Speaking of the forthcoming WBZ-FM, you wonder if they'll try to clone the WEEI formula that gave 850 a
fair amount of success or will they try something different? A tweet on BostonRadioWatch says "The SportsHub will need to step it up. Copycat stuff will fail them badly especailly when Entercom puts WEEI on FM which it will." (
http://twitter.com/bostonradio )
Though where? Would WMKK or WKAF switch? Perhaps the latter as 93.7 is doing well with jockless (low cost)
but 97.7 serves a purpose in helping WAAF reach some areas... the "buy WCRB and change it" scenario would
be interesting: Roll Over Beethoven and dig to...Planet Mikey.
While WEEI does have some FM presence elsewhere, their main signal has some problems reaching certain
areas at night and for those working in offices/buildings where they can't pick it up and have no way of
hearing it online...an FM signal could do well, but where?
Meanwhile BostonSportsMedia talks about WBZ-FM and wonders if it'll be more of the same:
http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/2009/07/free-advice-for-wbz-fm
Bruce Allen wonders if T&R might poss. do some sports (at least sports flashes?) but might probably just cater to the rule of 'nobody wants sports in the morning' He offers a little advice to them. He also looks
at the possibilities of Tanguay and Felgie's shows...and wonders if they'd consider covering sports outside
of Boston (also mentions former Fox Sports host Ben Maller would be a good option )
I wonder if they could pick up some play by play from ESPN or Westwood One; I think W1 stuff airs on
WEEI, not sure (well, some of it does for sure--NFL Sunday, Mon, and Thu night football which will
continue on 850). Meanwhile ESPN seems to be stuck on the idea of having the weak signalled 890 and 1400
running most of their stuff--talk shows--but could some play by play wind up on 98.5? Some football,
baseball?
I for one am not crazy at the idea that the baseball playoffs not involving the Sox are on 890/1400 which
for me at least is tough to pick up when and where I work (nights, the post office). It means having to
hook up a radio set to 1410 or 1050 (or maybe 890, if conditions are right) and use a mini FM transmitter
and hoping the signal comes through (last year with the World Series, thankfully, the now-gone Harry
Kalas and Phillies via 1210 did come through)
But imagine hearing baseball playoffs on the powerful, static free 98.5..."We'll have Yankees vs. Tigers,
Phillies vs. Cubs, right here on the Sports Hub..."
