Marlins Broadcasts

[Faraway]

We now know that the Panthers games will be heard on 790 The Ticket. Unless I've missed anything, that leaves the Marlins broadcast rights up for grabs. So, where will they go?

Will they join the Panthers on 790?

Will Clear Channel put them on WIOD or WINZ. Their new PD, Ken Charles, comes from KTRH in Houston which has flagshipped the Astros for years? Of the two, I'd say it's more likely to be WINZ - due to HEAT, not to mention potential El-Rushbo conflicts on 610.

Is there an FM station that mght pick them up?

Will they go to James-Crsytal's WMEN or WFTL and get alleged "Miami Beach to West Palm Beach" coverage on one signal?

Will the Marlins go "internet only?" IIRC, in their last season as the Expo's, Jeffrey Loria offered internet only game "broadcasts" with none other than Dave Van Horne. I think that was done out of necessity, everyone knew the Expos were leaving so no one wanted to commit to a broadcast deal. Maybe history repeats itself?

Just to get it started, I'm betting WINZ - but only if Marlin's take the broadcast sales in house. No way will CC pony up ridiculous rights fees.

 

[CapeFish]

Just to get it started, I'm betting WINZ - but only if Marlin's take the broadcast sales in house. No way will CC pony up ridiculous rights fees.

WINZ looks about right. Maybe WIOD if the HEAT decide to move to FM.

Marlins on an FM signal would be sweet....maybe 93 Rock?

Marlins will be on the radio, no lack of available signals in Miami.

I don't see WFTL/WMEN getting the flagship rights, maybe Palm Beach affiliate.

WAXY getting the rights may be the way it happens, but anyway the Marlins get on the radio in 2008 and beyond will be in-house. The team can sell their radio ads along with other ads in the ballpark as packages pretty well.

 

[roxy23]

Samson has such a huge ego that he will not be able to stomach a rights fee deal that is less than half of the $3 million plus WQAM is paying this year. So he will take the sale effort in house and most likely 790 will pick up the programming so they can keep themselves relevant after losing the Dolphins and Joe Rose.

Let's see if we have this right - Joe Rose and the Dolphins move to WQAM and WAXY gets Steve Goldstein and the Florida Panthers. Sounds like Feinberg is gonna pack it in pretty soon.

 

[DJ Oldschool]

My guess is that the games will be on WINZ. NOBODY will pay the stupid rights fees that WQAM has the past few years. No wonder WQAM was so eager to move to the Dolphins and dump the Marlins. The real question is, where does the David Samson show end up.
That's some great radio.

 

[CapeFish]

Samson has such a huge ego that he will not be able to stomach a rights fee deal that is less than half of the $3 million plus WQAM is paying this year. So he will take the sale effort in house and most likely 790 will pick up the programming so they can keep themselves relevant after losing the Dolphins and Joe Rose.

Let's see if we have this right - Joe Rose and the Dolphins move to WQAM and WAXY gets Steve Goldstein and the Florida Panthers. Sounds like Feinberg is gonna pack it in pretty soon.

Ego or not, $3 million is a nice chunk of change. WQAM has not paid above that since 1993 for Marlins rights, if I remember correctly, and retained most of the ad inventory. 790 continues to be as relevant as ever to listeners IMO. I like Goldie, just like I like Joe Rose, and will listen to both when given the change....good thing Joe will be mornings on WQAM and Goldie middays on WAXY. ;D

I think WQAM's big trouble, is in the afternoons with Hank Goldberg's contract. The Sun-Sentinel had some rumblings that Hank was not happy with the possibility of a pay cut.

Question, how long until people get tired of Dolphins All Access on WQAM nightly from 7-9pm year round? I really hope it succeeds for WQAM, because they gave up the 2 things that launched them as a sports radio station to get it.

My guess is that the games will be on WINZ. NOBODY will pay the stupid rights fees that WQAM has the past few years. No wonder WQAM was so eager to move to the Dolphins and dump the Marlins. The real question is, where does the David Samson show end up.
That's some great radio.

WINZ just seems the logical place, plus we all know Loria and Samson lean to the left a bit....so Samson on DeFede's morning show could really be entertaining knowing those two's personalities.

If the HEAT move their contract with Clear Channel to FM down the road (you never know, NBA teams seem to be going FM and 103.5 fits the demos for the HEAT better than 610), 610 could air the Fish without issue.

 

[CapeFish]

One more point, we know Dave Van Horne and Roxy Bernstein will move with the Marlins, but what about Jesse Agler? I think he's employed by WQAM.

Of course, Roxy Bernstein may leave if he can find a better MLB gig out west. Those California-to-Florida red eye flights during the Spring must be tiring.

 

[roxy23]

Cape,
always appreciate your comments - well informed and written so don't take personal offense to this but Goldie??? Good guy I am sure but not in the same league as Joe Rose. Forget about ratings for a moment, he is not very "sellable" outside of his long-time sponsor The Rainmaker. If 790 uses Goldie for any length of time in the afternoons to replace Sid, this will be a good thing for QAM's Mandich and Goldberg

 

[CapeFish]

Cape,
always appreciate your comments - well informed and written so don't take personal offense to this but Goldie??? Good guy I am sure but not in the same league as Joe Rose. Forget about ratings for a moment, he is not very "sellable" outside of his long-time sponsor The Rainmaker. If 790 uses Goldie for any length of time in the afternoons to replace Sid, this will be a good thing for QAM's Mandich and Goldberg

As a listener (not in terms of business) I enjoy Goldie more than say Mandich/Goldberg. However, I don't think you can stick Goldie in the evening or morning drive slots due to his Panthers work. He should take the 10am-Noon slot and offer a good sports alternative to Neil Rogers.

790 can air the following lineup:

12:00 AM - 05:30 AM FOX Sports Radio
05:30 AM - 10:00 AM The Sid Rosenberg Show
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM The Steve Goldstein Show
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM The Boog Sciambi Show
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM The Jeff Deforrest Show
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM The Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Kevin Rogers
10:00 PM - 12:00 PM Dos Amigos

Rights: Panthers & Seminoles

560 would counter with the following:

5am The Big O Show
7am The Joe Rose Show
10am The Neil Rogers Show
2pm The Jim Mandich Show
4pm The POWER Hour
5pm The Hank Goldberg Show
7pm Miami Dolphins All Access
9pm Gamenight w/ Ed Kaplan
1am ESPN Radio

Rights: Dolphins & Hurricanes

I think both 560 and 790 can survive in this market if they get spending under control. The rights changes of the 3 teams that just changed hands should help stop the red ink a bit. Those are 2 very balanced and professional lineups that can draw in listeners.

I do think the Marlins will end up with the HEAT over on Clear Channel, likely WINZ due to the fact that 940 has no other teams (they dumped the Gators a while back to WFTL) and the daytime schedule there won't be bothered much by day games since no locals shows get bumped. But that just opens up 790 and 560's airtimes so they can do local shows and profit.

 

[roxy23]

Someone told me that Jeff DeForrest will be gone when his contract is up in December. Also Boog Sciambi prefers to do the 10a-12p shift due to his baseball commitments. That's a pretty big hole in mid-days at 790 when Sid Rosenberg offered a viable competitor as a sports show to Neil Rogers.
Also did not know that 790 has the Seminole games, weren't they on James Crystal last year?

 

[CapeFish]

Someone told me that Jeff DeForrest will be gone when his contract is up in December.   Also Boog Sciambi prefers to do the 10a-12p shift due to his baseball commitments.   That's a pretty big hole in mid-days at 790 when Sid Rosenberg offered a viable competitor as a sports show to Neil Rogers.
Also did not know that 790 has the Seminole games, weren't they on James Crystal last year?

If DeFo leaves, they can pull another host or two from their weekend/fill-in farm system and stick them in that 2-4 slot. They seem to be trying out Jeremy Marks-Peltzon (DeFo's producer) in that 10-12 slot this week. Minervini and Forte could be possibly hosts to replace DeFo. Especially since the Panthers have a deal with 790 now and both of them work on FSN's Panthers coverage. But December is far away still. 

Put Boog on from 10-12, then Goldie from 12-2 and it still works as a sports alternative to Neil Rogers. 

The way I understand it is that 790 gets to pick and choose what FSU games they want, then (for 2006) came 640 and 1360. In 2007, 790 comes first, then 1360, and then finally 1080 (mostly basketball I would imagine). The Seminoles ISP Radio Network (just replaced Host this year) considers Miami (WAXY/WKAT/WTPS) and Palm Beach (WFTL/WMEN) seperate markets. Noles Affiliates: http://www.ispsports.com/radio_network.cfm?school_id=50  ;D GO NOLES!

Another thing, FSU still offers the call in shows on Thursday Nights @ 7pm live.....it is on the radio network and on TV in Tallahassee on NBC40.

UPDATE: By my 2006 count, 790 aired mostly FSU Football games. 640/850 handled mostly FSU basketball games.

 

[CapeFish]

To get this topic back on track about the Marlins Broadcasts,

Let's say in our scenario that WINZ is named the flagship for the Marlins' in-house network. We know DVH and Roxy are back in 2008 for sure. Who airs the games outside of SoFla?

Right now, these are the affiliates:
Belle Glade WSWN 900 AM (took over from WBGF-FM recently)
West Palm Beach WEFL 760 AM
Daytona Beach WELE 1380 AM
Marathon WFFG 1300 AM
Key West WKWF 1600 AM
Stuart WSTU 1450 AM
Naples/Fort Myers WWCN 770 AM

I think WSWN in Belle Glade, WFFG in Marathon, WKWF in Key West, and WSTU in Stuart all retain the games in 2008 and continue to air the games as they do currently (aka religiously). WELE in Daytona Beach never airs games and is an affiliate in name only it seems....but the same stays true in 2008.

Then comes Palm Beach and Fort Myers/Naples.
1) Would a CC station in Palm Beach (like 1290 WJNO or 1230 WBZT) take over the rights? Would 850 or 640 take them again? Or does 760 keep them?
2) With WWCN being owned by Beasley, what are the chances they keep the games? I live in Lee County and the coverage is about 2-4 games a week from the Marlins, with 1-2 Devil Rays games on their plate weekly. No Sunday games due to NASCAR, but thankfully the Dolphins moved over to 96.1 K-Rock (when 790 took over the Fins) so they aren't an issue.

Finally....
3) Does the Marlins taking over help their chances of getting back on the radio in markets like Orlando (formerly on 660 WORL) or Melbourne (formerly on 920 WMEL)? Clear Channel has stations in these two markets that have previously been Marlins affiliates. Orlando's 540 aired the team early on, 740 could possibly take some games. WMMB/WMMV in Melbourne could do the same.

This all assumes the Fish and CC mesh well, Samson lets the right people do their jobs, and that the ratings don't drop for Marlins Baseball on the radio.

 

[Faraway]

IF-IF-IF the Marlins go to WINZ, one of the reasons would likely be guaranteed clearance on other CC stations ...in West Palm, Treasure Coast and Ft Myers...maybe Orlando but that would probably be a stretch. Keys will no longer have CC owned stations by next spring, so rights there would be up for grabs. BZT's night signal actually matches up very nicely with WINZ's night signal. No way would CC accept games on JCE stations.

 

[CapeFish]

IF-IF-IF the Marlins go to WINZ, one of the reasons would likely be guaranteed clearance on other CC stations ...in West Palm, Treasure Coast and Ft Myers...maybe Orlando but that would probably be a stretch. Keys will no longer have CC owned stations by next spring, so rights there would be up for grabs. BZT's night signal actually matches up very nicely with WINZ's night signal. No way would CC accept games on JCE stations.

OK, but FM clearance in Fort Myers? CC has no AM here other than 1580 in Punta Gorda which likes to carry the Rays due to the Rays moving Spring Training to Charlotte County.

Unless CC can get WINK-AM/WNOG-AM to carry the games....but that would be a stretch IMHO. 95.3 WOLZ and Cat Country 107.1 could be places for games.

I will not be happy if I can't listen to games anymore. 

All hinges on what the Marlins do in Miami and what they offer affiliates outside of Miami.

Is Real Radio 94.3/101.7 in the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast a possibility? hmmm

 

[CapeFish]

Oh...just remembered they have WKII up in Charlotte County....but that signal is distant to areas on the other side of the Caloosahatchee River. It does cover Cape Coral though...where I live and where most people in the area live.

WKII Day Signal: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WKII&service=AM&status=L&hours=D
WKII Night Signal: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WKII&service=AM&status=L&hours=N

WKII CP Day: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WKII&service=AM&status=C&hours=D
WKII CP Night: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WKII&service=AM&status=C&hours=N

But they do carry the Charlotte County Redfish.

 

[CapeFish]

Marlins announced that 8 games bumped by WQAM for Dolphins/Canes broadcasts will be on WINZ: http://capefish.blogspot.com/2007/08/eight-marlins-radio-broadcasts-move-to.html

Precursor to a deal? Test drive? Seems like the Marlins may be testing the waters a bit with fans to get feedback.

After all, WQAM could have just stuck the games on 1360 or 1080 like usually done after 790 went all sports.

 

[larnov]

There is no desire for the marlins in Melbourne since they abandoned thier spring training home in Viera. And with the rise of XM and people getting Extra innings on Cable or getting the Audio on MLB.com local stations make more cash with wacko radio like Michael Savage!

To get this topic back on track about the Marlins Broadcasts,

Let's say in our scenario that WINZ is named the flagship for the Marlins' in-house network. We know DVH and Roxy are back in 2008 for sure. Who airs the games outside of SoFla?

Right now, these are the affiliates:
Belle Glade WSWN 900 AM (took over from WBGF-FM recently)
West Palm Beach WEFL 760 AM
Daytona Beach WELE 1380 AM
Marathon WFFG 1300 AM
Key West WKWF 1600 AM
Stuart WSTU 1450 AM
Naples/Fort Myers WWCN 770 AM

I think WSWN in Belle Glade, WFFG in Marathon, WKWF in Key West, and WSTU in Stuart all retain the games in 2008 and continue to air the games as they do currently (aka religiously). WELE in Daytona Beach never airs games and is an affiliate in name only it seems....but the same stays true in 2008.

Then comes Palm Beach and Fort Myers/Naples.
1) Would a CC station in Palm Beach (like 1290 WJNO or 1230 WBZT) take over the rights? Would 850 or 640 take them again? Or does 760 keep them?
2) With WWCN being owned by Beasley, what are the chances they keep the games? I live in Lee County and the coverage is about 2-4 games a week from the Marlins, with 1-2 Devil Rays games on their plate weekly. No Sunday games due to NASCAR, but thankfully the Dolphins moved over to 96.1 K-Rock (when 790 took over the Fins) so they aren't an issue.

Finally....
3) Does the Marlins taking over help their chances of getting back on the radio in markets like Orlando (formerly on 660 WORL) or Melbourne (formerly on 920 WMEL)? Clear Channel has stations in these two markets that have previously been Marlins affiliates. Orlando's 540 aired the team early on, 740 could possibly take some games. WMMB/WMMV in Melbourne could do the same.

This all assumes the Fish and CC mesh well, Samson lets the right people do their jobs, and that the ratings don't drop for Marlins Baseball on the radio.

 

[CapeFish]

There is no desire for the marlins in Melbourne since they abandoned thier spring training home in Viera. And with the rise of XM and people getting Extra innings on Cable or getting the Audio on MLB.com local stations make more cash with wacko radio like Michael Savage!

Sorry, I don't buy that. I know plenty of folks from Brevard County that follow the Marlins.

Just sounds like WMEL has Savage and they can't bump him. They not only dumped the Marlins, but also the Magic.

But luckily WMEL isn't the only radio station in Brevard County.

WIXC airs the Rays and WMMB/WMMV could air the Marlins (they did from 1993-1998ish) if Clear Channel becomes involved.

 

[DJ Oldschool]

I haven't heard anything recently about where the Marlins will be next year. Capefish, has there been any announcement?

 

[larnov]

WIXC 1060 can not be heard in Palm Bay at night, and it was WMEL that aired the Marlins in Melbourne and even aired CBS game of the week and playoffs
through 2003.

There is no desire for the marlins in Melbourne since they abandoned thier spring training home in Viera. And with the rise of XM and people getting Extra innings on Cable or getting the Audio on MLB.com local stations make more cash with wacko radio like Michael Savage!

Sorry, I don't buy that. I know plenty of folks from Brevard County that follow the Marlins.

Just sounds like WMEL has Savage and they can't bump him. They not only dumped the Marlins, but also the Magic.

But luckily WMEL isn't the only radio station in Brevard County.

WIXC airs the Rays and WMMB/WMMV could air the Marlins (they did from 1993-1998ish) if Clear Channel becomes involved.

 

[Stillatit]

No one has been here and posted for a while, but with Roxy gone, any insight on who gets the job as Marlins #2 guy?