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Will Charlotte Get A Sports Radio FM?

DToTheJ

DToTheJ

One by one, they're popping up all over the place lately... Cleveland... Philadelphia... both of those, made possible by CBS Radio... which happens to be sitting pretty in CLT, so they may not need to change anything... but given how CBS has been on a quest to put an FM sports talker in most of their markets, you can't help but wonder if Charlotte is next...

Some of you may know that I've long predicted Greater Media flip 107.9 to ESPN. Looks like The Link is actually doing well once again, so it looks like they're safe, for now... I guess the only way that GM (current rights-holder of Panthers radio rights) will take 107.9 all-sports now is to beat CBS to the punch to FM sports talk in the market. That brings up another interesting angle: You know that CBS, FM sports stick or not, is going to be gunning for those Panthers rights once the contract is up.

Discuss.
 
Greater Media needs to buy 105.3 and make it WBT-FM. Then they can make 99.3 sports. Can you tell I'm not a big fan of the "all sports" format? ;D
 
fortmill said:
Mike, do we really need hate-talk WBT on FM? I'm surprised you advocate this...
Click to expand...

Does it not go the other direction, too? Liberals hate conservatives...conservatives hate liberals. It's neverending, not?
 
fortmill said:
Mike, do we really need hate-talk WBT on FM? I'm surprised you advocate this...
Click to expand...
Do we really need 'fortmill hates hate-talk WBT' again and again? I'm surprised you're advocating this after so much time...
 
I like WBT. And I like sports talk. I'd love to hear WBT or sports talk on 105.3.

And for all the haters of conservative WBT, why don't you just listen to WFAE and be happy? You can enjoy your left leaning station, as right-wingers can enjoy WBT, while people like me who understand we can learn a lot by listening more and judging less can enjoy both of these fine stations!
 
I'm left-leaning and I can't stand WFAE. Except for "Car Talk". And if I'm in the car for "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" I'll listen but I don't have time to just listen to it.

WBT-FM can't stand on its own. No signal in the east.
 
eacalhoun1 said:
fortmill said:
Mike, do we really need hate-talk WBT on FM? I'm surprised you advocate this...
Click to expand...

Does it not go the other direction, too? Liberals hate conservatives...conservatives hate liberals. It's neverending, not?
Click to expand...
I never said a word about hating conservatives. The truth is, many conservative values are very defensible and commendable. But WBT and other stations of that type do not really champion true conservative values. By the way, comparing WBT and WFAE, though they have similar ratings in Charlotte, is impossible. WBT puts a spin on everything they say, all to excite their demo, while WFAE attempts to actually report what happens. You've never heard WFAE make a snide or personal remark about a person in public life, but that is WBT's stock in trade. Instead, WFAE/NPR attempts to have it's listeners "feel" the emotions and beliefs of those from divergent walks of life---the exact opposite of what WBT does.
 
fortmill said:
eacalhoun1 said:
fortmill said:
Mike, do we really need hate-talk WBT on FM? I'm surprised you advocate this...
Click to expand...

Does it not go the other direction, too? Liberals hate conservatives...conservatives hate liberals. It's neverending, not?
Click to expand...
I never said a word about hating conservatives. The truth is, many conservative values are very defensible and commendable. But WBT and other stations of that type do not really champion true conservative values. By the way, comparing WBT and WFAE, though they have similar ratings in Charlotte, is impossible. WBT puts a spin on everything they say, all to excite their demo, while WFAE attempts to actually report what happens. You've never heard WFAE make a snide or personal remark about a person in public life, but that is WBT's stock in trade. Instead, WFAE/NPR attempts to have it's listeners "feel" the emotions and beliefs of those from divergent walks of life---the exact opposite of what WBT does.
Click to expand...

Many people would strongly disagree that NPR/WFAE do not make snide, personal remarks about its political opposition. No matter how much a service likes to bill itself as "fair and balanced," common sense knows it is almost impossible to be truly fair and balanced. WFAE and NPR are high-quality broadcasters, but are far from being middle ground. NPR veers left, and that is quite well chronicled. And the definition of snide, personal remarks often comes from the political leaning of the listener.

I do lean right, but I can listen and appreciate good broadcasting, and even learn something from the left. The left would be wise to be as tolerant and open-minded to the right. Then we wouldn't have embarrassing outbursts like that California congresswoman who told the Tea Party to "go to hell!" And yes, conservatives have been guilty of such stupidity and smallness as well.
 
DToTheJ said:
One by one, they're popping up all over the place lately... Cleveland... Philadelphia... both of those, made possible by CBS Radio... which happens to be sitting pretty in CLT, so they may not need to change anything... but given how CBS has been on a quest to put an FM sports talker in most of their markets, you can't help but wonder if Charlotte is next...

That brings up another interesting angle: You know that CBS, FM sports stick or not, is going to be gunning for those Panthers rights once the contract is up.
Click to expand...

If CBS doesn't have an FM sports stick in Charlotte, they won't get the Panthers rights. WFNZ on 610 can't equal WBT's coverage on 1110 AM & 99.3 FM. :)
 
fortmill said:
eacalhoun1 said:
fortmill said:
Mike, do we really need hate-talk WBT on FM? I'm surprised you advocate this...
Click to expand...

Does it not go the other direction, too? Liberals hate conservatives...conservatives hate liberals. It's neverending, not?
Click to expand...
I never said a word about hating conservatives. The truth is, many conservative values are very defensible and commendable. But WBT and other stations of that type do not really champion true conservative values. By the way, comparing WBT and WFAE, though they have similar ratings in Charlotte, is impossible. WBT puts a spin on everything they say, all to excite their demo, while WFAE attempts to actually report what happens. You've never heard WFAE make a snide or personal remark about a person in public life, but that is WBT's stock in trade. Instead, WFAE/NPR attempts to have it's listeners "feel" the emotions and beliefs of those from divergent walks of life---the exact opposite of what WBT does.
Click to expand...
Agitprop much? :D

[I suppose I'm 'cataloging' your posts again. I better quit. ;D
 
Preacherdude said:
fortmill said:
eacalhoun1 said:
fortmill said:
Mike, do we really need hate-talk WBT on FM? I'm surprised you advocate this...
Click to expand...

Does it not go the other direction, too? Liberals hate conservatives...conservatives hate liberals. It's neverending, not?
Click to expand...
I never said a word about hating conservatives. The truth is, many conservative values are very defensible and commendable. But WBT and other stations of that type do not really champion true conservative values. By the way, comparing WBT and WFAE, though they have similar ratings in Charlotte, is impossible. WBT puts a spin on everything they say, all to excite their demo, while WFAE attempts to actually report what happens. You've never heard WFAE make a snide or personal remark about a person in public life, but that is WBT's stock in trade. Instead, WFAE/NPR attempts to have it's listeners "feel" the emotions and beliefs of those from divergent walks of life---the exact opposite of what WBT does.
Click to expand...

Many people would strongly disagree that NPR/WFAE do not make snide, personal remarks about its political opposition. No matter how much a service likes to bill itself as "fair and balanced," common sense knows it is almost impossible to be truly fair and balanced. WFAE and NPR are high-quality broadcasters, but are far from being middle ground. NPR veers left, and that is quite well chronicled. And the definition of snide, personal remarks often comes from the political leaning of the listener.

I do lean right, but I can listen and appreciate good broadcasting, and even learn something from the left. The left would be wise to be as tolerant and open-minded to the right. Then we wouldn't have embarrassing outbursts like that California congresswoman who told the Tea Party to "go to hell!" And yes, conservatives have been guilty of such stupidity and smallness as well.
Click to expand...
I wish you would cite just one example of WFAE/NPR making a snide/personal remark about a public figure. To anticipate your reply, I'm going to cite Rush Limbaugh, WBT's most popular commentator, who repeatedly calls our president "boy" and "tarbaby." Yes, Maxine Water's remark was unfortunate, but she does not work for, nor is she a commentator on NPR/WFAE. (and for every such remark by a liberal, I can cite dozens by "conservatives," such as the one Rick Perry popped out last week). Of course, you never heard anyone on WBT complain about that, but you can be sure NPR questioned Water's judgement.
 
WBT and conservative talk radio's hosts are generally personality driven, and obviously Rush, and others, do say some off the wall things, as often they are going for laughs as much as making points. NPR is more interview driven, and allows their guests make their points, often by people like Maxine Waters and Al Sharpton. And don't forget the NPR purging of Juan Williams. What both of them do when they interview is ask questions that put their own views into the best possible light. But anyone listening with any objectivity cannot deny the liberal leanings of NPR.

NPR and WFAE do great radio, and in my opinion so does WBT. The biggest difference? WBT and conservative commercial talk support themselves the old fashioned way: working hard and selling ads. NPR works hard, does great sounding, liberal-leaning radio, and allows us, the taxpayers, to pay their bills!
 
I think Charlotte could support one, the problem is that there's not enough good content to go around. The Panthers are locked up on WBT for several more years, the Bobcats could maybe move in there, and perhaps the Checkers could go off 1660, but what college contracts could you get? Davidson, perhaps? Wake or NC State? You could grab NASCAR.

You have a lot of talent in the area for a full-time local sports FM (all the talk hosts on WFNZ and 730, the update guys, plus the sports people at the TV stations). Several writers at the Observer are popular enough to perhaps have a show (Sorensen, Utter the NASCAR guy, Ron Green), and it's the major market for North and South Carolina, so I'm sure you could get some regional stuff. 610 already has local/regional guys 6am-10pm (not all live)

The problem is, where would you put it? CBS has four of the top five FMs in the market, and the 5th, 104.7, has the highest cume in the market. Amazing that Columbia (because of USC) has over a dozen shows, plus two sports FMs and a third on AM, while Charlotte has whatever is on 610 and the couple shows on 730, along with the NY show on 1150.
 
Preacherdude said:
NPR and WFAE do great radio, and in my opinion so does WBT. The biggest difference? WBT and conservative commercial talk support themselves the old fashioned way: working hard and selling ads. NPR works hard, does great sounding, liberal-leaning radio, and allows us, the taxpayers, to pay their bills!
Click to expand...

As a taxpayer I'm glad to foot the bill for WFAE/NPR. Just how much smaller do you think your tax bill would be without contributions to Public Radio? Shows like "CarTalk", "Wait Wait Don't Tell me", "Prairie Home Companion", and "Charlotte Talks". These shows entertain, inform and educate. The sole purpose of WBT is to make money and they would air barking dogs and cats screeching if they could make a buck with it. Not just WBT but all commercial radio.

Rush treats people who disagree with him like morons for the sake of entertainment. He plays the part of an egomaniac, but I doubt he's really that way in real life. His act is getting really old. Those looking for a civilized discussion of the issues will not find that on WBT.

In most circles it's well known that Mr Charles Crutchfield himself was appalled at what WBT had become. If you don't know who he was you need to google his name for his contributions to Charlotte radio and WBT.
 
First, I am quite familiar with Mr. Charles Crutchfield, and wholeheartedly agree that WBT is just a shell of what she used to be. It will never be the same station, and Charlotte will never be that market again. I'd give my right pinkie just to hear WBT and WAYS on 1110 and 610.

Second, I like the programs you mentioned on WFAE. But if they are so monumentally superior to anything else you can hear, why can't they pay for themselves? The big issue with our national debt is there are so many little bits of money coming out for this and that, and they all add up to 14 trillion!

Third, you are right. Rush is about making money. And much of what he does is an act. And sometimes I find myself screaming at him in the car. But the last time I checked, making money is what broadcasters must do to satisfy their managers, boards, and stockholders. Rush is cash, just like Howard Stern, who makes Rush's most outlandish statements sound like a children's lullaby.

Finally, to turn this back to where it began, I hope so much that one day 105.3 will become a sports talker, led by the Packman in afternoon drive!
 
Points taken, we agree more than disagree.

Maybe we should ask the commercial stations why they can't do quality shows like "CarTalk", "Wait wait..." , "Prarie Home..." and the others. I think you'd find their answer will be: "It's cheaper to turn on the automation and let it truck with voicetracks or the occasional underpaid Jock."

I'd gladly give you an FM Sports talk if I can have a Smooth Jazz FM or even an oldies or standards AM other than the weak daytime only WAVO-1150.
 
Exactly right. And it does make me sad that cheapo voice-tracking and automation take the place of quality programming. But you know, we live in a society where people would rather go through a drive-thru than take time to sit down to a quality meal. I'd love to hear quality on commercial radio. But sadly, it's rare these days.

Let's put in an order for a good quality smooth jazz FM, a good oldies, and a sports talker. I'd be a happy boy with those choices.
 
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