What's Wrong/Right With Pittsburgh Sports Talk Radio?

[Pratte4Life]

The demise of Stan Savran's show on FSN got me to thinking how when the Red Sox and Patriots were the World Champs, WEEI (the sports radio station in Boston) was rated No. 1 overall.

I think the number was 5.5.

Similarly, when the Red Wings were trying to defend their Stanley Cup, the sports radio station was No. 1 in Detroit.

But here, after the Penguins and Steelers win World Championships, ESPN 1250 isn't in a position to knock off WDVE and WBGG, which once was a viable sports radio station, now doesn't even show up in the book.

FSN, which should be riding a wave of success on an iconic sportscaster who rode in the parade with the Penguins, is actually taking that sportscaster's sports talk show off the air.

I can list a bunch of reasons why I think this is; for instance, I've said countless times Pittsburgh is a rock and roll town. Hence, the classic rocker will be No. 1 by default, whereas in Detroit the musical tastes are more diverse- from Ted Nugent to Motown to Kid Rock- so no single music format will have a natural appeal to all of the audience and a talk radio station can slip through the cracks to be No. 1.

But is Pittsburgh sports talk MISSING something?

By the way, I'm not willing to accept these two points- AM signals and sports shows on non-sports stations.

WEEI is on 850 AM. It's not a 50,000 watt blowtorch like WBZ. I simply can't believe their signal is significantly greater than WEAE (1250 AM) or WBGG (970 AM).

And although I don't know every last bit of content on every radio station in the Boston and Detroit markets, I can't believe there isn't a sports talk show on a non-sports radio station in those markets the way we have in Pittsburgh.

Similarly, if there's something Pittsburgh sports talk can build on, let's discuss that.

 

[Parttimer]

By the way, I'm not willing to accept these two points- AM signals and sports shows on non-sports stations.

Sorry, that's 90% of the answer.

 

[Boss Radio]

By the way, I'm not willing to accept these two points- AM signals and sports shows on non-sports stations.

Sorry, that's 90% of the answer.

1250 doesn't even cover all of Allegheny County. 970 isn't even on the radar -- practically no local programming, no promotion.

The CC stations that have pbp rights also do their own pre and post-game shows that draw listeners. If you want to talk about the Pens game, you stay with The X rather than switching to one of the sports stations. The sports stations have no pbp of any consequence.

 

[Boss Radio]

By the way, I'm not willing to accept these two points- AM signals and sports shows on non-sports stations.

Sorry, that's 90% of the answer.

1250 doesn't even cover all of Allegheny County. 970 isn't even on the radar -- practically no local programming, no promotion. Signal issues tend to be a bigger factor in western PA because of the terrain.

The CC stations that have pbp rights also do their own pre and post-game shows that draw listeners. If you want to talk about the Pens game, you stay with The X rather than switching to one of the sports stations. The sports stations have no pbp of any consequence.

 

[FreddyE1977]

WEEI does put out 50kw, and also has a network of affiliates simulcasting much of its programming from Rhode Island through Maine (which it would have to in order to cover a megalopolis of that size) You simply cannot compare that to a single 5kw AM, especially now that suburban sprawl has overrun the nighttime signal patterns. Which is why ESPN stations have been migrating to FM and makes me suspicious about the future of 106.7 here. (Columbus is a perfect example....2 of its 3 top radio stations in the 1960's were graveyarders! Now that they've sprawled to all of Franklin County and beyond it was either move to FM or die)

 

[Pratte4Life]

I stand corrected then. I was not aware WEEI was 50,000 watts. I can't pick 'em up at night.

They aren't a clear channel 50,000 watter, though, are they?

Of course, WWVA is a clear channel 50,000 watter, but good luck picking it up outside of Wheeling at night.

 

[california]

if espn wants to get some real numbers, not just the 18 to 25 year old pizza delivery boys, they better find an fm outlet soon. i've been saying that for over two years. without some power and a clearer signal, i don't know how they can generate revenues to cover the costs of their staff. (even if it isn't as high as most people think) i'm sure they are aware of it. they don't need me to tell them. at least i would hope so.

if mark madden at the x had his old show, minus the music crap, no one would be able to touch him. like it or not, it's true.

the 106 idea is a good one.

 

[DavidZ]

I stand corrected then. I was not aware WEEI was 50,000 watts. I can't pick 'em up at night.

They aren't a clear channel 50,000 watter, though, are they?

Of course, WWVA is a clear channel 50,000 watter, but good luck picking it up outside of Wheeling at night.

I live in Worcester County about 40 miles west of Boston but I'm originally from Pittsburgh. Yes, WEEI has 50,000 watts but they are not a clear channel frequency. As someone else pointed out in this thread, they have simulcast affiliates all over New England. WVEI-AM 1440 is their affiliate in Worcester.

As for why they are consistently ranked near the top of the ratings you need to look no further than the Boston Red Sox. In spite of all of the success of the Patriots (BTW, I'm still a Steelers fan!), New England lives for the Sox. That is why Fenway Park is consistently sold out for all of their home games.

No matter what time of the year the fans want to talk baseball in Boston. Sister station WRKO-AM in Boston owns the rights to the Red Sox; although afternoon games and Wednesday night games are actually on WEEI. Try keeping that straight when you want to listen to the Red Sox on radio in greater Boston. LOL

Speaking of how rabid Red Sox fans are, Worcester actually has three Red Sox affiliates; WVEI-AM, WCRN-AM 830 (also a 50,000 watt station), and WNEB-AM 1230 with the games broadcast in Espanol.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I stand corrected then. I was not aware WEEI was 50,000 watts. I can't pick 'em up at night.

They aren't a clear channel 50,000 watter, though, are they?

Of course, WWVA is a clear channel 50,000 watter, but good luck picking it up outside of Wheeling at night.

You're right, WWVA has one of the worst night signals I have ever heard. They start fading in and out in Pittsburgh about an hour before sundown, and remain spotty throughout the night (although you'll miss nothing but the preachers). If you are on the other side driving I-70 from Columbus they disappear alltogether. From what I understand their night pattern throws a lobe due-north into Canada. Adding IBOC has done nothing to help their daytime signal either.

 

[DomQuinn]

Mr. California's remark about 18-25 year old pizza boys inot accurate. WEAE's qualitative is very impressive.... many categories #1 or #2 in income, education. The Boston arguments or any other larger markets don't apply whatsover as far as the AM band. In the 1920's and 30's smaller communities only needed and had 1 big dominant AM Station -- all the stations that signed on later were directional or at the upper part of the band. And was stated before -- populations shifted out of the city.

FM is an option -- and if increased power to HD became reality -- and consumers caught on -- that would breather life into many stations.

 

[california]

domquinn...in sales there is a number that fits any sales pitch. every gm scourers those numbers to find a little something to hang their hat on. come on, among higher income 27 year old freelance bocci players, even am 970 shows up in the ratings. i've seen the eae numbers. good thing it's disney and not clear channel signing the paychecks.

 

[DomQuinn]

Thanks for your reply... But your respone, not to be unkind, shows that you are ignorant on the subject. 18-34 Year olds for the most part do not listen to AM Radio. Pittsburgh is not what you would call a big 18-34 year old market as far as radio listening. Even 27 year olds would be great for most stations in Pgh. The sweet spot for male demos here would be 38-48 -- And again, we are not talking "numbers" we are speaking of qualaitative.

The nature of any sports station is not total numbers -- it's a brand and qualaitative sell. The nature of 98% male automatically rips out half the population -- and then down to those predisposed to sports is even fewer.

There are only 206,000 or so Men 18-34 in the survey --- Men 25-54 it's about 420,000.

But based on your statement -- in the Winter WEAE in Men 25-34 (your 27 year old Bocce guy) had a 6.4 -- 970 had (Dean Wormer) 0.0

All that being said -- it's all hooey since PPM comes this fall. Game changer or not? Who knows.

 

[california]

DQ, first off thanks for correcting my spelling of the classic backyard beer and pretzel game, bocce. i stand by my statements, even if they expose ignorance in your mind, that you can find a number to sell anything...anyone in sales knows there is a number there somewhere you can impress the client with. but as a point of information, explain something to me. do you mean arbitron surveyed 420,000 men 25 to 54 in the winter book. i find it hard to believe they could do such a thing. it was my understanding that about 2000 books were sent out per survey. let me know how they do that? thanks again, california

 

[DomQuinn]

On the Winter book -- the total 12+ cume for the week was 1,832,100 which is a statistical extrapolation based on every diary having a value of to fit the model. There were 2,891 diaries in the Winter survey. In other words based on the audience compostion of every market -- age, male, female, ethnic, etc -- 1 diary stands for a certain portion of the population.

 

[Parttimer]

. do you mean arbitron surveyed 420,000 men 25 to 54 in the winter book.

It means there were 420,000 male listeners in that demo in that book.