WHLD 1270 - Home of the UB Bulls

[mpolbeat]

Hope they do it well...

http://www.buffalobulls.com/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/20130411wvhggx

 

[Element9]

It's a step up for UB, which gains placement on a sports station, albeit the secondary sports station in the market. More than likely, UB is paying for the airtime and WHLD will promote the relationship with the university. Cumulus gains revenue from the deal, but does anybody think 97 Rock and the Edge will gush over UB football and basketball they way they gushed over the Bills? The 1270 day signal isn't bad, but the 1270 night signal is handicapped, especially at 1 kw. Another blow to WECK, which loses fourth quarter revenue from football and first quarter revenue from basketball. Maybe WECK can do a deal with ECC. Medaille? Maryvale?

 

[Nick Gerard]

Maybe WECK can do a deal with ECC. Medaille? Maryvale?

ROFL - as a Maryvale alumnus - Class of '69 - I'd love it!!!

Nick Seneca

 

[benson86]

WECK could do a deal with the NY Flash--women's soccer. That will up the ratings!

 

[Parttimer]

Cumulus is borrowing a page from CBS' FM startups in other markets... In Pittsburgh they landed the Pitt Panthers as soon as 93.7 The Fan went on the air, and in Tampa they literally signed on 98.7 The Fan with the press conference announcing the relationship with the University of South Florida.

It puts the station on the map with the school's alumni, gives them some play-by-play income, and builds some credibility when the pro teams go out to bid.

 

[GeorgeKramer]

Will Scott Wilson or Brad Riter or Nick Mendola be part of the coverage? The three former WGR staffers did work with WECK, but does WHLD want to carry any or all of them over, or start off fresh with a few others to work with Rich Gaenzler? It got ugly at the end there on WECK with the gameday production and signal really going into the toilet the last two games of 2012.

 

[Philip_Airtime]

Cumulus is borrowing a page from CBS' FM startups in other markets... In Pittsburgh they landed the Pitt Panthers as soon as 93.7 The Fan went on the air, and in Tampa they literally signed on 98.7 The Fan with the press conference announcing the relationship with the University of South Florida.

It puts the station on the map with the school's alumni, gives them some play-by-play income, and builds some credibility when the pro teams go out to bid.

Cumulus has been there and done that! They HAD the Bills on 97 Rock and the Edge but opted to let go of that contract when it expired after the 2011. So, I don't see Cumulus as a player when the Bills and Sabres contracts are up in the future. Even if they are, I have to think the games would be put on one of their big FMs, not a minor AM station in the Buffalo market. The best 1270 The Fan could expect in that instance would be a simulcast.

That said, signing the UB Bulls does give the station some cred. UB football has the potential to be big. And the men's basketball team's hiring of Bob Hurley as coach will create interest there as well. So, it's win-win for Cumulus and UB. But I don't see that setting the table for one of our two major teams landing on a Cumulus station in the future. Of course, one can never say never. Cumulus could get out of its financial hole and start spending again. Entercom could decide the high price for Bills and Sabres rights aren't worth the investment. Plus, quickly changing technology could have an impact on where teams end up with their broadcasts ten years from now. But for now, I think we're likely to see the Bills and Sabres on WGR for the immediate future.

 

[Parttimer]

The rationale for UB is also like the NHL's thinking when they parted company with ESPN for what was then OLN (and has now evolved into NBC Sports Network). They become the most important thing on the station.

 

[BTB117]

The rationale for UB is also like the NHL's thinking when they parted company with ESPN for what was then OLN (and has now evolved into NBC Sports Network). They become the most important thing on the station.

That's exactly right! I think the next logical play for 1270 is to land the Bisons. They're on an entercom but not WGR so at least from the Bisons perspective they could get on a sports station. For 1270 it gives them spring and summer programming that they would not normally have. Between the Bulls and the Bisons it gives them year round live sports programming which is a good thing and something WGR does not have.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

The rationale for UB is also like the NHL's thinking when they parted company with ESPN for what was then OLN (and has now evolved into NBC Sports Network). They become the most important thing on the station.

That's exactly right! I think the next logical play for 1270 is to land the Bisons. They're on an entercom but not WGR so at least from the Bisons perspective they could get on a sports station. For 1270 it gives them spring and summer programming that they would not normally have. Between the Bulls and the Bisons it gives them year round live sports programming which is a good thing and something WGR does not have.

Although the regular programming on WWKB barely breaks a 1 share, the Bisons love having (and hearing) their games on a 50 kw blowtorch that still has major league status. More than likely, no other IL team has a 50 kw flagship. Given that the Bisons pay for the air time, it's a good bet they'd rather be on 1520 than 1270, which is 5 kw day and 1 kw night with a tight pattern.

Then again... money talks and four balls walk.

 

[BTB117]

Very true. Its probably a discussion that has already been had on other threads but why Entercom hasn't invested more into that "50kw blowtorch (Love that term)" I will never know. Just one local left wing show during the day since its a left talk station would do wonders especially given there are not any from Niagara Falls to Syracuse. I have never felt that full on syndication works as regards to bringing in major dollars but who knows maybe I'm wrong.