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Too Much Sports in Atlanta?

G

Gregg

Atlanta has FIVE Sports stations. CBS last year blew up their Adult Alternative Rock station, 92.9 WZGC to create an FM Sports station. So far it has failed to reach a one rating. In fact, no Atlanta Sports station gets a one.

92.9 WZGC The Game, owned by CBS, affiliated with CBS Sports.
790 WQXI The Zone, translator at 93.7 FM, owned by Lincoln Financial, affiliated with ESPN and Yahoo Sports.
680 WCNN The Fan, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with CBS Sports.
1230 WFOM The Fan 2, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with ESPN.
1340 WIFN The Fan 3, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with Fox Sports.

So this is confusing. Atlanta has TWO stations affiliated with ESPN and two affiliated with CBS, yet they aren't co-owned. How did that happen?

Also if I read the WZGC website correctly, they have live local hosts around the clock, even overnight, even weekends? I thought most CBS Sports stations run the CBS Sports Network late nights and weekends, except for WFAN NYC. All these expenses, all these shows and staff, and they're only doing a 0.8 in the ratings?

How can both WCNN and WFOM be ESPN affiliates? WFOM and WIFN don't even have websites, other than a place to go for audio streaming. And if CBS has its own Sports station in Atlanta, how does WQXI run CBS Sports Network every day from 7pm to 7am? Meanwhile with all these Sports stations, no one is running NBC Sports. And Yahoo Sports has only a loose affilation with WQXI.

There actually is a sixth Sports station in Atlanta, although only for another month. 640 WGST will be returning to Talk and giving up ESPN Deportes.
 
Gregg said:
Atlanta has FIVE Sports stations. CBS last year blew up their Adult Alternative Rock station, 92.9 WZGC to create an FM Sports station. So far it has failed to reach a one rating. In fact, no Atlanta Sports station gets a one.

92.9 WZGC The Game, owned by CBS, affiliated with CBS Sports.
790 WQXI The Zone, translator at 93.7 FM, owned by Lincoln Financial, affiliated with ESPN and Yahoo Sports.
680 WCNN The Fan, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with CBS Sports.
1230 WFOM The Fan 2, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with ESPN.
1340 WIFN The Fan 3, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with Fox Sports.

So this is confusing. Atlanta has TWO stations affiliated with ESPN and two affiliated with CBS, yet they aren't co-owned. How did that happen?

Gregg. You are bit off in your breakdown of Atlanta Sports Stations. Here it is:

92.9 WZGC The Game, owned by CBS, affiliated with CBS Sports.
790 WQXI The Zone, owned by Lincoln Financial, affiliated with ESPN Radio.
680 WCNN The Fan, translator at 93.7 FM, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with CBS Sports.
1230 WFOM The Fan 2, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, broadcasting and affiliated with CBS Sports Radio.
1340 WIFN The Fan 3, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with Fox Sports.
Click to expand...
 
Only 2 Sports stations show up in Arbitron - 790 The Zone, and 92.9 The Game, and they both have a 0.6 - the others must be lower than a 0.1 share, unless Dickey doesn't subscribe

There may be a lot of Sports stations, but apparently no one listens to them

As far as The Game, either their existence in ATL somehow helps boost profit in other markets, or they can take as much of a loss as they need to because of the billions of dollars they're making off CBS-TV
 
Wouldn't mind flipping 680 to all-business news. The current 680 lineup is bad, and I've started listening to 92.9 more often,especially in the afternoon.
 
680 Runs CBS Network Sports at night as I like to hear Scott Ferrell at 10pm. On the nights they have a Braves Game they will join after game and the highlights. 680 is still the best sports station!
 
Each one has something positive to offer, but 3 locals and 2 full time networks are too much. If you haven't listened, you need to try Jay Mohr on 1340 from Noon to 3. He is great fun!
 
atlantaboy said:
Only 2 Sports stations show up in Arbitron - 790 The Zone, and 92.9 The Game, and they both have a 0.6 - the others must be lower than a 0.1 share, unless Dickey doesn't subscribe
Click to expand...
Dickey doesn't subscribe. Back when Arbitron was publishing ratings of nonsubscribers, 680 was regularly getting ratings in the high ones.
 
Back when Arbitron listed stations whether they subscribed, WCNN 680 The Fan was ranked around #22 or #23, often next to WQXI.

And there is a sixth English-language Sports station in the market. Clear Channel's 1400 WCOH Newman runs Fox Sports around the clock.

So Atlanta has two CBS Sports stations, two ESPN stations and two Fox Sports stations.
 
Atlanta is an apathetic sports town, mostly because no one is from here. I said this in opposition to 92.9 flipping to sports. I was right.

G
 
About an hour ago I got a text thanking me "for being part of the game" (same text #'s Dave used) Nope sorry-just sent back "stop". I don't support anything except music on that signal. I was hoping it was saying the game was over...
 
frkout said:
About an hour ago I got a text thanking me "for being part of the game" (same text #'s Dave used) Nope sorry-just sent back "stop". I don't support anything except music on that signal. I was hoping it was saying the game was over...
Click to expand...

The text sent to me was asking for our input in a survey.
 
Throughout my day i consistantly hear and even sometimes participate in talking something related to sports. It has to be the number one thing discussed at work and in other conversations for many people. People afraid to take a stand politically because of fear of how others will take it have no problem telling someone their favorite sports team. Sports allows many businesses to stay in business especially restaurants.

So i dont find a suprise that multiple sports talk stations exist in many markets.
 
Gregg said:
Atlanta has FIVE Sports stations. CBS last year blew up their Adult Alternative Rock station, 92.9 WZGC to create an FM Sports station. So far it has failed to reach a one rating. In fact, no Atlanta Sports station gets a one.

92.9 WZGC The Game, owned by CBS, affiliated with CBS Sports.
790 WQXI The Zone, translator at 93.7 FM, owned by Lincoln Financial, affiliated with ESPN and Yahoo Sports.
680 WCNN The Fan, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with CBS Sports.
1230 WFOM The Fan 2, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with ESPN.
1340 WIFN The Fan 3, owned by Dickey Broadcasting, affiliated with Fox Sports.

So this is confusing. Atlanta has TWO stations affiliated with ESPN and two affiliated with CBS, yet they aren't co-owned. How did that happen?

Also if I read the WZGC website correctly, they have live local hosts around the clock, even overnight, even weekends? I thought most CBS Sports stations run the CBS Sports Network late nights and weekends, except for WFAN NYC. All these expenses, all these shows and staff, and they're only doing a 0.8 in the ratings?

How can both WCNN and WFOM be ESPN affiliates? WFOM and WIFN don't even have websites, other than a place to go for audio streaming. And if CBS has its own Sports station in Atlanta, how does WQXI run CBS Sports Network every day from 7pm to 7am? Meanwhile with all these Sports stations, no one is running NBC Sports. And Yahoo Sports has only a loose affilation with WQXI.

There actually is a sixth Sports station in Atlanta, although only for another month. 640 WGST will be returning to Talk and giving up ESPN Deportes.
Click to expand...
Gregg said:
Back when Arbitron listed stations whether they subscribed, WCNN 680 The Fan was ranked around #22 or #23, often next to WQXI.

And there is a sixth English-language Sports station in the market. Clear Channel's 1400 WCOH Newman runs Fox Sports around the clock.

So Atlanta has two CBS Sports stations, two ESPN stations and two Fox Sports stations.
Click to expand...

CORRECTIONS:
  • 680 The Fan simulcasts on the translator at 93.7.
  • Like 680 The Fan, 1230 The Fan 2, and 1340 The Fan 3 are also affiliated with CBS Sports.

92.9 The Game's affiliation with CBS Sports is correct.
790 The Zone's affiliation with both regular ESPN Radio & Yahoo! Sports is also correct.
As for 1400 AM WCOH, they are the only station in the Atlanta market affiliated with FOX Sports.

I know all this because I've listened online to the streams of each station. That is all.
 
Re: Too Much Sports in Atlanta? correction !

WCNN AM has the 93.7 FM translator.
 
atlantaboy said:
Only 2 Sports stations show up in Arbitron - 790 The Zone, and 92.9 The Game, and they both have a 0.6 - the others must be lower than a 0.1 share, unless Dickey doesn't subscribe

There may be a lot of Sports stations, but apparently no one listens to them

As far as The Game, either their existence in ATL somehow helps boost profit in other markets, or they can take as much of a loss as they need to because of the billions of dollars they're making off CBS-TV
Click to expand...

That's not correct. 680 The Fan also shows up in the ratings. Arbitron doesn't let the public see their ratings because 680 doesn't subscribe to Arbitron. The stations that do subscribe get to see 680's ratings.
 
RoddyFreeman said:
atlantaboy said:
Only 2 Sports stations show up in Arbitron - 790 The Zone, and 92.9 The Game, and they both have a 0.6 - the others must be lower than a 0.1 share, unless Dickey doesn't subscribe

There may be a lot of Sports stations, but apparently no one listens to them

As far as The Game, either their existence in ATL somehow helps boost profit in other markets, or they can take as much of a loss as they need to because of the billions of dollars they're making off CBS-TV
Click to expand...

That's not correct. 680 The Fan also shows up in the ratings. Arbitron doesn't let the public see their ratings because 680 doesn't subscribe to Arbitron. The stations that do subscribe get to see 680's ratings.
Click to expand...

I know - that's why I wrote "unless Dickey doesn't subscribe" - still, people are saying it's not much higher than a 1.0 share
 
-1230/1340 are minuscule signals. I do appreciate 1340 for my Dan Patrick fix every morning. I normally hear the same commercials I hear on 680 so I have to assume it's an easy dump for bonusing clients, lots of psa's there too. Kinda cool to hear all the Braves spring training games there in March as well.

-680 is the leader in the clubhouse right now. The Rude Awakening needs a change but i think the rest of their day is pretty strong. Chuck and Chernoff probably have the best overall show. Great knowledge, good talent, and a good amount of humor. I think their affiliation with ESPN was perfect but the Dickey/Cumulus/CBS deal had to have a landing spot somewhere so ESPN had to go. Also, it sucks that 680 dumped their Westwood One affiliation.

-790 still has good talent but they just feel small these days, the signal is half of 680's during the day and basically disappears at night. The morning show is ok. I think we could all do with a little less Steak but I think Cellini and Dimino are solid. I don't mind Archer and Bell, Bell carries the show though. Also I think Jon Michaels isn't bad in the evenings either. Also, 790 scooped the Westwood One affiliation, which is nice, but now there's no alternative to Falcons football on Sundays. I don't know how much longer they can last.

-92.9 has been pretty bad out of the gate and it's a shame with that huge signal. Everytime I tune in, it just sounds...bad. I gave them the benefit of the doubt in the beginning but I don't know how long that leash is supposed to last. The only show I tolerate is Mac and Jason at night. Jason doesn't pull punches and I like that. His love for Chicago gets annoying but I think his style is great. I feel like the duo doesn't fit all that well together though. Mac is pretty bad. I feel like Mitch Evans would be a perfect compliment to Jason. Biggest question for them...who gets the axe when the Stews non-compete is up?
 
Many sports stations are not highly rated, but bill well because they target a money-making demographic. If 92.9 is meeting revenue goals, then all's well.

As for the ATL being a fickle sports city...I don't think it's as much a factor in low sports talk ratings as it is what kind of programming the stations are offering. I'm not totally dismissing the fact that not having more native Atlantans makes it harder for teams to build allegiances. I think the reason why WEEI in Boston does so well is because many Bostonians are from that region and are loyal to their teams. Also, the number of championships won between the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics doesn't hurt, too.

I also think, too, that with college football being so huge in the South, maybe that has an effect on ratings.
 
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