Local sports talk finished on 1250

[dB]

I'm torn here. As a pro wrestling fan, this galls me b/c Mark Madden essentially gets the last laugh on his old station, instead of, you know, Madden getting fired again and finally being blackballed from Eastern PA radio for good.

...

Not surprising that a Bungle fan wouldn't have much grasp of geography... :

 

[OhsnapsLive]

If the Fan does not gain any traction now - it won't ever.

If for some reason, they can't get the 1250 talent, and make no further improvements - they will not gain anything.

Should they start shuffling schedules and air talent - getting KNOWN local people - they might crack a 2.0. Throwing national ESPN programming won't turn higher ratings.

Now, I've heard Radio Disney is shutting down in a lot of cities. What does this mean for 1250? For the one station to a market ownership - who would even be interested in buying 1250? Or would they just shut it down?

Even more interesting - what to do with 540? This is a killer signal that has been wasted on stupid formats for years. The Birach ownership and their internal soap opera - look it up online - will probably give us nothing but more snake oil shows and/or brokered ethnic programming.

O of course. im saying if 93-7 picked up ESPN prog. they would be at least a 3.2. Not all people in the Pittsburgh metro area can get 1250 or listens to AM radio. So if its on FM they're be alot of listeners. Plus people dont want to hear local sports all the time either.
Your right about the talent, if 93-7 cant get the talent then that station will never pass 1.9

 

[california]

There is so much talk about "talent" at WEAE. Stan and Guy are the only 2 worth saving, the others wouldn't be worth the money. That is radio today.

 

[pman44]

Re: Talent at 1250--it's not only Stan and Guy, but also Ed Bouchette, Merrill Hoge, John Clayton, etc, etc. If you take those elements over to the Fan, it's a big improvement.

Agreed, though, that Mack, Laird, and Logan aren't an upgrade. Paulson would be a boon to the morning show in place of Alexander.

 

[california]

Ed Bouchette woud be available. He is not ESPN property. Merle Hoge is over rated and would rather be hunting moose, John Clayton looks too much like Wally Cox.....and Paulson should stick to singing his unfunny parody songs to his cows!

 

[Boss Radio]

John Clayton looks too much like Wally Cox.....

And that's a big issue on radio.

 

[Parttimer]

Even more interesting - what to do with 540? This is a killer signal that has been wasted on stupid formats for years. The Birach ownership and their internal soap opera - look it up online - will probably give us nothing but more snake oil shows and/or brokered ethnic programming.

I wouldn't be surprised if 540 went dark. Since apparently Disney was LMA-ing it, it was being operated out of Ardmore Blvd. They might have to go out and build studios somewhere else to keep it operating, so don't be surprised if they just pull the plug as well.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Even more interesting - what to do with 540? This is a killer signal that has been wasted on stupid formats for years. The Birach ownership and their internal soap opera - look it up online - will probably give us nothing but more snake oil shows and/or brokered ethnic programming.

I wouldn't be surprised if 540 went dark. Since apparently Disney was LMA-ing it, it was being operated out of Ardmore Blvd. They might have to go out and build studios somewhere else to keep it operating, so don't be surprised if they just pull the plug as well.

I think an examination of the Birach empire would reveal a number of stations in WAY worse shape and with less potential than 540. They did have a studio up until the day they cut over to Disney....may have been a trailer at the tower site for all I know.
This is the business model for that company and they apparently can get by with it in many locations across the country.

One of the strongest features of the ESPN national programming is the number of guests they are able to bring to the fore on a regular basis.....Merrill Hoge, Dick Vitale, Buster Olney, Beano Cook, etc. I am guessing that ESPN has them all locked-up contractually and you won't hear any of them putting in an appearance on The Fan. (which is really a shame because Beano could add a lot to their entertainment value)

 

[hypwr]

The 540 station has room for a studio. I was there when they went on the air in 1957 and we had 2 studios in addition to the xmtr. It was only 250 watts then but went everywhere. I believe they now have 5kw....down from 7.5kw.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I'm not sure Beano is contracted to ESPN in such a manner he can't do guest spots on other stations. I've heard him do spots on Rocco's shows on 104.7 and Stan Savran's when he was on 970.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I'm not sure Beano is contracted to ESPN in such a manner he can't do guest spots on other stations. I've heard him do spots on Rocco's shows on 104.7 and Stan Savran's when he was on 970.

That's great news! He is like an encyclopedia on the history of Pittsburgh sports.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Was 1250 an ESPN O & O station? ???

 

[FreddyE1977]

Was 1250 an ESPN O & O station? ???

Yes. Smallest market where they had one.

 

[Parttimer]

I'm not sure Beano is contracted to ESPN in such a manner he can't do guest spots on other stations. I've heard him do spots on Rocco's shows on 104.7 and Stan Savran's when he was on 970.

I don't think Beano has any official ties to ESPN anymore. Cowherd has him on for a guest shot once a week during football season. As entertaining as he can be, most programmers aren't interested in him because he's seen as appealing to too old of an audience, whih is a shame.

 

[Boss Radio]

I'm not sure Beano is contracted to ESPN in such a manner he can't do guest spots on other stations. I've heard him do spots on Rocco's shows on 104.7 and Stan Savran's when he was on 970.

That's great news! He is like an encyclopedia on the history of Pittsburgh sports.

Are you kidding? He's a Pitt football guy -- knows nothing about any other subjects. He's 79, and has been using the same lines for the last 40 years. Pittsburgh clings to the past, but this is taking it to a ridiculous extreme.

 

[DToTheJ]

No Steel City pre-or-post game shows today... All the hallmarks of a hasty cancellation.
Guess the brass did not want to put up with a week's worth of the pig vomit routine from callers.

"WEEEEEEEEAE!" ;D

 

[DToTheJ]

There is so much talk about "talent" at WEAE. Stan and Guy are the only 2 worth saving, the others wouldn't be worth the money. That is radio today.

I betcha either Stan or Guy lands another job in Pittsburgh radio before Kalena Bell does.

 

[FreddyE1977]

No Steel City pre-or-post game shows today... All the hallmarks of a hasty cancellation.
Guess the brass did not want to put up with a week's worth of the pig vomit routine from callers.

"WEEEEEEEEAE!" ;D

Maybe a call letter change is in the offing.
WOGE - Waste Of Good Electricity

 

[FreddyE1977]

I'm not sure Beano is contracted to ESPN in such a manner he can't do guest spots on other stations. I've heard him do spots on Rocco's shows on 104.7 and Stan Savran's when he was on 970.

That's great news! He is like an encyclopedia on the history of Pittsburgh sports.

Are you kidding? He's a Pitt football guy -- knows nothing about any other subjects. He's 79, and has been using the same lines for the last 40 years. Pittsburgh clings to the past, but this is taking it to a ridiculous extreme.

I have heard Beano talk at length about boxing, baseball, the Hornets, and a lot of other Pittsburgh sports stuff from the
40's and 5o's. Stuff no host in the market would know as much about. Maybe it's just the history buff in me.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Was 1250 an ESPN O & O station? ???

Yes. Smallest market where they had one.

Was watching Mike & Mike on ESPN2 this morning when they streamed the calls and cities of various ESPN radio outlets. When Pittsburgh flashed across the screen, WEAE 1250 AM was shown. Did they not get the message in Bristol or is ESPN still on 1250? ???