Trib says Pirates' move to CC from KDKA will soon be made official

[Boss Radio]

Here's the story from Rob Rossi:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_469513.html

 

[Radio_Realist]

I can remember a time when that would have been big news. Then again, I can also remember a time when the Pirates were a major league baseball team.

On the surface, that would look like the nail in KDKA's coffin. But considering how badly the Pirates play and draw, perhaps that's a blessing in disguise for KDKA. Maybe now they can concentrate on programming that sustains, instead of chasing away the listeners of their regular programming for baseball fans who only tune to 1020 for baseball games.

 

[Pratte4Life]

The Bucs may be bad, but baseball on the radio is still a good draw.

The thing is now KDKA has none of the identity they once did. It no longer has a friendly tone and the personalities are largely caustic.

Again, it is if every thing that you once listened to KD for is now gone- the veteran personalities you greeted like an old friend- the newscasters you trusted- Rush Limbaugh- and now the Buccos.

They said Rush's departure wouldn't hurt the station- now KDKA is officially No. 2. You can say the Bucs are lousy, but I can't think of another reason I listen to the station!

Bottom line, this is NOT going to have a positive impact on KDKA.

Additionally, there is something to watch here. If I'm the Pirates I don't want to lose the 50,000 watt signal. It may not be as important as it once was- but it still is nicer to have such an outlet rather than lose it.

Therefore, if I'm the Pirates I ask as part of this deal for the Bucs to be picked up on Clear Channel owned WWVA and use their 50,000 watt signal. If you have to get them to tape-delay the Jamboree when there is a conflict- you do it.

One final thought. 104.7 has struggled with what to do between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. when they just re-run Glenn Beck.

I would theorize instead to push Michael Savage back and have him come on after the Bucs game- unless they are looking for a post-game show and such afterwards (which wouldn't be a bad idea).

 

[Interested Observer]

The Bucs may be bad, but baseball on the radio is still a good draw.

The thing is now KDKA has none of the identity they once did. It no longer has a friendly tone and the personalities are largely caustic.

Again, it is if every thing that you once listened to KD for is now gone- the veteran personalities you greeted like an old friend- the newscasters you trusted- Rush Limbaugh- and now the Buccos.

They said Rush's departure wouldn't hurt the station- now KDKA is officially No. 2. You can say the Bucs are lousy, but I can't think of another reason I listen to the station!

Bottom line, this is NOT going to have a positive impact on KDKA.

Additionally, there is something to watch here. If I'm the Pirates I don't want to lose the 50,000 watt signal. It may not be as important as it once was- but it still is nicer to have such an outlet rather than lose it.

Therefore, if I'm the Pirates I ask as part of this deal for the Bucs to be picked up on Clear Channel owned WWVA and use their 50,000 watt signal. If you have to get them to tape-delay the Jamboree when there is a conflict- you do it.

One final thought. 104.7 has struggled with what to do between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. when they just re-run Glenn Beck.

I would theorize instead to push Michael Savage back and have him come on after the Bucs game- unless they are looking for a post-game show and such afterwards (which wouldn't be a bad idea).

WOW! That is big! The Steelers, Pirates and Penquins all under CC's roof. CBS is in trouble! Their only stable station is WDSY.

With CBS selling off markets out of the top 20 left and right, how much do you want to bet that Pittsburgh will be sold off by the end of the year?

 

[ChancellorDukat]

This might work out for WPGB especially since Michael Savage says he is considering leaving radio, at least full time. Though he is on top when it comes to ratings especially in NYC beating out WABC since he is syndicated through WOR. Anyway, if he left his current slot 8-11, this would fit in perfect with Pirates baseball night games. Then again, there are day games, and Pirates rap up toward the end of the fall so they would have an empty slot to fill.

I will stop speculating on things but I will say I agree with all of you, a big blow to old KDKA which was once the voice of Pittsburgh and now has only a limited local identity.

 

[lash]

I believe I read somewhere that the Jamboree in Wheeling is gone, and doesn't air on WWVA anymore.

 

[Johnny Morgan]

Jamboree isn't live anymore--but WWVA still airs the show. They're repeats of older Jamborees.

WWVA did just recently stop airing later-Saturday repeats of those repeats...

I think I just hurt my head typing that.

 

[Radio_Realist]

"The Bucs may be bad, but baseball on the radio is still a good draw."

I cn't dispute that one bit. But it strikes me that baseball fans often only tune in to the station that carries baseball games for the baseball games. After the game and maybe the post-game show, they tune to somewhere else and don't come back until the next game.

On the other hand, they people who tune in for your regular programming who don't like baseball tune out when the baseball game is on, and sample other stations with similar programming. And maybe they'll like what they sample while you're airing a baseball game enough to simply stay there.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I see what you're thinking, but it still strikes me as having two audiences and now reducing it to one.

I find John McIntire to be snide, unfunny, and to make such intellectually devoid points I wonder if he's a seasoned broadcaster or a 10th Grade student. When I heard his Life Lounge he was playing music that even people attending Star Trek conventions would think was a little bit out there. Ultimately his show resulted in the loss of a truly great and professional news reporter, Mike Whitely.

So let's say that I'm not going to listen to McIntire.

However, when he came on after the Pirates game- sure I checked it out for a bit. And realized I didn't like it and that was it.

But the Bucs drew me in to listening to the show that I otherwise would not have even had a curiosity to listen to. .

Pittsburgh is a great sports town. Now, NO SPORTS FAN is going to listen to KDKA. There is no draw. The only reason for them to leave Clear Channel is to perhaps listen to ESPN 1250.

Sports fans, if the Hawthorne-Collier thing goes down with the Bucs, now have more reason to listen to that AM station in Kittanning doing tape delayed broadcasts of high school games than KDKA.

You eliminate all of the sports fans in Pittsburgh from listening to your station and then what do you have?

If they think they can build a station around John McIntire, Fred Honsberger, Marty and Larry, well, I just don't know.

 

[porterfreq]

It's a sad, sad day when the Pirates leave KDKA, especially for a station front-loaded with the far right fear-and-cruelty goon squad like WPGB.

Also, I know the Buccos have been succo now for far too long, but Freddy Sanchez is hitting .344 and leading the league on the way to an NL batting title, and the Buccos have been over .500 since the All-Star break. They've made a solid effort and turned a 180 the second half of the season. Unfortunately, they'll still be finishing at or near the bottom this year due to the first half of the season, but you always have to have some hope for "next year." Too bad "next year" will be on WPGB, but at least the Iggle's share of Bucs games will be blocking out Michael Savage in the evening.

 

[NigelWick]

Too much speculation here... apparently the deal didn't make financial sense for KD, so the Pirates go. It's that simple.

 

[Boss Radio]

I see what you're thinking, but it still strikes me as having two audiences and now reducing it to one.

I find John McIntire to be snide, unfunny, and to make such intellectually devoid points I wonder if he's a seasoned broadcaster or a 10th Grade student. When I heard his Life Lounge he was playing music that even people attending Star Trek conventions would think was a little bit out there. Ultimately his show resulted in the loss of a truly great and professional news reporter, Mike Whitely.

So let's say that I'm not going to listen to McIntire.

However, when he came on after the Pirates game- sure I checked it out for a bit. And realized I didn't like it and that was it.

But the Bucs drew me in to listening to the show that I otherwise would not have even had a curiosity to listen to. .

Pittsburgh is a great sports town. Now, NO SPORTS FAN is going to listen to KDKA. There is no draw. The only reason for them to leave Clear Channel is to perhaps listen to ESPN 1250.

Sports fans, if the Hawthorne-Collier thing goes down with the Bucs, now have more reason to listen to that AM station in Kittanning doing tape delayed broadcasts of high school games than KDKA.

You eliminate all of the sports fans in Pittsburgh from listening to your station and then what do you have?

If they think they can build a station around John McIntire, Fred Honsberger, Marty and Larry, well, I just don't know.

Whitely is responsible for his own demise. He chose to call into a show and make a political point under an assumed name. It was stupid on his part and entirely his fault. Blaming McIntire's show for that is like holding PNC responsible for your uncle being in jail for robbing their Oakland branch.

The Hatthorne/Collier experiment will disappear shortly and Mcintire will work 6 to 9 with something syndicated from 9 to midnight.

KDKA is counter-programming all the sports talk that's on in the early evening hours. It doesn't make sense for them to do sports talk when three other stations are doing it.

McIntire may not be your cup of tea, but he has name recognition within the market and gives them a chance to attract a couple of listeners under 80.

 

[Radio_Realist]

Something no one has touched on is the fact that the Trib article gives the impression that it was the Pirates who were the active party in seeking a new station. I realize that changes like this are the result of protracted negotiations with all parties involved, and that it all boils down to money. But as the industry insiders who are quoted in the article point out, moving the games from an AM station to an FM station is seen as a good move for the Pirates to reach a younger audience.

Boss Radio points out that McIntire gives KDKA a chance to get "a couple of listeners under 80." Having their games broadcast on FM gives the Pirates a chance to get a couple of fans under 80.

 

[11south]

Listening to KD is like shopping in a men's clothing store that offers nothing but Sansabelt pants.

The Pirates needs to develop a younger fan base. People under 70 don't wear Sansabelt.

KMOX and WCCO are the same way...so is WGN, but they own the team.

 

[Boss Radio]

Having their games broadcast on FM gives the Pirates a chance to get a couple of fans under 80.

Well, you'd be wrong. Again. The Pirates are selling about 1.8 million tickets per year, very few of them to the senior crowd.

 

[Radio_Realist]

"Well, you'd be wrong."

You don't handle hyperbole well, do you?

 

[Boss Radio]

"Well, you'd be wrong."

You don't handle hyperbole well, do you?

I'm fine with hyperbole, not so good with stupidity.

 

[fromtheinsideout]

The thing with the Pirates 1.8 million tickets is that number is inflated somewhat due to the fact that in order to have the right to purchase All Star tickets, you had to be a season ticket holder. I think we will get a truer idea of how popular they are (or aren't) when next season comes around and they have a low budget team and no gimmick to draw anyone, save for the occasional Fireworks or Bobblehead NIght.

 

[Parttimer]

I can remember a time when that would have been big news. Then again, I can also remember a time when the Pirates were a major league baseball team.

On the surface, that would look like the nail in KDKA's coffin. But considering how badly the Pirates play and draw, perhaps that's a blessing in disguise for KDKA. Maybe now they can concentrate on programming that sustains, instead of chasing away the listeners of their regular programming for baseball fans who only tune to 1020 for baseball games.

How badly the Pirates draw? A last-place team with near-sellouts on weekends in August??? That's NOT drawing badly.... 6,000 people watching a no-hitter for a wild-card contender in Miami is drawing badly. Check your facts.

Actually I figured they would put the games on 3WS since it's the biggest signal, but the Piartes may actually want a smaller metro signal so there can still be local affiliates in the outlying areas. Plus you have Ellis Cannon already in place as the lead-in on 104.7.

This is probably bad news for Pitt football. Lots of September conflicts.

Plus I'd guess that weekday Pirate games would air exclusively on 970 to avoid pre-empting Rush and Hannity.

 

[chuckydoll]

Pirates move to 104.7 in '07

The Post-Gazette confirms the story today.

CBS O&Os have been dropping pro sports whenever they can. Over the last 18 months CBS O&Os have dropped the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins -- and now the Pirates. In every instance it was about the money.

I'd guess that weekday Pirate games would air exclusively on 970 to avoid pre-empting Rush and Hannity.

No farkin' way. If the contract specifies 104.7 as the flagship, Limbaugh and/or Hannity will get pre-empted if need be. The Pirates will be farmed out only if there's an overlap with University of Pittsburgh sports.

WABC dropped the New York Yankees because Limbaugh complained of being pre-empted for day games. Clear Channel owns 104.7 and Limbaugh's syndicator, so Mr. Right-Wing Radio dare not criticize his boss.