ESPN going to 1530?

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

Plus with ESPN moving to 1530 im sure they will want overnights cleared on the 50,000 signal. so does that mean the hellfire and brimstone will be gone from 1530

 

[robmadden1]

FoxSports1360.com Its funny how this now redirects ya to yahoo.com LOL LOL

 

[udfan07]

Actually WONE/WIZE doesn't do the simulcast anymore.

 

[rzeis]

According to Mo Egger's blog on WCKY's page The screaming racist preacher who thinks everyone is headed to hell will remain on overnight.

 

[gr8oldies]

The fire and brimstone guys bring in more cash than about anything else 1530 does.

 

[Rusty Muck]

When Ralph Stair finally dies (and it won't be THAT long; he's already in his late 70s) that block of programming will go away.

It should be noted that on the weekends, ESPN Radio programming is no longer live, with a stream of shows that repeat until 8am on Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Uncas]

I am sure I don't reflect the audience because I have about zero interest in national sports talk shows.

 

[gr8oldies]

Chances are if Stair dies his organization will keep running his old sermons. I'm a little surprised they are retirng the Homer name.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Chances are if Stair dies his organization will keep running his old sermons. I'm a little surprised they are retirng the Homer name.

Typically most ESPN Radio affiliates have "ESPN" involved in some way with their affiliates' branding. There are some exceptions to this rule, including KNBR/SF, WEEI/Boston, and long-time affiliate WBNS/Columbus. But branding usually falls along the lines of, "### ESPN," "ESPN Radio ###," or "ESPN ### WXXX." So retiring "Homer" is not a surprise, IMO.

As for Stair... I'm reminded of Dr. Gene Scott's unit continuing long after he died (it may even still exist). So you're probably right, although Ralph Gordon won't be around to hustle money out of unwitting donors. Who knows how much dough he actually HAS that isn't entangled in the court system?

 

[Elephant]

That overnight block of programming that's been on 1530 kHz for 30 years is NOT going away.

Here's the meeting of the Clear Channel higher-ups:

"What do you think? We should get rid of that all night programming, right? It doesn't fit the format"

"Yeah, you're right. And we don't really need the huge amount of cash it brings in every year."

"I know. And the people are clamoring for the all-night ESPN shows! I got two e-mails and the geeks on Radio-Info think we should drop it!"

"Well, that does it! Screw the revenue! Let's run ESPN and fill the breaks with promos and PSAs! We won't miss the money that Brother Stair and Roy Masters brought in."

"Great decision boss! Now, let's go have lunch at Trio!"

 

[nmoore6676]

Actually WONE/WIZE doesn't do the simulcast anymore.

WIZE is still listed on the CC website as Sports but looking at the WONE-980 site it does not appear to be tied to 1340 anymore. So what is on WIZE, I grew up in Springfield so I am curious.

It would be nice if they could do some local Clark County programming (like local High School and College sports) since the demise of WBLY/WULM and now the impending move of WKSW is leaving Springfield with no kind of local voice. It couldn't hurt the image of Clear Channel if they stepped in and put a little into giving Springfield a radio station again. It would be up to local business to come up with the advertising support which is no small hurdle though.

 

[udfan07]

I am not certain about this but I think 980 still identifies WIZE at the top of the hour. Anybody know this for sure?

 

[Rusty Muck]

That overnight block of programming that's been on 1530 kHz for 30 years is NOT going away.

Here's the meeting of the Clear Channel higher-ups:

"What do you think? We should get rid of that all night programming, right? It doesn't fit the format"

"Yeah, you're right. And we don't really need the huge amount of cash it brings in every year."

"I know. And the people are clamoring for the all-night ESPN shows! I got two e-mails and the geeks on Radio-Info think we should drop it!"

"Well, that does it! Screw the revenue! Let's run ESPN and fill the breaks with promos and PSAs! We won't miss the money that Brother Stair and Roy Masters brought in."

"Great decision boss! Now, let's go have lunch at Trio!"

One can also look at Wheeling's WWVA, where the added money very well helps to keep that station viable in the first place. The argument presented here works perfectly for that station, especially in a market as economically challenged as Wheeling, with a 50kW signal to boot but only is live in morning drive. They would be screwed over.

However, consider this: in the late 90s, the paid programming block on 1530 lasted from 11:30pm to 5:00am (and from 12am-9am AND 8:30-5am on Sundays!!) having being trimmed with each changing format. It's nowhere near as schedule-clogging as in the past.

 

[techie2]

I am not certain about this but I think 980 still identifies WIZE at the top of the hour. Anybody know this for sure?

Yep they are still simulcasting. They do a joint ID at the top of the hour.

 

[gr8oldies]

From my personal experience, Springfield has no interest in listening to a Springfield only station. They are happy thinking of themselves as part of the Dayton area.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Remember that ESPN Radio has more insisted on getting full clearances for Mike & Mike and Cowherd, which are their two most prized and promoted shows. They get that with the move. Therefore, ESPN probably won't be that upset not to have an overnight clearance... for now. And as 1360 still serves as a flanker station for 1530, they aren't in any hurry to drop the paid programming. Only when said preachers either retire, die or go bankrupt will they disappear.

(The more that I think about it, I would believe that Roy Masters will either hand his show to his son - TRN founder/owner David Masters - or play his 100,000 tapes in perpetuity.)

And hasn't WONE/WIZE not simulcast WCKY for over a whole year? That duo has identified as "980 WONE" during that time, and have had their own local show from 3p-7p - the only time WCKY is local.

 

[udfan07]

For WONE it has been at least a year, maybe more since the simulcast. It seems like they have tried to rebrand themselves since the simulcast. I don't think they even use the Homer/Sports Animal name anymore.

 

[KevinFodor]

I am not certain about this but I think 980 still identifies WIZE at the top of the hour. Anybody know this for sure?

Yep they are still simulcasting. They do a joint ID at the top of the hour.

Were they to break from simulcasting for any reason, they would lose the ability to be listed as a simulcast station in the Arbitron ratings. Even for something as simple as a single high school football game.

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

LOL listening to Stephen A Smith this morning i found it funny like he didnt know Fox Sports only moved from 1530 to 1360. Because he was Welcoming Cincinnati and thanking Tony Bender, Dave Armbruister for bringing the show to Cincinnati, i was like Stephen A Smith you were only moved down the dial and to fewer watts than you were. i guess he never realized he was already on in cincinnati on 1530.

 

[Rusty Muck]

LOL listening to Stephen A Smith this morning i found it funny like he didnt know Fox Sports only moved from 1530 to 1360. Because he was Welcoming Cincinnati and thanking Tony Bender, Dave Armbruister for bringing the show to Cincinnati, i was like Stephen A Smith you were only moved down the dial and to fewer watts than you were. i guess he never realized he was already on in cincinnati on 1530.

Up until the affiliation swap on Monday, the 30-second TOH ID for 1530 Homer during all FSR hours still mentioned Steve Czaben (and a soundbite of Czabe) as one of their "big names" in sports/talk - along with Lance, Dan Patrick and Jim Rome. It's as if they either refused to acknowledge SAS, or they didn't want to bother re-cutting the ID knowing that ESPN would move over there anyway.