I can remember when the Pirates' games were carried on both KDKA and WWVA. Perhaps a longtime fan in that immediate area could supply the years when that took place. I know one of the years inwhich that happened was 1960 - the season of a Bucs' World Championship.
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PIRATES
- Thread starter Parttimer
- Start date
drubytue said:
Now I've heard it all.
I really do respect your political views, but if you can't take a promo for Sean Hannity during a broadcast, how did you ever handle Rush Limbaugh being the lead-in for many years for day games on KDKA or the right-wing hosts that followed the Bucco game for years?
Or for that matter, the occassional appearances by Dick Thornburg or Rick Santorum on the broadcasts when they took in a Pirates game?
Parttimer said:
I hate to quote myself but the answer to this question, at least on weekends, is yes. Last night at 6:40 Mike McConnell was welcoming a caller and suddenly Tim Neverett was opening the pregame show. No recorded intro, no sponsor billboard, just literally "OK,go."
First off, how hard is it to schedule some spots or promos or some mini-feature for 2 or 3 minutes to fill the time from the last break at the bottom of the hour? It wasn't like they were making any effort whatsoever to rejoin McConnell's show on time anyway, every break was too long and was rejoining him late.
But come on, they don't even care about basic production values like an intro? They can't pay a production guy to cut a 30-second open?
I used to hear stuff like this when the Tampa Bay Lightning were the worst expansion team in the NHL and their games were on 1010, which was a satellite dumpster fire of a sports station that had a .4 AQH. (And to be fair, that's owned by CBS).
But I could time out the polka show dead on into the NASCAR races at WKEG 30 years ago and it sounded 100 times better than this.
Really, this lacks even the basic professional qualities you'd expect in market #100, let alone a top 5 station in a top 25 market.
With Clear Channel reportedly on the verge of collapse: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/unclear_future_TC9WaDTPsiXnMnvG3sonVO The rights to the Pirates games may come open again sooner than later.
It's hard to see them staying on 104.7. (ok, so the article does say "next couple of years")
It's hard to see them staying on 104.7. (ok, so the article does say "next couple of years")
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FreddyE1977
Guest
Pratte4Life said:
During the G20 last summer they had Tom Vilsack, Pittsburgh native, former Iowa Governor and Obama Administration Secretary of Agriculture, in the booth as a guest. He was delivering the expected pro-Obama political spin in addition to talking baseball, and those of us from the other side of the aisle did not shut him off.
How important are Pirates broadcasts to a station? With, what, 125 or more games on TV and most games played at night, I would suggest that most people at home will be watching the games. With the exception of the 43 people who watch over-the-air TV and those who are working or in their cars the others are, if they are interested in the Bucs, watching FSP.
I was surprised that KD didn't make more money on the games. I guess it was just a matte of tradition or pride.
I could be wrong though.
I was surprised that KD didn't make more money on the games. I guess it was just a matte of tradition or pride.
I could be wrong though.
Hyp- It was always explained to me that if a radio station wanted only one sports contract in town it would be the baseball team.
There are plenty of reasons for this; the number of games provides lots of revenue and programming, baseball comes off the best of any sport described on the radio, baseball announcers tend to have a stronger bond with team and audience and more star appeal than those of other sports.
But while we make sure to watch the Steelers game on TV and the Penguins are usually playing in the cold of winter when you want to stay at home and watch them on TV, due to the number of games even the most hardened baseball fan will be out and about when the Pirates play with regularity.
Furthermore, even in this era, there are plenty of people who will prefer to take in a warm evening on their front porch listening to the ballgame. Maybe not as many before so many games were televised, but in a way the fact all the games are on cable now makes radio so important, at least to a senior crowd.
True, with so much alternative media the idea of trying to follow a pennant race on 50KW blowtorches now seems quaint. Most teams aren't even on 50KW stations anymore.
But I would submit to you baseball on the radio is still alive and well.
There are plenty of reasons for this; the number of games provides lots of revenue and programming, baseball comes off the best of any sport described on the radio, baseball announcers tend to have a stronger bond with team and audience and more star appeal than those of other sports.
But while we make sure to watch the Steelers game on TV and the Penguins are usually playing in the cold of winter when you want to stay at home and watch them on TV, due to the number of games even the most hardened baseball fan will be out and about when the Pirates play with regularity.
Furthermore, even in this era, there are plenty of people who will prefer to take in a warm evening on their front porch listening to the ballgame. Maybe not as many before so many games were televised, but in a way the fact all the games are on cable now makes radio so important, at least to a senior crowd.
True, with so much alternative media the idea of trying to follow a pennant race on 50KW blowtorches now seems quaint. Most teams aren't even on 50KW stations anymore.
But I would submit to you baseball on the radio is still alive and well.
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FreddyE1977
Guest
Yep, I'd agree. Nothing like a warm summer evening on the back porch with a cold drink and a ballgame
on the radio. If you look at what KD has tried to fill that time with since they lost baseball, I think you'd
agree it is a superior programming choice.
on the radio. If you look at what KD has tried to fill that time with since they lost baseball, I think you'd
agree it is a superior programming choice.
FreddyE1977 said:
That's pure bliss my friend. I'm only 20, but there is something incredibly relaxing about watching the sunset and listening to the boys of summer with a cold bottle of beer in one hand. I of course assume about that last bit as I would never drink alcohol before I turn 21 because that's against the law. Ahem.
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FreddyE1977
Guest
Someone really needs to tell Rocco to knock it off with the macabre talk about his head injury.
His Pirates Update this morning was just hideous. "The last time the Pirates won a game in
Milwaukee, my skull was still round and my frontal lobes fully intact". It got worse from there.
He talked more about that stuff than about the game, a rare Bucco win.
Rocco, we're really happy that you're OK, and glad that you are managing to hang-in with the post
game show (Lord knows I would not want to be doing it after 20-0 blowouts!) But please, let
this thing go. I don't think you realize how deeply disturbing this is for the audience, especially
when slipped into a 60-second update without warning. Especially those who were not listening
three years ago and may have no idea what you are talking about.
His Pirates Update this morning was just hideous. "The last time the Pirates won a game in
Milwaukee, my skull was still round and my frontal lobes fully intact". It got worse from there.
He talked more about that stuff than about the game, a rare Bucco win.
Rocco, we're really happy that you're OK, and glad that you are managing to hang-in with the post
game show (Lord knows I would not want to be doing it after 20-0 blowouts!) But please, let
this thing go. I don't think you realize how deeply disturbing this is for the audience, especially
when slipped into a 60-second update without warning. Especially those who were not listening
three years ago and may have no idea what you are talking about.
It would be great if the Buccos could get on WWVA. They do carry the Steelers games, and there's people that listen to them from very far away. I listen to it frequently from Charleston, SC with a good signal. It starts coming in late in the afternoon during the winter.
WWVA is a historic station that has been torn to shreds because of Clear Channel.
WWVA is a historic station that has been torn to shreds because of Clear Channel.
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FreddyE1977
Guest
When he is on his game and sticking to the subject, I actually think that Rocco is quite good.
He had me splitting a gut on the ride home last evening.
"...and the Pirates -(long pregnant pause)-......inexplicably - (another long pause)......go to 9 and 12."
Bob Uecker would have been proud!
Good stuff, and refershingly droll when you consider the Homerism that would go on if The Fan/KD were doing
the post-game show.
He had me splitting a gut on the ride home last evening.
"...and the Pirates -(long pregnant pause)-......inexplicably - (another long pause)......go to 9 and 12."
Bob Uecker would have been proud!
Good stuff, and refershingly droll when you consider the Homerism that would go on if The Fan/KD were doing
the post-game show.
Agree with you wholeheartedly on Rocco there, Fred.
But here's a question. Maybe I'm just not hip but . . .
What's the story behind John Wehner's cricket?
But here's a question. Maybe I'm just not hip but . . .
What's the story behind John Wehner's cricket?
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FreddyE1977
Guest
Pratte4Life said:
Don't know. I must have missed that bit.
There was Cricket from India on my dish sports preview channel last weekend.
Could that have something to do with it?
No- I mean I was listening to Bucs-Giants on Wednesday and Greg Brown and John Wehner's broadcast had cricket sound effects on it during the extra innings, which Brown attributed to Wehner bringing in.
I never would have suspected, but perhaps John Wehner needs a better conscience.
Who knew?
I never would have suspected, but perhaps John Wehner needs a better conscience.
Who knew?
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FreddyE1977
Guest
Pratte4Life said:
Whoa, did not hear that. Wehner had better not use that during a home game or he'll find himself back on the streets of Carrick!
Alas, as often as Rocco inspires, he disappoints. In this morning's update, he said that the Bucs were returning home to face the Reds.
uhh....Rocco.....three game set against the CUBS opens tomorrow night!
When they pay you to cover the team, those little pocket schedules they give away at Duffy's Beer 4 Less
come in handy...
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