Sports Talk Battle

[radioho]

From the IndyStar.com website:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/SPORTS/710180466/-1/LOCAL17

That is where the two smaller stations currently have the advantage. Rakestraw has been on WXLW since 2002 (he has since been joined by Brad Wochomurka); WNDE has had JMV (for John Michael Vincent) since November 2004. Both have a strong presence with dedicated followings. They compete in the same late-afternoon time slot.

OH? And what kind of numbers is that "strong presence" accumulating? Both local drive sports talk shows are the weakest daytime shows both stations have - with the same five callers every day!

Emmis hasn't revealed its afternoon plans for WIBC other than to say a local afternoon show will be key to its programming. No candidates have been identified.

VERY NICE! Proof that Emmis IS taking the afternoon drive seriously. My bet is Boyle. If not him, they'll HAVE to bring someone in from another city. There are NO truly captivating sports personalities in the Indy market. And please do NOT bring in another TV Sports Anchor - they do not transfer over to radio well.

Greg Rakestraw, WXLW's director of sports development, said the station will focus on local sports, though plans have not been finalized.

Translation: MORE golf shows and MORE remotes from the horse track.

Rakestraw remembers the possibility of the Colts leaving Indianapolis as a major topic of discussion when his show debuted in 2002. Since then, he said he feels he can talk about the Colts during even the quietest days of the summer. "At that time, you could have legitimately had the discussion about which had more fans, the Colts or the Pacers," he said. "Now you'd get laughed off the air if you asked that. At least right now, Colts talk can carry a show."

That may explain the ratings problem, eh?

 

[EStreeter]

I know Greg, Wak, and some of those other guys. They are good people. But sometimes there just comes a day when you have to read the handwriting on the wall and adjust accordingly. They had their shot at sports radio and it simply did not work. Not all their fault do to things beyond their control, mostly severe signal limitations.

But with two sports talkers already in the city on better frequencies and one of those potentially being the giant this city has waited for for a long time, it is insane to think Indy can support three sports talkers. I don't want to see Greg and those guys out of the radio business, but if they continue to try and ram sports down people's throats on that frequency, I fear the unemployment line is where they will end up.

Indy still has room for another local talker if it is done right. I know those guys are "sports" guys, but it would be very unwise to attempt to remain a sports station. I hope those guys go a route that will not only be good for listeners in the city, but also allow them to potentially keep their jobs. Again, I think a local talker with heavy local programming might be that option.

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

I know Greg, Wak, and some of those other guys. They are good people. But sometimes there just comes a day when you have to read the handwriting on the wall and adjust accordingly. They had their shot at sports radio and it simply did not work. Not all their fault do to things beyond their control, mostly severe signal limitations.

But with two sports talkers already in the city on better frequencies and one of those potentially being the giant this city has waited for for a long time, it is insane to think Indy can support three sports talkers. I don't want to see Greg and those guys out of the radio business, but if they continue to try and ram sports down people's throats on that frequency, I fear the unemployment line is where they will end up.

Indy still has room for another local talker if it is done right. I know those guys are "sports" guys, but it would be very unwise to attempt to remain a sports station. I hope those guys go a route that will not only be good for listeners in the city, but also allow them to potentially keep their jobs. Again, I think a local talker with heavy local programming might be that option.

if WXLW went to Talk it would have to be local because right now between WIBC, WWFT and WXNT all the syndicated talkers are gone except the D Level talent aka the Lib talk guys who are sitting out there not on radio here in indy

 

[radioguy244]

How successful might WXLW be with brokered programming? Brokered of any kind; Not exclusively languages, or religion, or infomercials.

 

[skippertthomas]

Nine-Fifty....Dub-bull-U, Exxx-El-Dub-bull-U...With the best Whaling Songs and Gregorian Chants in the world...24/7.....It's 6 O'Clock with Moby Dick...We're giving away harpoons and frog gigs all weekend long, when you hear the croak, be the 95th caller to win! ;D

 

[radioguy244]

Damn amateur liner card writers. ;D

(i'm kidding!)

 

[radiowannab]

I would kind of welcome a local programming presence in the city. Sure those bartered shows are hit and miss. Much more miss than hit. But there are some really comical and interesting ones that come about. And money is money. If you don't have the ratings why not make the cash?

 

[skippertthomas]

Just spent three days with 54,000 blue jackets at the FFA convention and did alot of scoping and listening.. The WIBC move is a good idea.. With their NW Metro site, the buildings destroy them on a quality AM radio driving in an active downtown area (around Market Square, The Capitol and their Emmis Studios on the circle.. WNDE, and stations with towers outside of the near downtown center had horrible 'scans' on the tuner.. WXLW did fair and Urban Gospel 1310 was strong (with towers of the White River, just SW of downtown off Hardin...).... I still think WNDE can compete with strong local programming between the top FOX sports shows from the network.. WIBC as an ESPN, can do it well.. But a note... The day coverage advantage of WIBC is not that great over WNDE, in the metro counties.....Pre-Dawn and After-Dusk, WNDE has the best signal dead south, but WIBC has the NW metro towards Zionsville, west Carmel, Lebanon and west to about US 136/I-74, since the night directional of WNDE is nulled on the NW metro... On-Line will also become a major player for these two, as time goes on and internet becomes more of a factor....WI-FI in cars, too... The music stations (for the most part) were 'ho-hum'... I remember when Indy was a killer music market in all genres.... WFMS is still very hot, and 'ZPL has some good days ahead.. The new Radio-Now on 100.9 is a very smart move, as the potiential audience is within their 54dBU.... Thought the promos and processing was very good!