Sports Radio 1010?

[badjef]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[billalm]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

True. How about this? What if Disney would be willing to switch 1380 from Radio Disney to a 24 hour feed of ESPN Radio? Thoughts on that?

 

[Studio20]

It's funny to me how no one ever seems to understand how some formats work on some signals and some don't. "Wild" worked on 98.7 for many years because it was new and different from anything else in the market. "X" has worked on 97.1 for many years because they were actually the first true "alternative" rock station in Tampa Bay. The current format on 92.5 is still working for CBS because they put something on there wasn't currently available on the FM dial. Adult contemporary or adult hits are formats that are easily listenable in some variety on at least 3-4 other signals in the market. That means it's probably not gonna make huge ratings or money on a signal like 98.7. It's the same situation that took 95.7 from AC to Urban. You took something away that was still available elsewhere and replaced it with something that wasn't. You need to put something 98.7 that people will make an effort to listen too. Sports on the FM is something that will generate sales and money for that signal. Moving the revenue you are getting from 1010 and potentially adding more because of the move to FM is a win-win for the radio group. I find it very hard to believe that the current format on 98.7 is doing much if anything to benefit the bottom line. I'm of the opinion it was launched in 2010 to flank Wild and draw listeners away from FLZ and Mix. Fast forward to 2012 where you've added a much "hotter" Magic 94.9 and a new hit music station in Hot 101.5. NO WAY is "Play" relevant anymore. CBS doesn't have much choice. Rock's not gonna do it, country and classic hits are both already being programmed within the group, and I doubt they'll want to go back to smooth jazz either. The most sense is some kind of sports or hot talk format. Honestly, they should have pulled the trigger before 102.5 did, which I might add has signal issues too around some of the Bay. Blaming the signal issues are an excuse and can be a non-issue if the station is programmed correctly to the area it serves.... and especially since just about every station is now easily listenable online through smartphones which to some IS the new "radio".

And as far as Clear Channel "owning" all the rights to the local sports teams? Well.... up to now that's been justified as they had the best signals and formats on which to acquire those broadcast rights. However, with Cox and now potentially now CBS having spoken word formats that appeal to guys on the FM side of the dial, don't be surprised if some of those teams make a pitch to move.

One of the benchmarks of a successful radio station is you need to be the flagship for the areas...not just cities...the areas most popular sports franchise. I'm sure CC is on at the very least, passable terms with all three area teams, and has years of experience in marketing those franchises in a way that perhaps CBS has not. With that in mind, the all-sports station would have to be one that covers the entire Bay Area in a dominant fashion..which 98.7, regardless of what they run, does not.

The other question is talent. Do you really go with whats who is on 1010 right now?

While Cox has moved mountains in the Bay Area of late, I don't see them tackling Sports anytime in the next few books.

 

[badjef]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

True. How about this? What if Disney would be willing to switch 1380 from Radio Disney to a 24 hour feed of ESPN Radio? Thoughts on that?

Radio Disney is not going anywhere. It is a "free" 24 hour commercial for targeting children growing up with the Disney name. Ratings don't matter in this case as DW is only an hour away and RD is receivable in cars rented from Tampa Airport all the way to the Magic Kingdom.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[raydeogeek]

a couple of points.........in peeking at a recent arbitron - I noticed that Play 98.7 actually has a decent cume audience...the issue really isn't signal....it's format. they are easily #5 in a category of 5....thats the kiss of death. the station was launched without having a really clear brand identity, and then put in a morning show far too late. As far as sports on the 98.7 signal, it could work, if and only if they simulcasted the station with AM1010. Can they do it successfully? I don't know. It will depend on who the personalities are, if they can snag at least 1 or more franchises from CC to own (and from what I'm told, CBS formerly did the PBP for the BUCS for several years)......and then of course, how it is marketed. From a little research, CBS appears to have done very well with creating very successful FM sports franchises in other markets...........time will only tell!

 

[Parttimer]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

ESPN1300 WJZ Baltimore.

 

[badjef]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

ESPN1300 WJZ Baltimore.

Ok.

ESPN is on a 5kw AM. It is just a feed. Their 105.7 is "The Fan" it has all the pbp. They may be keeping ESPN on 1300 as a way of "shelving" it.

It also allows them to avoid broadcast conflicts between the Ravens and Orioles.

Weekends are barter.

It sounds as though it is a throw away station.

Can you find me another like that one. Or one that is a functioning ESPN affiliate with CBS?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Parttimer]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

ESPN1300 WJZ Baltimore.

Ok.

ESPN is on a 5kw AM. It is just a feed. Their 105.7 is "The Fan" it has all the pbp. They may be keeping ESPN on 1300 as a way of "shelving" it.

It also allows them to avoid broadcast conflicts between the Ravens and Orioles.

Weekends are barter.

It sounds as though it is a throw away station.

Can you find me another like that one. Or one that is a functioning ESPN affiliate with CBS?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Their full-fledged sports station was on 1300 until CBS started doing these all-local FM sports outlets, in this case on the former WHFS. Interestingly, the FM is a limited signal along the lines of 98.7. 1300 does make some money on its own.

All of the CBS FM sports stations have been 100% live and local.

Maybe 1010 gets ESPN and the FM gets live and local?

 

[badjef]

Show me a CBS O/O that has a comfortable relationship with ESPN on one of their station.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

ESPN1300 WJZ Baltimore.

Ok.

ESPN is on a 5kw AM. It is just a feed. Their 105.7 is "The Fan" it has all the pbp. They may be keeping ESPN on 1300 as a way of "shelving" it.

It also allows them to avoid broadcast conflicts between the Ravens and Orioles.

Weekends are barter.

It sounds as though it is a throw away station.

Can you find me another like that one. Or one that is a functioning ESPN affiliate with CBS?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Their full-fledged sports station was on 1300 until CBS started doing these all-local FM sports outlets, in this case on the former WHFS. Interestingly, the FM is a limited signal along the lines of 98.7. 1300 does make some money on its own.

All of the CBS FM sports stations have been 100% live and local.

Maybe 1010 gets ESPN and the FM gets live and local?

WJZ-FM is not limited anymore than the other stations in the market. They are all short-spaced due to the proximity of the other cities in the Northeast.

Baltimore has always been the biggest little city as a result of DC to the Southwest and Philly to the Northeast.

Baltimore got what was left.

Baltimore and Washington are only about 10 miles further apart than Dallas and Ft. Worth, yet they are treated as two separate markets.

Our WVEA Channel 62 is double that distance from the Tampa to the City of License of Venice.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[billalm]

Told ya...
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/107347/wsjt-tampa-flipping-to-sports-in-august

 

[Mike_Hennessy]

You were right Bill, but I'm sure you'd admit that it wasn't very hard to connect that particular set of dots!

I'm pleased to have a more viable alternative to 620, even if 98.7 isn't exactly a blowtorch. Question for Dr. Frank Berry or any of our other technically inclined folks: could they boost their signal somewhat by going to mono?

It's going to be interesting to see what they do in the morning drive hours, while I think they can afford to stand pat in mid-day and pm drive.

 

[badjef]

Told ya...
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/107347/wsjt-tampa-flipping-to-sports-in-august

You said ESPN.

I wasn't denying Sports, just ESPN, a Disney/ABC property on a CBS stick would not be a comfortable relationship.

But, I listen to 94.1 HD-3, is it possible that they may be pulling from the "popularity" of WFAN?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[billalm]

I did suggest ESPN although I don't think the musical chairs has stopped yet when it comes to the sports talk stations. It was a poorly kept secret so I'm guessing that's why they went ahead and announced it. I'm also guessing they don't have the talent all lined up and this will give them a chance to come out of the box sounding solid. I totally agree with everyone who's said that if they simply started simulcasting 1010 that would be a mistake. Gotta get some solid talent in there to build around JP and the others.

 

[avatarsnow]

Happy to hear they're taking the FM Sports chance, but they are going to need some compelling hosts, and to grab some major league (1 of the 3 locals) play by play content to make a dent..

Just hope they don't half ass it and run the same old retread voices out there that have bounced between the 3 local sports stations for years..

Had heard this was in the works for a bit and thought this would have been a great spot for Krasniqi to end up before WDAE snapped him up..

Also wondered if something was up as WFAN's mid day team of Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts were in town last week and did their shows for 2 days from CBS Radio's studios down here when the Mets were in town.. Thought it odd that they decided to do an out of town road trip to Tampa mid week with no promotion/obvious reasoning behind it

 

[pjc1961]

Joe and Evan of WFAN NYC have made road trips in the spring with the Mets over the last few years.
Previous stops have included Anaheim/L.A., Chicago (Cubs) and (as mentioned) Tampa.
As you mentioned, their shows are done from CBS Radio-affiliated studios. In addition to Tampa, they've broadcasted from KFWB L.A. and (I believe) WSCR (or maybe WBBM) Chicago.