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WGR 10a-Noon (TUES-FRI)
- Thread starter mpolbeat
- Start date
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
I haven't listened in weeks. No reason or need to tune in.
Colin Cowherd for only two hours a day might not have fit in Buffalo, but this is not the live and local content I think listeners desired.
What about letting one of the four top hosts (Simon, White, Parker, Schopp) do the 10am to noon shift and fill the vacancy with Sal Capaccio? Or letting Sal do the 10am to noon shift?
This isn't working, at least for being programming that keeps listeners tuned in. I'm sure the Sabres are fine with it and if the spots are all sold, we shouldn't expect a change.
Colin Cowherd for only two hours a day might not have fit in Buffalo, but this is not the live and local content I think listeners desired.
What about letting one of the four top hosts (Simon, White, Parker, Schopp) do the 10am to noon shift and fill the vacancy with Sal Capaccio? Or letting Sal do the 10am to noon shift?
This isn't working, at least for being programming that keeps listeners tuned in. I'm sure the Sabres are fine with it and if the spots are all sold, we shouldn't expect a change.
B
Bob1370
Guest
Don't know what WGR's contractual relationship with the Sabres is. But as long as the NHL is on meltdown, they really have nothing to talk about on a hockey-only show that the audience will be interested in hearing. AHL? KHL? European Elite leagues? Juniors? NCAA? Most Sabres fans won't connect, especially casual fans. Might as well take the network or extend the morning show...or at least have Kevin Sylvester do a general interest sports show (he's capable of it) until there's real NHL hockey to talk about again instead of lockout "news" or speculation about a future that may or may not happen soon.
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
Let Kevin do a general interest sports show. This current program is unlistenable!
Feel for Kevin, his producer... basically anyone involved with this mess.
Feel for Kevin, his producer... basically anyone involved with this mess.
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
At least they do Bills talk on Mondays after Buffalo has a game. Good decision Mr. Davis.
B
Bob1370
Guest
What happens if the league completely shuts down for the year? And further, given that a total year's lost play may put some teams out of business--if not the whole league as we know it--suppose the NHL doesn't completely recover from the self-imposed lockout this time? I don't think we can rule that possibility out, in which case WGR will have to make some long term plans that don't include NHL hockey.
Are they ready?
And what will that do to the viability of the all-sports format in the Western NY region? We already know that a market of identical size without a major league sports franchise or big time Division I college sports (Rochester) can't muster enough numbers to make sports radio viable, even though two stations are trying (neither one of which is cracking a 1 share, and both together totalling about a 1.7). Would WGR be satisfied with a share in the 1s once football season ends? Could come to that...
Are they ready?
And what will that do to the viability of the all-sports format in the Western NY region? We already know that a market of identical size without a major league sports franchise or big time Division I college sports (Rochester) can't muster enough numbers to make sports radio viable, even though two stations are trying (neither one of which is cracking a 1 share, and both together totalling about a 1.7). Would WGR be satisfied with a share in the 1s once football season ends? Could come to that...
Bob, I think you're one of the more astute posters on this board. But you're way off base on this one. No where in the sports media have I read the very existence of the NHL is at risk because of this lock-out. I would argue the NHL dissolving is not a possibility. So, while WGR may suffer after this Bills season is over if the lock-out wipes out more games, they don't have to worry about the long-term. Hockey will eventually return. And the fans will come back, just like they did in 2005.
B
Bob1370
Guest
"they don't have to worry about the long-term. Hockey will eventually return. And the fans will come back, just like they did in 2005."
The loss of the 2004-05 season damaged the league for years, and permanently diminished its TV revenue. A second season-long lockout (which has no guarantee that it will only last one season) will probably kill its chances for national TV revenue and further burn the league's credibility with fans (especially those south of the US/Canada border, where hockey is not a religion and basketball is the preferred winter sports alternative).
The fans CANNOT be counted on to come back.
Even the Toronto Star, the top paper in arguably the most passionate town in the world about hockey, has sounded out its readers and found out that a large percentage of the fan base is now permanently turned off. If Air Canada Center no longer can be counted on to sell out, what's going to happen in cities where hockey is NOT king?
The NHL is now living on borrowed time. it won't be long before broadcasters who are working with them realize it's not a reliable partner.
The loss of the 2004-05 season damaged the league for years, and permanently diminished its TV revenue. A second season-long lockout (which has no guarantee that it will only last one season) will probably kill its chances for national TV revenue and further burn the league's credibility with fans (especially those south of the US/Canada border, where hockey is not a religion and basketball is the preferred winter sports alternative).
The fans CANNOT be counted on to come back.
Even the Toronto Star, the top paper in arguably the most passionate town in the world about hockey, has sounded out its readers and found out that a large percentage of the fan base is now permanently turned off. If Air Canada Center no longer can be counted on to sell out, what's going to happen in cities where hockey is NOT king?
The NHL is now living on borrowed time. it won't be long before broadcasters who are working with them realize it's not a reliable partner.
I guess it's a matter of perception, Bob. My reading of the post-lock out period after 2005 is that the NHL grew stronger on TV. Yes, they signed with a small cable network known as Versus, that has now morphed into NBC Sports Network. And they've had a partner in NBC since the last lock out. So, I'm not sure your argument is valid. The NHL was in worse shape on US TV prior to, rather than after, the last lock out. Still, I would agree a prolonged lock out here could affect the league's relationship with NBC. We'll have to see. But I can't imagine the fans will stay away in Toronto once a settlement is reached. That's a hockey hot bed. Fans are angry now, so they'll say anything. Look at the NBA. I don't see any ramifications from that lock out last year at this time. The fans come back. And now a with a mediator involved, I'm thinking a settlement will come, if not this month, by January to save part of the season.
Considering that the first half of the hockey season is essentially meaningless anyway, I suspect that the fans would come back.
I didn't hear much talk about the NBA lock out during last season's playoffs. There's no asterisk associated with the Miami Heat championship. The NBA season began on Christmas last year. If the NHL settles this in the next two to three weeks, there will be no issues. The fans will be back. By Stanley Cup time, the lock out will be forgotten! And to bring this back to radio, WGR's ratings will be fine. But if the lock out continues into January and beyond, there could be consequences, especially in the league's southern cities. But Buffalo and other hockey hotbeds will be okay.
I've been watching this fiasco unfold as a radio guy, not so disinterested fan and listener. I think this labor dispute is different than the last brawl between NHL owners and players. Without getting into the deep grass, the NHL had a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in place that addressed revenue issues for owners and salaries for players. As a result of this impasse, the fans are genuinely PO'd at the players as much, if not more than the owners.
When hockey fanatics like my brothers say they're disgusted, I know there's a problem. When seasson ticket holders are calling talk shows and telling the hosts that "they're done," you know there's a real problem. OK, fans have short memories. Agrred. Especially if their team goes on a winning streak. I'm a P2 fan. I like the game and appreciate what it takes to play it at the NHL level. But until Bills/football season is over or something spectacular happens, my attention is placed on football.
The NHL season is too long. The game has been watered down. TV ratings outside hockey hotbeds like Buffalo, Boston and Detroit are abysmal; ratings for the NHL Championship series last year, which involved teams from the two largest media markets in America, were less than spectacular. America has NASCAR. The NBA has a strong "TV game." Hockey is spectacular. Fans love it. But sorry, it isn't a broad-based TV game. And it's gate driven.
But this is a Buffalo radio board, so as it applies to WGR and radio, a season of Sabres games and Bills games would have delivered a one-two punch leading to massive ratings in the all important Fall book. The Bills alone will boost WGR's 25-54 Men to #1, the Sabres would have increased those ratings in every daypart, Monday through Sunday. Huge cume. Immense TSL. Consistency. Ad revenue. Cha-ching.
Leading into the Winter book, for at least two to four weeks, the feckless Bills would have provided a listening ratings bump. This is normally the case after a (another) lousy season (this being the 13th) and the post mortem is conducted. The Sabres, as is normally the case, would have provided a consistent ratings uptick through the Winter book, and given a playoff appearance, deep into the Spring book.
Arguably, the NHL lockout might spur "bitchin' listenin'" and participation in talk shows, resulting in improved ratings. But this type of listening becomes tiresome, is usually attributed to hard core P1s and doesn't bring in the fans who want to participate in the positive buzz that comes when the games are being played, and a team is winning. Will the fans come back? Probably. But not as fervently and quickly as they did after the last walkout. The players and owners will come to understand that old axiom, "You can't piss in the punchbowl and expect the dinner guests to drink the punch."
When hockey fanatics like my brothers say they're disgusted, I know there's a problem. When seasson ticket holders are calling talk shows and telling the hosts that "they're done," you know there's a real problem. OK, fans have short memories. Agrred. Especially if their team goes on a winning streak. I'm a P2 fan. I like the game and appreciate what it takes to play it at the NHL level. But until Bills/football season is over or something spectacular happens, my attention is placed on football.
The NHL season is too long. The game has been watered down. TV ratings outside hockey hotbeds like Buffalo, Boston and Detroit are abysmal; ratings for the NHL Championship series last year, which involved teams from the two largest media markets in America, were less than spectacular. America has NASCAR. The NBA has a strong "TV game." Hockey is spectacular. Fans love it. But sorry, it isn't a broad-based TV game. And it's gate driven.
But this is a Buffalo radio board, so as it applies to WGR and radio, a season of Sabres games and Bills games would have delivered a one-two punch leading to massive ratings in the all important Fall book. The Bills alone will boost WGR's 25-54 Men to #1, the Sabres would have increased those ratings in every daypart, Monday through Sunday. Huge cume. Immense TSL. Consistency. Ad revenue. Cha-ching.
Leading into the Winter book, for at least two to four weeks, the feckless Bills would have provided a listening ratings bump. This is normally the case after a (another) lousy season (this being the 13th) and the post mortem is conducted. The Sabres, as is normally the case, would have provided a consistent ratings uptick through the Winter book, and given a playoff appearance, deep into the Spring book.
Arguably, the NHL lockout might spur "bitchin' listenin'" and participation in talk shows, resulting in improved ratings. But this type of listening becomes tiresome, is usually attributed to hard core P1s and doesn't bring in the fans who want to participate in the positive buzz that comes when the games are being played, and a team is winning. Will the fans come back? Probably. But not as fervently and quickly as they did after the last walkout. The players and owners will come to understand that old axiom, "You can't piss in the punchbowl and expect the dinner guests to drink the punch."
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