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Where will the CBS Sports Radio Network Land in Phoenix?

With Jim Rome moving his show from Clear Channel Premiere to CBS Sports Radio this coming January, does CC dump Fox Sports Radio on 910 in favor of CBS or just drop sports entirely? Does CBS put sports on 94.5 or 107.9? Does Gumpdusky drop Yahoo in favor of CBS? Do TMISU take back 860 and put CBS on it?

Unless things have changed recently, Rome is still money in Phoenix and somebody is going to have to affiliate with CBS Sports Radio to get/keep him. Dan Patrick may also be heading elsewhere, so that's more bad news for XTRA 910.
 
The hole in XTRA's schedule left by Rome could be filled by either Roc & Manuch or Ash & Farmer Rodney Dangerfield. We'll see.
 
I love Mark Asher, but he's filled in for Bickley and MJ on occasion and has said he's found a new career in financial management. He says he's done with sports talk as a career.
 
Eric Stein said:
The hole in XTRA's schedule left by Rome could be filled by either Roc & Manuch or Ash & Farmer Rodney Dangerfield. We'll see.
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Hahaha Roc and Manuch... when you have to pay to have a show on the radio it's pretty obvious you shouldn't be in the business. With that having been said, I would rather listen to Roc and Manuch over Jim Rome any day. So tired of shtick driven broadcasting.

As for the original topic: I sincerely doubt this market can support a fourth sports station. As it is KDUS is basically irrelevant. I love Bob Kemp and Russ Bliss, but realistically they're in a bad position on that station. Xtra 910 is a bit better off, but still doesn't really do much ratings wise. While KTAR-AM is only good for play-by-play, else their ratings no longer count for much either. Dividing a niche audience into four isn't a good idea and will ultimately sink at least three of the stations. How KDUS stays on the air at all is still a mystery to me.
 
The hole in the market for FM Sportstalk is so big, it could fill the Charlotte Time Warner Cable BankofAmerica Arena...even in a monsoon shower! Everyone is afraid of TMISU's 900lb gorilla, but eventually it's going to happen as the demos are that good. Will SeeBS put the Camel out to pasture? Nurse Jeff and I are humpin' to know :eek:
 
Dave Atonement said:
Boring "sports-talk" drivel on any radio station is bad enough, but to put that crap on a superior FM (i.e. music) signal is an abomination.
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While that may be true, Sports on FM has been happening all across the country, city after city. Why should Phoenix be any different? I always disliked the notion of talk / non-music stations on FM (save for NPR), but AM is a dying frequency, especially here in Phoenix where AM signals are about as bad as Kevin Kolb at quarterback for the Cardinals. If this were Chicago, New York, San Fransisco, etc., I would agree as AM is thriving and well in these cities where they have 24/7 50,000 watt non-directional stations. Phoenix, on the other hand, does not so I think Sports on FM is inevitable. Plus, I think it's time someone gives Bonneville a run for their money. Bonneville's presentation of local sports, save for the Cardinals, is horrible. Sun Devil football's season opener on Gospel 860 with their horrible night-time signal anybody? Enough said...
 
asugeorge1 said:
Dave Atonement said:
Boring "sports-talk" drivel on any radio station is bad enough, but to put that crap on a superior FM (i.e. music) signal is an abomination.
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Sports is money, and the sports audience in 2012 does not listen to AM, outside of NY (and ESPN 1050 there becomes Spanish-language ESPN Deportes tomorrow, with English only on the FM), Chicago, and maybe LA. If you don't like the format, that's your business, but sports talk bills very well considering its rather anemic overall ratings.

...AM is a dying frequency, especially here in Phoenix where AM signals are about as bad as Kevin Kolb Matt Leinart at quarterback for the Cardinals.
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Fixed. ;D

If this were Chicago, New York, San Fransisco, etc., I would agree as AM is thriving and well in these cities where they have 24/7 50,000 watt non-directional stations. Phoenix, on the other hand, does not so I think Sports on FM is inevitable. Plus, I think it's time someone gives Bonneville a run for their money. Bonneville's presentation of local sports, save for the Cardinals, is horrible. Sun Devil football's season opener on Gospel 860 with their horrible night-time signal anybody? Enough said...
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Even KTAR has problems in the far east valley at night. XTRA can barely be received at all in parts of east Mesa and Gilbert. Forget KDUS, which gets overridden by IBOC hash from KNX anywhere south of Elliot Rd. or east of Arizona Ave.

But TMISU can buy the rights to whatever team they want (and they want all of them but the 'Yotes), since they have the bottomless pit of money that CC and Gumpdusky don't have. And apparently The Peak generates enough revenue at night to not bother using it as the sports overflow that they still use 860 for.
 
Sun Devils fans will have better luck this weekend as Saturday's game vs Illinois will be on KTAR-FM (92.3). ESPN will also televise the game nationally.

Sports on FM in Phoenix is inevitable, given the lack of 24/7 50 kW non-Ds in the area. Phoenix metro has long since outrgrown their AM signals. :)
 
I didn't think anyone was complaining about sports on FM per se but it would be a terrible shame to use one of our finest FM signals (107.9) for non-music purposes. Of course, using it for Country might be considered equally as bad. ;D
 
My observations:

  • Sandusky is not going to give up their "Wall of Rock" despite recent underperformance at KUPD.
  • If CBS flips KMLE, that would leave KNIX a 6 share country station! KMLE should still be very profitable, so I can't see them switching any of their formats.
  • The Peak is successful, so unless they buy an underperforming rimshot, Bonneville has no place to put FM sports.

That leaves Clear Channel. They could flip 95.5 to all-sports (they already have the Coyotes - it's not a given if they'll still be in Phoenix this coming season though - plus a nationally-syndicated NFL package). Would they be willing to pay for more local talkers besides Cesmat and Bickley & MJ?

One last note to radioresearcher: I know 103.9 hasn't improved in 6+, but are they going anywhere in the target/money demos? You say that FM sports would not be feasible because of the lack of PBP, but I believe there is still more than one nationally-syndicated NFL package available (the Raiders and the Cowboys have sizeable fan bases in PHX and their own packages), plus UA sports which could possibly use a better home than KFNX. Your station is co-owned by a couple sports guys too.
 
Eric Stein said:
My observations:

That leaves Clear Channel. They could flip 95.5 to all-sports (they already have the Coyotes - it's not a given if they'll still be in Phoenix this coming season though - plus a nationally-syndicated NFL package). Would they be willing to pay for more local talkers besides Cesmat and Bickley & MJ?
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X-TRA Sports 9~Ten and 95~Five. Why would they have to pay more for local talkers already in place?
 
Dr. Akbar said:
X-TRA Sports 9~Ten and 95~Five. Why would they have to pay more for local talkers already in place?
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I believe the key to a successful sports station not affiliated with ESPN Radio is having both a local morning-drive and a local afternoon-drive. XTRA has afternoons set, but mornings are still canned.
 
Eric Stein said:
My observations:

  • Sandusky is not going to give up their "Wall of Rock" despite recent underperformance at KUPD.
  • If CBS flips KMLE, that would leave KNIX a 6 share country station! KMLE should still be very profitable, so I can't see them switching any of their formats.
  • The Peak is successful, so unless they buy an underperforming rimshot, Bonneville has no place to put FM sports.

That leaves Clear Channel. They could flip 95.5 to all-sports (they already have the Coyotes - it's not a given if they'll still be in Phoenix this coming season though - plus a nationally-syndicated NFL package). Would they be willing to pay for more local talkers besides Cesmat and Bickley & MJ?

One last note to radioresearcher: I know 103.9 hasn't improved in 6+, but are they going anywhere in the target/money demos? You say that FM sports would not be feasible because of the lack of PBP, but I believe there is still more than one nationally-syndicated NFL package available (the Raiders and the Cowboys have sizeable fan bases in PHX and their own packages), plus UA sports which could possibly use a better home than KFNX. Your station is co-owned by a couple sports guys too.
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103.9 is targeting females and the numbers are up dramatically (nearly double what they were two months ago and triple what they were in December). That's the sell as advertisers like adult female stations. The 6+ are down as the Pratt rock males went away. The station is finally starting to see growth in sellable demos ...

The issue for Sports is it COSTS several times what a music format costs to run which is why unless an operator has a good base there, it generally is cost prohibitive.

I've heard that Bonneville loses money like crazy on 620 because a poor Diamondbacks contract. No matter how much they bill, the millions they throw at at baseball cannot make up for it.
 
103.9 is targeting females and the numbers are up dramatically (nearly double what they were two months ago and triple what they were in December).

Well I would hope they are up in the female demos considering they were targeting males in December with the alt rock format.
 
Well, Rivieraresearcher, you could continue to bang your head against the wall to get a 1.1 that's a tough sell...

Or you could snag one of the sports networks for your FM stick, put in a local morning and afternoon show that costs you almost nothing, still get about a 1 share, but make exponentially more money than you're making today.

Let Bonneville choke on its D-backs contract. You don't need play by play to tap the keg of money that is sports radio.

But hey, it's the top of the hour, so it's time to play Pink again.
 
johndavis said:
Or you could snag one of the sports networks for your FM stick, put in a local morning and afternoon show that costs you almost nothing, still get about a 1 share, but make exponentially more money than you're making today.
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TMISU are keeping their fingers crossed that it's a rimshot or other marginal signal FM that turns into a Sports Parkinglot. Their ancient modulation station can be heard everywhere in the Valley day and night. Can't say that about 103~Nine. A South Mtn FM Sports Parkinglot becomes a game changer.

Now, back to All Pink, All The Time! ;D
 
Dr. Akbar said:
johndavis said:
Or you could snag one of the sports networks for your FM stick, put in a local morning and afternoon show that costs you almost nothing, still get about a 1 share, but make exponentially more money than you're making today.
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TMISU are keeping their fingers crossed that it's a rimshot or other marginal signal FM that turns into a Sports Parkinglot. Their ancient modulation station can be heard everywhere in the Valley day and night. Can't say that about 103~Nine. A South Mtn FM Sports Parkinglot becomes a game changer.

Now, back to All Pink, All The Time! ;D
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That's an easy fix. Turn off the stereo and 103.9 becomes a full-market signal. That will only happen with a spoken word format. South Mountain sticks are out of the equation, unless the "soul station with no soul" at 95.5 takes a big drop.

Raise your glass to that! ;D
 
Eric Stein said:
That's an easy fix. Turn off the stereo and 103.9 becomes a full-market signal. That will only happen with a spoken word format.
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A strong wind out of the east would also help the signal!


South Mountain sticks are out of the equation, unless the "soul station with no soul" at 95.5 takes a big drop.

Raise your glass to that! ;D
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Consider our glasses raised!
 
johndavis said:
Well, Rivieraresearcher, you could continue to bang your head against the wall to get a 1.1 that's a tough sell...

Or you could snag one of the sports networks for your FM stick, put in a local morning and afternoon show that costs you almost nothing, still get about a 1 share, but make exponentially more money than you're making today.

Let Bonneville choke on its D-backs contract. You don't need play by play to tap the keg of money that is sports radio.

But hey, it's the top of the hour, so it's time to play Pink again.
Click to expand...

Wow, wish I knew popular sports show hosts who would work for free. I have a handful of sports clients and "putting in a local morning show that costs you almost nothing" doesn't really exist out there. At least a good one. Need great shows to win in any spoken word format and that includes sports.
 
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