on the AM band, which has no growth in terms of younger adult listeners.

Think about it--if you're an 18-25 old adult male (or female) moving up in life, you're already used to listening to Kix 106, Hot 107, K-97, Q107-5, etc., and FM radio works just fine for you. There's been almost no need for you to flip to the AM band, unless [grand]ma or pa wanted to hear something special while on the way to the doctor's appointment. The news and sports stations that have made the jump to FM only have to hope the driver (or the cell phone user) pushes the scan button--not the 'band' button then the scan button.

The AM-only outlets will have a shot since they have the valuable Memphis Tigers and Grizzlies rights, but if they ever lose them OR a popular local show--watch out.

 

[sjs1959]

Well, the Griz ARE on FM (103.5), but this an interesting move for Entercom.

However, Cardinals or no Cardinals, Vols or no Vols, the sports listenership in Memphis goes to the LOCALLY-oriented stations, 560 and 730.
If Entercom really wants to get a foothold on the sports market here, they HAVE to have a local weekday daytime talk show, they have to go up against Lapides/Woloshin/Norsworthy, Geoff & Gary or Vernon.

730 got serious when they brought back G&G to complement Vernon, and if 92.9/680 doesn't get in the game, even on FM, they are wasting their time.

 

[robgrayson]

Yeah, no kidding. AM 680 goes a LOT farther than 92.9 does.

Think about it--if you're an 18-25 old adult male (or female) moving up in life, you're already used to listening to Kix 106, Hot 107, K-97, Q107-5, etc., and FM radio works just fine for you.

Wait a minute... everything I read tells me if you're an 18-25 year old anything radio has no relevance in your life at all.

 

[SauceOnSide]

WMFS is kinda forced to drop Rover and simulcast Mike & Mike, not because of the FCC or any regulations... but really because of ESPN Radio's insistance that Mike & Mike get clearances on almost all of their affiliates.

This is true -- ESPN is notorious for bullying affiliates into carrying Mike & Mike. It's too bad since a stronger morning show could help with the cume for most ESPN Radio affiliates out there. If Rover was really #1 in men (and presumably #1 M12+ would also translate to M18-49 and M25-54) then it seems strange that Entercom would drop him unless ESPN insisted on clearing M&M in Memphis.

 

[Rusty Muck]

WMFS is kinda forced to drop Rover and simulcast Mike & Mike, not because of the FCC or any regulations... but really because of ESPN Radio's insistance that Mike & Mike get clearances on almost all of their affiliates.

This is true -- ESPN is notorious for bullying affiliates into carrying Mike & Mike. It's too bad since a stronger morning show could help with the cume for most ESPN Radio affiliates out there. If Rover was really #1 in men (and presumably #1 M12+ would also translate to M18-49 and M25-54) then it seems strange that Entercom would drop him unless ESPN insisted on clearing M&M in Memphis.

It would be a different story if Mike and Mike were... I dunno... good? And that's not considering the fact that if you can't hear them on the radio, you can see them on ESPN2, listen on ESPN Radio's website, or read their commenatary on ESPN: The Magazine. So why force stations to carry something rather pathetic that's already seen and heard everywhere?

I do wonder how other affiliates - like Cleveland's WKNR (my station of record) and Washington's WTEM (owned by Redskins owner Dan Snyder) - would be off if they didn't have to carry Mike & Mike. Chances are they would be way better. (WKNR uses the excuse that Mike Golic is a Cleveland native... but his brother Bob - who played for the Browns - actually still lives in the area and works drive-time for an FM talker in Akron, among other things.)

That, and the fact that ESPN actually charges non-O&O affiliates (including 92.9/680) over $10K to use all aspects of branding - even to air their programming in the first place! Clearly, the mafia is in control within the Brisol compound.

I betcha Entercom probably wishes off-hand that 680 was really a FSR affiliate... they might not have had this problem...