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Preds to WGFX & WNSR

N

NotSoSilentBob

Guest
Mike Organ reports in today's daily rag that the rumored deal with the Preds going to 104.5 (with conflict games going to 560) will be announced at the "end of lockout" press conference.

No surprise, there, but I think this hurts 104.5 more than it helps. What do you think?<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In</P>
 
> Mike Organ reports in today's daily rag that the rumored
> deal with the Preds going to 104.5 (with conflict games
> going to 560) will be announced at the "end of lockout"
> press conference.
>
> No surprise, there, but I think this hurts 104.5 more than
> it helps. What do you think?

I just read that on All Access. The question I'd ask is: what type of ratings did the Predators draw on WTN? How much did the deal cost Citadel/WNSR (or how much are the Predators paying for the time, or is it a free deal?) Are there sponsors/advertisers ready to support the team? How are the Predators projected to do this upcoming season? These are not rhetorical questions, but instead they all would provide insight into how good (or bad) the deal is for both sides.

I'm just looking forward to the return of hockey. Here in Tampa, the timing of last year's lockout couldn't have been worse, since the Lightning (which have always had to fight to sell season tickets) missed out on the momentum of a championship season. I pull for the Predators along with the Lightning, and I hope to see both franchises do well.<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>
 
Here's the official press release.


Nashville, Tenn. (July 22, 2005) ? The Nashville Predators announced today that WGFX 104.5-FM (The Zone) and WNSR 560-AM (SportsRadio 560) will be the flagship stations of the team's radio network for 2005-06, serving as the Middle Tennessee radio home of the Nashville Predators and the National Hockey League.

WGFX will carry all regular season and post-season Predators games that do not conflict with its previous broadcast commitments, while WNSR will broadcast the balance of the schedule. All regular-season and playoff games on either station will include a post-game show.

"The Nashville Predators are pleased to formally announce our
partnerships with The Zone and SportsRadio 560 and look forward to our first season with our new radio flagships," said Steve Violetta, executive
vice president/business affairs for the Predators. "We are extremely
excited to work with radio partners who will actively promote and support the team as we relaunch our product and reintroduce our great sport in Middle Tennessee."

WGFX will increase its promotion of the Predators in 2005-06, airing player/coach shows, game-day updates, weekly reports and additional weekly programming on their highly-rated morning (The Acceptance Insurance Wake-Up Zone with Mark Howard, Frank Wycheck and Kevin Ingram, Monday-Friday, 6:00-9:00 a.m. CT) and afternoon-drive (The Sports Zone with George Plaster, Willy Daunic and Darren McFarland, Monday-Friday, 3:00-7:00 p.m.)
shows. The Sports Zone Pre-Game Show (Monday-Friday, 2:00-3:00 p.m. CT),
hosted by McFarland, will dedicate an entire show to hockey each week. In 2003-04, WGFX featured weekly appearances by USA Today hockey writer Kevin Allen as well as The Greg Johnson Show. Daunic and Ingram have both previously worked as members of the Predators' broadcast team.

"We're excited that the Predators will be heard on Nashville's No. 1 sports station. We believe there will be tremendous excitement around the team as they crank up in 2005-06. Nashville and all of North America has really missed hockey," said Steve Dickert, vice president and general
manager of WGFX. "The Predators round out our programming lineup
perfectly."

SportsRadio 560, Nashville's first 24-hour sports station, will also increase its promotion of the Predators this coming season. In addition to a weekly player show, WNSR plans to add the weekly one-hour "Fourth Period" syndicated hockey show hosted by Dan Kingerski and NHL beat reporter Mark Lazerus. In 2003-04, WNSR hosted The Scott Hartnell Show each week.

"We are very excited to be partnering with the Nashville Predators on
their radio broadcast," said WNSR station manager Jeff Kolb. "The
Predators' popularity was at an all-time high after their Stanley Cup
playoff run in 2004. We see the excitement for NHL hockey returning
immediately. To be able to broadcast Predators games and special Predators feature programs to SportsRadio 560's audience is a big asset."

The Predators expect to add a number of regional affiliates to the 2005-06 radio network over the next several weeks. The radio broadcast schedule will be released following the announcement of the 2005-06 NHL regular-season schedule.
<P ID="signature">______________
Until it happens, it hasn't happened.</P>
 
> Mike Organ reports in today's daily rag that the rumored
> deal with the Preds going to 104.5 (with conflict games
> going to 560) will be announced at the "end of lockout"
> press conference.
>
> No surprise, there, but I think this hurts 104.5 more than
> it helps. What do you think?

No, I don't think the Preds hurt 104.5.

As far as ratings go, live games often do better for sports stations than their regular fare on nights and weekends. Not that the Preds would be a ratings bonanza, but I think they'll help a little, rather than hurt. And I'd much rather hear hockey -- or church league softball, for that matter -- on 104.5 than most Fox Sports programming.

As far as 104.5's image as a sports station goes, securing the Preds won't hurt them any. The remaining hockey fans will tune in. And I really hate to say this, but there's been so much press regarding the lockout in the NHL in general and the Predators in this area, that there's been some curiosity developed among some... new potential fans who are going to find this is a good time to come on to the Pro Hockey bandwagon.

560 should find it gives them a little extra publicity. In fact, I hope this isn't the only venture in which 560 and 104.5 will partner. Other types of partnerships could mean more coverage for 104.5's regular listeners and more listeners for 560.

There are two things that do hurt 104.5 now, in my book, and to my ears. I've found I can no longer tolerate Fox Sports (with the exception of the Thompson Brothers and possibly JT and Looney on a good night). It usually doesn't take me more than a minute to reach for the off button or preset button when Fox comes on.

The other thing that hurts 104.5's image as a sports station, is that for two hours every day, it's not a sports station. I listen to the Wake-Up Zone on my way to work and then finish it out in my office. Then I don't normally listen again until 2:00. Now when it comes to news and political talk radio, I'd rather listen to HHH than Gill or Valentine or Bart. HHH is exceptional at that, but too often he's doing relationship stuff. But this is a sports station, gall durn it, and I wanta hear sports. I'd leave my radio on longer if Rudy were doing more than sitting in, or if Pete has to move, they give that spot to him. (I'd complain about Rome too, but I've already done my share of that and it's fallen on deaf ears).

Sorry for the soap box stand, NSSB, but you should watch about asking blanket "what do you think?" questions...
 
Why didn't Mike Organ do his research and reveal that Pete Weber isn't going to do the radio play-by-play? Why didn't he reveal its because he wants the money from 106.7 the Fan and that he burned the bridge to 104.5's crew when he went to 106.7 the Fan! Why didn't Mike Organ reveal who is going to do the radio?

That would have required working the story. Its out there if he wanted it, but that would have required doing more than rewriting a press release or taking a phone call.

> Mike Organ reports in today's daily rag that the rumored
> deal with the Preds going to 104.5 (with conflict games
> going to 560) will be announced at the "end of lockout"
> press conference.
>
> No surprise, there, but I think this hurts 104.5 more than
> it helps. What do you think?
>
 
I agree. I was wondering where that information was, as well.

Mike Organ is the biggest butt-kisser in this town. He knows that if he says one BAD thing about any member of the local sports media, they'll cut him off.

> Why didn't Mike Organ do his research and reveal that Pete
> Weber isn't going to do the radio play-by-play? Why didn't
> he reveal its because he wants the money from 106.7 the Fan
> and that he burned the bridge to 104.5's crew when he went
> to 106.7 the Fan! Why didn't Mike Organ reveal who is going
> to do the radio?
>
> That would have required working the story. Its out there if
> he wanted it, but that would have required doing more than
> rewriting a press release or taking a phone call.<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In</P>
 
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