http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...cal-ripken-jr-guess-network-article-1.1155013
Raissman hints they could be.
Raissman hints they could be.
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Is WOR in the hunt for Yankees radio?
- Thread starter Fenway1912
- Start date
CBS is reported to be losing millions of dollars a year broadcasting Yankees games. It the Yankees aren't happy with whatever CBS offers to continue carrying the broadcasts, then the article presumes "the usual suspects will bid on the rights."
The question is: which one has a motive for losing even more money than CBS would be willing to continue losing?
It mentions WOR and WABC equally, but in both cases the stations will be the flagships, and top market affiliates, for the nationally syndicated political talk shows offered by the other two biggest station owners in the country, Clear Channel and Cumulus.
Why preempt their regular national shows as often as baseball coverage requires, and lose millions of dollars a year to do it?
ESPN radio might have some "bragging rights" reasons for wanting to carry Yankees games, but even they might not be willing to lose millions of dollars a year to do so. Sure, it brings a few hundred thousand more listeners to the station to listen to the baseball games, but if they don't hang around, or visit at other times, not much is gained if the station is losing money on the game broadcasts.
Another factor in all this might be any potential changes to the CBS radio station line-up in NYC. If the company sells one of its news stations (such as WINS), then it puts more pressure on the remaining news station to stick to its format.
But I agree that it's not likely that a company is going to invest money in creating talk flagships, and then break format with sports. That makes no sense to me. Cumulus has already let the Dodgers go in LA.
But I agree that it's not likely that a company is going to invest money in creating talk flagships, and then break format with sports. That makes no sense to me. Cumulus has already let the Dodgers go in LA.
No doubt the Yankees would have priority, but it's also very possible that Clear Channel will drop Rutgers football as soon as it can after it takes over WOR.
We don't know how that financial arrangement between Rutgers and WOR is structured. In the old days, (when I did image announcing and some commercials for the Rutgers Football radio network) WCTC in New Brunswick originated the feed, and they were anxious to have any other stations pick it up. I remember WMTR in Morristown deciding to drop high school football in favor of taking the Rutgers feed, presumably because it was cheaper and easier to do. WOR has always been an active member of the NJ Broadcasters, and I guessed that is why they originally took the WCTC Rutgers game feed, not because it produced a lot of revenue or profits.
However, Rutgers football has improved and generated a lot more listener interest in the years since. Still, it's probably not a big money maker for WOR to carry, unless, like with some pro teams, some organization is buying the time for a flat fee and selling its own spots.
In any case, if the Yankees bounced Rutgers football from WOR, Rutgers would just have to find another station to carry the game. Stations like WBBR, or WNYM, or WMTR or even WPAT-AM would probably take it for a fee.
However, as noted above, the Yankees aren't likely to land at WOR, and Rutgers football stands a good chance of having to change frequencies, so its all very hypothetical.
We don't know how that financial arrangement between Rutgers and WOR is structured. In the old days, (when I did image announcing and some commercials for the Rutgers Football radio network) WCTC in New Brunswick originated the feed, and they were anxious to have any other stations pick it up. I remember WMTR in Morristown deciding to drop high school football in favor of taking the Rutgers feed, presumably because it was cheaper and easier to do. WOR has always been an active member of the NJ Broadcasters, and I guessed that is why they originally took the WCTC Rutgers game feed, not because it produced a lot of revenue or profits.
However, Rutgers football has improved and generated a lot more listener interest in the years since. Still, it's probably not a big money maker for WOR to carry, unless, like with some pro teams, some organization is buying the time for a flat fee and selling its own spots.
In any case, if the Yankees bounced Rutgers football from WOR, Rutgers would just have to find another station to carry the game. Stations like WBBR, or WNYM, or WMTR or even WPAT-AM would probably take it for a fee.
However, as noted above, the Yankees aren't likely to land at WOR, and Rutgers football stands a good chance of having to change frequencies, so its all very hypothetical.
Here's a question that's been going around in my head for awhile now...
If no station makes any money carrying the Yankees, why do they sign an extension to the deal? There MUST be some money to be made, otherwise, why do it?
Isn't WCBS the originator of the "Yankees radio network"? Those spots are aired on all the affiliate stations, with avails for local spots for the affiliates. Doesn't that generate more income than selling 880 alone?
There must be something to it, otherwise why do it?
If no station makes any money carrying the Yankees, why do they sign an extension to the deal? There MUST be some money to be made, otherwise, why do it?
Isn't WCBS the originator of the "Yankees radio network"? Those spots are aired on all the affiliate stations, with avails for local spots for the affiliates. Doesn't that generate more income than selling 880 alone?
There must be something to it, otherwise why do it?
WNTIRadio said:
It does, but the team shares in that revenue too. Not sure what the split is, but the team gets a piece of everything, which is what drives down the potential profit. The team may also get a certain number of spots to sell itself, further driving down revenue.
However, there are relationships that are made as a result of the deal. The station gets sponsors who might not typically advertise on radio or on an all-news station. The audience helps bring down the overall age of the station. The station gets perks like free seats to take clients to games. Not to mention that you're keeping the rights away from the competition. So not everything is strictly about revenue.
TheBigA said:
If CBS sells WINS because its directional does this mean that 880 can get FM or there could be an FM frequency of WINS since WINS is more popular in the NYC Market or a simulcast of WCBS-AM more popular in the NYC suburbs?
I know WINS has a Cumulus ABC E or I affiliation not sure how this will be implemented.
recto101 said:
For what reason would CBS want to sell WINS?
They need to unload one property if they're going to purchase an FM in NYC... if there is a deal with 94.7 that involves a swap with another company for a full B from Empire (this is what seems to be the thought, though there is no hard evidence of this deal) to put WFAN or another AM signal on, they need to unload one station to stay under the cap.
WINS has the "worst" signal in the CBS cluster, especially compared to WFAN and WCBS-AM.
WINS has the "worst" signal in the CBS cluster, especially compared to WFAN and WCBS-AM.
http://radiodiscussions.com/smf/index.php?topic=219344.0
Check this thread on AM radio
If CBS sells 1010 AM this means that they have to get both WCBS and WINS to get LMA agreements with Cumulus to appear on FM at the same time. They would have to go into a 4 way flip.
Check this thread on AM radio
If CBS sells 1010 AM this means that they have to get both WCBS and WINS to get LMA agreements with Cumulus to appear on FM at the same time. They would have to go into a 4 way flip.
D
del_griffith
Guest
I'm just trying to wrap my brain around a WOR broadcast with Joan Hamburg doing a pre-game show and Arthur Frommer doing a post game show
badjef said:
Where did you hear that?
I happen to like seeing people "out of character".del_griffith said:
You wouldn't know a Krazie, such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, would be a BIG Brooklyn Dodger fan. Although I don't care for her as a "Presidential Historian" for NBC, I think she would enjoy a Rays game at the 'Trop.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
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