FM Sports in Tampa: Will it work?

[Mrtraveler01]

I know there is a thread already about the announcement but I wanted to start one to talk about the Tampa-St. Pete market in general.

I'm a little skeptical of this myself. Tampa is pretty far down the list on what I consider to be "sports cities" and definitely not on the scale like Chicago, Boston, or New York. I mean just look at the crowds that attend the pro events down there and you'll see they don't seem to be as fanatical about sports as other markets (more or less because the market is full of transplants who root for the teams they come from and not the ones in Florida). Will they be able to bring in the listeners if they just talk about the Rays, Lightning, and Bucs all day?

Personally, they could just make 98.7 a translator for WFAN out of New York and it'd have the same effect.

What do you guys think?

 

[Frank Ferreri]

Obviously your opinion is formed from watching too much ESPN. With the exception of lousy Mon/Tues/Wed night crowds at the Trop, Tampa Bay teams draw very well. Having said that, an all sports station really must have broadcast rights to the market's major league team(s) to be credible along with strong local air talent.

 

[charlestondxman]

The area does have a lot of people that follow those teams. College sports is also very big. There is definitely an interest with those 3 sports stations on AM; 1010 AM's talent probably would move to 98.7.

 

[FM 100 Means Music]

1010 AM's talent probably would move to 98.7.

Why? Their current talent line-up is dead last in the market. Wouldn't it make more sense to have an all-new lineup of talent when they do the flip, otherwise what's the point of the flip if it's just going to be "J.P. and Toby in stereo?"

 

[Parttimer]

WDAE is one of the highest rated sports stations in the entire country. CBS' track record is that FMs have been beating AMs pretty consistently when they put them on.

Even if that's not the case ratings-wise, sports formats can make money without huge ratings, so it will be a success on some level.

 

[DToTheJ]

Will it work? Only if CBS gets rights to one of the three local sports franchises (they used to have rights to the Buccaneers not too long ago).

 

[badjef]

It is possible CBS, placing "The Fan" on an FM in Tampa, may have come as a knee-jerk reaction to "missing the boat" in New York.

I believe the Disney/Emmis deal blindsided CBS.

Since "Play" isn't going anywhere in its current form, anyway, this was a way of helping to slow the "ESPN to FM" tide until they could catch up.

Even though the Tampa Market is #18, it is treated a lot more seriously than the Market Number would suggest.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Parttimer]

Will it work? Only if CBS gets rights to one of the three local sports franchises (they used to have rights to the Buccaneers not too long ago).

Not necessarily. Rights fees to major league teams are outrageously expensive. Sometimes stations are happy just to break even on those deals. Of course, they bring credibility and hopefully translate to bigger numbers, but it is not an absolute necessity.

 

[Mrtraveler01]

Will it work? Only if CBS gets rights to one of the three local sports franchises (they used to have rights to the Buccaneers not too long ago).

Not necessarily. Rights fees to major league teams are outrageously expensive. Sometimes stations are happy just to break even on those deals. Of course, they bring credibility and hopefully translate to bigger numbers, but it is not an absolute necessity.

The other thing I've noticed is that the other CBS "The Fan" stations across the country are toward the bottom in the raitings. So why repeat that in Tampa?

 

[Parttimer]

You're looking at 6+. Most of the stations are doing extremely well with men and billing very well.

 

[Mike_Hennessy]

You need a magnifying glass to find 620 in the 6+ standings, but from all accounts they make money hand over fist because they own the male 25-54 demographic. Dove always dominates the 6+ category, but I wouldn't be surprised if 620 is more profitable. (Not saying it is, just saying I wouldn't be surprised)

 

[badjef]

You need a magnifying glass to find 620 in the 6+ standings, but from all accounts they make money hand over fist because they own the male 25-54 demographic. Dove always dominates the 6+ category, but I wouldn't be surprised if 620 is more profitable. (Not saying it is, just saying I wouldn't be surprised)

620 may be more profitable because they are the only ones in that format which can be heard with a decent market wide signal and extends past the market for listeners who spend money.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Mike_Hennessy]

I provided the "what" you provided the "why"! Teamwork!!! ;D

 

[badjef]

I provided the "what" you provided the "why"! Teamwork!!! ;D

Great minds think alike.
;D

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Parttimer]

You need a magnifying glass to find 620 in the 6+ standings

No you don't, they have a 3-share 6+. They are one of the highest rated sports stations in the entire country.

but from all accounts they make money hand over fist because they own the male 25-54 demographic.

On that count you are correct.

 

[badjef]

You need a magnifying glass to find 620 in the 6+ standings

No you don't, they have a 3-share 6+. They are one of the highest rated sports stations in the entire country.

but from all accounts they make money hand over fist because they own the male 25-54 demographic.

On that count you are correct.

WDAE's cume is what matters here, not the ratings point. On the 6+, 620 has a higher cume than WFLA, which is rated higher.

Several factors make that possible one of which is the pbp. The tune out factor is very high" following the conclusion of the game and local post-game coverage. You don't need a chart for that. When they shut down their coverage and go to the Network, it is obvious because they are now talking about something totally unrelated to the game.

Still, those listeners during the game are included in the overall sample.
But, since you are talking about 285,000 total, now the breakdown of how many 25-54 males are there is a different story.

It is the classic tale of two ratings.

The cume, while lower for WFLA, is a more steady one and not as fickle.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Parttimer]

You need a magnifying glass to find 620 in the 6+ standings

No you don't, they have a 3-share 6+. They are one of the highest rated sports stations in the entire country.

but from all accounts they make money hand over fist because they own the male 25-54 demographic.

On that count you are correct.

WDAE's cume is what matters here, not the ratings point. On the 6+, 620 has a higher cume than WFLA, which is rated higher.


It is the classic tale of two ratings.

The cume, while lower for WFLA, is a more steady one and not as fickle.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Actually the number that matters is men. Sports does far better in that regard than news/talk, which skews older and more female.

 

[badjef]

You need a magnifying glass to find 620 in the 6+ standings

No you don't, they have a 3-share 6+. They are one of the highest rated sports stations in the entire country.

but from all accounts they make money hand over fist because they own the male 25-54 demographic.

On that count you are correct.

WDAE's cume is what matters here, not the ratings point. On the 6+, 620 has a higher cume than WFLA, which is rated higher.


It is the classic tale of two ratings.

The cume, while lower for WFLA, is a more steady one and not as fickle.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Actually the number that matters is men. Sports does far better in that regard than news/talk, which skews older and more female.

"Men" is not a "number", "men" is a demographic. The cume is the "number".

I would rather have a 3.0 rating in New York, than a 6.0 in Tampa.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Parttimer]

"Men" is not a "number", "men" is a demographic. The cume is the "number".

I would rather have a 3.0 rating in New York, than a 6.0 in Tampa.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

And if your numbers are good in your core demo, I don't care what 6+ number you have in New, York, Tampa, Boise or anywhere else.

 

[badjef]

"Men" is not a "number", "men" is a demographic. The cume is the "number".

I would rather have a 3.0 rating in New York, than a 6.0 in Tampa.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

And if your numbers are good in your core demo, I don't care what 6+ number you have in New, York, Tampa, Boise or anywhere else.

That phrase works, too.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!