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Pittsburgh Pirates to KDKA-FM Next Year..

CBS Radio being aggressive for sports rights... Clearly, that's nothing new. ::)
 
That gives KDKA-FM the big "team" that they needed in order to get serious relevance.

With CC locking up both the Steelers (WDVE/WBGG) and Penguins (WXDX-FM) for the next five years each, CBS HAD to get the Pirates. Prior flagship WPGB-FM had been nominally a flagship for the past few years, eliminating their in-house pre/post host and only carrying the games in between their normal steady diet of conservatalk. It was kinda obvious that CC didn't really want to keep them.
 
Would you want the Pirates? Top 10 list just came out of pro sports teams over a ten year period of declining attendance. Pirates among the top ten...... but here's the kicker.... at #1... The Cleveland Indians with a 48% loss in attendance 2001-2010.
 
Apparently the radio PBP still gets good ratings in spite of a team that hasn't been remotely competitive since 1992.

Aside from that, CBS must have been bidding against itself prior to a few hours ago. CC will try to do anything and everything to keep the Indians and Browns on WTAM/WMMS. And WKNR is clearly attempting to get a piece of the Browns pie by airing the spillover "Browns Daily" show that WMMS nor WTAM could ever air.
 
1250WTAE said:
The Pirates backed off The Fan announcement today, saying CC is still in the running for a new Pirates contract.
Click to expand...

Unless the Pirates made some sort of an announcement since 4 p.m. today, they haven't said anything about their broadcast deal, at least not on the record. KDKA didn't even confirm on the record that it was talking to the Pirates until Monday, Clear Channel hasn't said anything and the Pirates haven't returned calls. Having said that, I think Bob Smizik at the Post-Gazette's website has some good sources within the sports broadcasting world and could be the first to make it public once a deal is struck ... if the guy at the McKeesport Daily News doesn't get it first.
 
Seasoned Vet said:
CC...making it sound like it was their idea to back out of negotiations. Classy.
Click to expand...

It sounds like CC should have had Hank Williams Jr. to comment on Pirates negotiations. ::)
 
vjm said:
So this should show that our own "Fan" will most certainly make a bid for the Indians.
Click to expand...

Yes, and the sun is also expected to rise in the east and set in the west, and Northeast Ohio should get some snow this winter. :)

No, seriously, it's a notch below 92.3 running promos saying something "we're going after the Indians radio rights!"

And ditto with the Browns.

So, with the Pittsburgh "brother" Fan taking the MLB rights from a Clear Channel station...the die is set.

It's not exactly the same situation. The Indians have generally had a little more success than the Pirates over the years (though both teams were hot at about the same time this past year).

I haven't checked the Pittsburgh ratings, but here, the Tribe is a reliable ratings booster for WTAM. When the Indians get good, WTAM surges to the top (as I believe happened this year when they seemed headed for the playoffs in May), but I don't think it's exactly the same in Da Burgh for WPGB.

Clear Channel will certainly try to keep the Indians for WTAM. The Tribe rights are a key piece of the puzzle for 1100, more so than the Pirates were for WPGB.

But it's not going to be a cake walk this time for Oak Tree, as it has been since CC predecessor Jacor bought WKNR, then conveniently moved the Indians rights over to its WTAM...
 
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