Grant Merrill Strikes Again

[ProdWhiz]

Not to bring up this whole sports radio thing again, but I saw this today on AllAccess...


HOG RADIO, INC. Sports KUOA-A-KTHS-A-K287AN/SPRINGDALE (THE HOG SPORTSRADIO)/SPRINGDALE, AR adds an additional FM translator signal with the addition of K250AX/BENTONVILLE, AR.

"For over a decade, frustrated listeners have been clamoring for an all-sports station that can be heard twenty-four hours a day in NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. The new 97.9 signal will only enhance the service we give to BENTONVILLE, ROGERS, CENTERTON, BELLA VISTA, PEA RIDGE, and GRAVETTE, in addition to the towns served by the superb FM signal already serving the FAYETTEVILLE area at 105.3 FM," said GM and host GRANT MERRILL. "Our stations have the most recognized personalities in ARKANSAS sports, on not just one, but two FM signals that can be heard anytime day or night. Given the fact that we have such a quality lineup and will broadcast over 250 local and regional sporting events in 2009, there is no other radio station in the market that can even come close to giving the quality sports coverage that we provide."


Looks like they are sinking more money into trying to make this sports station viable. Hope it works for them.

 

[dday]

Wow. Now they will have three signals nobody listens to.

 

[ARRadio1]

Wow. Now they will have three signals nobody listens to.

That comment is just wrong.


I believe it'll be 4 signals nobody listens to.

 

[DIZ Guy]

Whenever I tune into 105.3, all I hear are spots..

Station should be called 'Hog Radio, the station for advertising"....

 

[TNArkansan]

What a bunch of Huggers on this thread. Those of us who like the Razorbacks listen to Hog Sports Radio. Those who dream of Hooten & Danny listen to the other stuff. Maybe though you guys can get Sis to send Grant an email.

 

[radioaircheck]

I think lots of people listen to the hog. They offer better programming than 1190 who has on Laurel and Hardy in the morning Those guys are awful to listen to. They sound like something out of Green Acres!!. I prefer The Hog for sports and ESPN for national. I Think in time The Hog will have great ratings. It's the one thing that I can listen to when not listening to XM.

 

[DIZ Guy]

How long has "The Hog" been on the air?????

 

[Tj Carpenter]

I find all of these comments very interesting.

Some first post right?

My name is Tj Carpenter, I am the host of the University of Arkansas Student radio station's first sports talk radio show to have lasted longer than a month (campus sports crunch, on 12-3 every monday). When I'm not doing my best Colin Cowherd impersonation I am the executive producer for the Hog sportsradio's Hogwildhotline and Razorback games. And I've noticed that a lot of you guys are dissing on the Hog and Grant Merrill.

I'm not here to defend either, although Grant is a great guy and I love working for the Hog.

But instead, what I would ask is this, what would you do to make it better? Sincere question. I'll be the first to admit that I think we could do a lot more. But I want to know, what would make this station better?

I'm all about doing what is interesting, people, regardless of market, want to hear interesting. I'm here to tell ya', as a student, I don't think there is jack in this local radio market in terms of talk radio worth listening to.

Sunshine Rick Sheaffer on the buzz, awful. Shawn and Wally, popular - but lets face it, when the alternative is a rib-whoring larynx with a beard and skeletor, you'll listen to anything. And it's nothing against Shawn or Wally.... they just don't do riveting radio, they don't do interesting. They are basically like a newspaper with a microphone. Bo Mattingly? Really? Is that the standard for Arkansas radio?

I want to know what you guys would do to make The Hog better. Because I want to make the Hog better, my bosses want to make the Hog better. It's obvious that there is something missing that you guys want. Simple question: what is it?

 

[oneradiofan]

I find all of these comments very interesting.

Some first post right?

My name is Tj Carpenter, I am the host of the University of Arkansas Student radio station's first sports talk radio show to have lasted longer than a month (campus sports crunch, on 12-3 every monday). When I'm not doing my best Colin Cowherd impersonation I am the executive producer for the Hog sportsradio's Hogwildhotline and Razorback games. And I've noticed that a lot of you guys are dissing on the Hog and Grant Merrill.

I'm not here to defend either, although Grant is a great guy and I love working for the Hog.

But instead, what I would ask is this, what would you do to make it better? Sincere question. I'll be the first to admit that I think we could do a lot more. But I want to know, what would make this station better?

I'm all about doing what is interesting, people, regardless of market, want to hear interesting. I'm here to tell ya', as a student, I don't think there is jack in this local radio market in terms of talk radio worth listening to.

Sunshine Rick Sheaffer on the buzz, awful. Shawn and Wally, popular - but lets face it, when the alternative is a rib-whoring larynx with a beard and skeletor, you'll listen to anything. And it's nothing against Shawn or Wally.... they just don't do riveting radio, they don't do interesting. They are basically like a newspaper with a microphone. Bo Mattingly? Really? Is that the standard for Arkansas radio?

I want to know what you guys would do to make The Hog better. Because I want to make the Hog better, my bosses want to make the Hog better. It's obvious that there is something missing that you guys want. Simple question: what is it?

Wow, TJ! You are a genius. Just ask a couple of intelligent questions and these idiots immediately disappear! ;D

 

[gjdodger2]

I find all of these comments very interesting.

Some first post right?

My name is Tj Carpenter, I am the host of the University of Arkansas Student radio station's first sports talk radio show to have lasted longer than a month (campus sports crunch, on 12-3 every monday). When I'm not doing my best Colin Cowherd impersonation I am the executive producer for the Hog sportsradio's Hogwildhotline and Razorback games. And I've noticed that a lot of you guys are dissing on the Hog and Grant Merrill.

I'm not here to defend either, although Grant is a great guy and I love working for the Hog.

But instead, what I would ask is this, what would you do to make it better? Sincere question. I'll be the first to admit that I think we could do a lot more. But I want to know, what would make this station better?

I'm all about doing what is interesting, people, regardless of market, want to hear interesting. I'm here to tell ya', as a student, I don't think there is jack in this local radio market in terms of talk radio worth listening to.

Sunshine Rick Sheaffer on the buzz, awful. Shawn and Wally, popular - but lets face it, when the alternative is a rib-whoring larynx with a beard and skeletor, you'll listen to anything. And it's nothing against Shawn or Wally.... they just don't do riveting radio, they don't do interesting. They are basically like a newspaper with a microphone. Bo Mattingly? Really? Is that the standard for Arkansas radio?

I want to know what you guys would do to make The Hog better. Because I want to make the Hog better, my bosses want to make the Hog better. It's obvious that there is something missing that you guys want. Simple question: what is it?

Wow, TJ! You are a genius. Just ask a couple of intelligent questions and these idiots immediately disappear! ;D

Wow, TJ! You are a genius. Just invent a new persona called "oneradiofan" and engage in sockpuppetry by complimenting yourself! ;D
My comment--full disclosure, I work with Shaun and Wally--is if your idea of good sports radio is Colin Cowherd, you're beyond help.

 

[Tj Carpenter]

I find all of these comments very interesting.

Some first post right?

My name is Tj Carpenter, I am the host of the University of Arkansas Student radio station's first sports talk radio show to have lasted longer than a month (campus sports crunch, on 12-3 every monday). When I'm not doing my best Colin Cowherd impersonation I am the executive producer for the Hog sportsradio's Hogwildhotline and Razorback games. And I've noticed that a lot of you guys are dissing on the Hog and Grant Merrill.

I'm not here to defend either, although Grant is a great guy and I love working for the Hog.

But instead, what I would ask is this, what would you do to make it better? Sincere question. I'll be the first to admit that I think we could do a lot more. But I want to know, what would make this station better?

I'm all about doing what is interesting, people, regardless of market, want to hear interesting. I'm here to tell ya', as a student, I don't think there is jack in this local radio market in terms of talk radio worth listening to.

Sunshine Rick Sheaffer on the buzz, awful. Shawn and Wally, popular - but lets face it, when the alternative is a rib-whoring larynx with a beard and skeletor, you'll listen to anything. And it's nothing against Shawn or Wally.... they just don't do riveting radio, they don't do interesting. They are basically like a newspaper with a microphone. Bo Mattingly? Really? Is that the standard for Arkansas radio?

I want to know what you guys would do to make The Hog better. Because I want to make the Hog better, my bosses want to make the Hog better. It's obvious that there is something missing that you guys want. Simple question: what is it?

Wow, TJ! You are a genius. Just ask a couple of intelligent questions and these idiots immediately disappear! ;D

Wow, TJ! You are a genius. Just invent a new persona called "oneradiofan" and engage in sockpuppetry by complimenting yourself! ;D
My comment--full disclosure, I work with Shaun and Wally--is if your idea of good sports radio is Colin Cowherd, you're beyond help.

Just a difference of taste, I suppose. Some listeners are Mike and Mike people. Others are Colin Cowherd people. "Middle of the pack" fans don't always like Colin Cowherd because he's all about what is at the top, regardless of whether or not people like what's at the top. He never talks about Arkansas, maybe that's where your hatred springs from. I'm not sure. But there isn't another personality on the radio that comes close to Colin Cowherd or Dan Patrick. Regardless of whether or not you like them, you'll listen, because they are entertaining.

You guys were on for what three hours? And the highlights of the show were Forrest City Joe, Forrest City Bob, and Wally forgetting that Pat Summit won her 1,000th game? Yeah, riveting radio right ther'!

Thanks for assigning me nefarious intentions BTW, I appreciate it. :

 

[wxman76]

When it comes to sports, I split my time listening to 105.3, 1190 or 1390 depending on my mood of national sports vs. Hogs or depending if it is night or day. I think Grant is doing some good things there, but haven't seen much promotion or heard much buzz among the people. I think some people who listen to AM 1190 don't even know that The Hog even exists yet.

As for constructive feedback, I would like to see The Hog replace Justin, Pat and Joe (the simulcast of the show from 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock). That show can be good when they are talking Razorbacks, but a lot of the time they go into long stretches about something that pertains only to Central Arkansas or things that have nothing to do with sports. During the middays, I usually listen to The Jim Rome show either online or if I am in my car listen to it with a scratchy signal from either Tulsa or Springfield. I know Jim Rome isn't everyones cup of tea, but I would like to see you guys carry him.

I am surprised that Grant chose (or maybe the FCC assigned for him) 97.9 as a translator? Why put that translator on the same frequency to where has to be squeezed between a 100kW station out of Fort Smith (KZBB) and a 15.5 kW station out of Joplin (KXDG)? It wouldn't take much of a tropo bend to cause interference with a 250 watt station, even in Benton County. Why not 92.7? That seems like a much more open frequency and the nearest station in the FCC database is Clarksville(KLYR) with the Boston Mountains in the way at only 3kW. Hell, I would think that you could plant a 1kW stick near Springdale at 92.7 and could blanket the the entire I-540 corridor from Bentonville to Fayettevile with a decent signal on 1 FM frequency. If the FCC would allow that, The Hog would be able to market themselves a lot better and get about 4x the ratings they have now.

 

[Tj Carpenter]

When it comes to sports, I split my time listening to 105.3, 1190 or 1390 depending on my mood of national sports vs. Hogs or depending if it is night or day. I think Grant is doing some good things there, but haven't seen much promotion or heard much buzz among the people. I think some people who listen to AM 1190 don't even know that The Hog even exists yet.

As for constructive feedback, I would like to see The Hog replace Justin, Pat and Joe (the simulcast of the show from 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock). That show can be good when they are talking Razorbacks, but a lot of the time they go into long stretches about something that pertains only to Central Arkansas or things that have nothing to do with sports. During the middays, I usually listen to The Jim Rome show either online or if I am in my car listen to it with a scratchy signal from either Tulsa or Springfield. I know Jim Rome isn't everyones cup of tea, but I would like to see you guys carry him.

I am surprised that Grant chose (or maybe the FCC assigned for him) 97.9 as a translator? Why put that translator on the same frequency to where has to be squeezed between a 100kW station out of Fort Smith (KZBB) and a 15.5 kW station out of Joplin (KXDG)? It wouldn't take much of a tropo bend to cause interference with a 250 watt station, even in Benton County. Why not 92.7? That seems like a much more open frequency and the nearest station in the FCC database is Clarksville(KLYR) with the Boston Mountains in the way at only 3kW. Hell, I would think that you could plant a 1kW stick near Springdale at 92.7 and could blanket the the entire I-540 corridor from Bentonville to Fayettevile with a decent signal on 1 FM frequency. If the FCC would allow that, The Hog would be able to market themselves a lot better and get about 4x the ratings they have now.

I'm not big on Justin Pat and Joe either. They just don't have the content I'm looking for. Signal strength in Fayetteville and beyond to the south is a topic of heated frustration around the station.

 

[DIZ Guy]

How to make "The Hog" better...

1. Do something with the audio on the FM signal...it sounds really weak..

On the topic of Rick Schaeffer...anybody notice that he looks like the old guy from "Poltergeist II"????