WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sports?

[Jul]

It appears according to someone at WPEN 950 AM that I talked to via e-mail said to me that ESPN radio WPHY 920 AM from Trenton NJ won't allow a Philadelphia metro radio stations with better signals like WPEN 950 AM to carry the ESPN Radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby this year. ESPN radio has the rights to air the radio broadcast of this event. It doesn't make any sense to me that a Trenton NJ station won't allow the Philly radio stations to carry the ESPN radio play by play and other play by play programming that 920 AM broadcasts since WPHY's signal is very bad in the city of Philadelphia. Nassau the owner of WPHY 920 AM should do something so the Philly metro stations like WPEN and the other Philadelphia radio stations with better metro signals in the city to be allowed to carry the ESPN radio and other play by play sports that 920 AM airs expect for the Phillies games. ESPN radio should have gotten a Philadelphia metro station with a better signal to be their affiliate, not a suburban station. This doesn't make any sense. WPEN 950 AM I think really wanted to air this race but for the moment, they can't. I would contact Nassau about this: http://www.nassaubroadcasting.com/contact.htm

 

[Jul]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Have you contacted them?

I did contact Nassau about this today via e-mail

 

[Rockin Rob]

Great, and the world can now rest, knowing you have shown your displeasure about a station that is airing a horse race that no one cares about, which happens to already carry the network feed featuring said race.

I will call WPHY and APPLAUD them for sticking to their guns. How do you like them apples?

I know, I said I would be more accepting, but cheese and crackers, time to reel em in....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

 

[Jul]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Great, and the world can now rest, knowing you have shown your displeasure about a station that is airing a horse race that no one cares about, which happens to already carry the network feed featuring said race.

!

Wrong. I want people in the region to be able to hear the ESPN radio broadcast of the Derby. Stations like WPHT, WPEN, WFIL or WNTP should contact Nassau or ESPN radio and let a Philly radio station air it also along with Trenton's 920 AM. SIGNAL ISSUES. 920 AM has a weak signal in Philadelphia, That's why I bring this topic up because its not fair for a signal that is for Trenton and not Philly is carrying ESPN radio play by play for the Philly market and not let someone else air it so it can be heard in Philadelphia proper. Come on, It doesn't make any sense. Stations that have a strong AM signal in Philly like 950 AM would love to carry the NBA and NHL playoffs this year but I think they can't because I think 920 AM has those rights, not fair, not fair at all.

 

[MAYORNOT]

life isn't fair....doesn't everyone know that?

I really do not care one red cent about listening to the Kentucky Derby, the NHL and NBA playoffs or any national play-by-play broadcasts. In my many years I have never seen anyone really be upset this much about such a trivial topic.

Can I take an informal poll--how many people have heard the Kentucky Derby on the radio?

I have spent many a Saturday working and missing it, but getting the results and a sound bite on KYW seems to be good for me!!

920AM has a right to air what they want, after all they are the ESPN affilate. Have you asked WPEN/Greater Media why they aren't an affilate?

 

[Jul]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

920AM has a right to air what they want, after all they are the ESPN affilate. Have you asked WPEN/Greater Media why they aren't an affilate?

I will ask them and WPEN should take over the ESPN radio affiliation in Philadelphia and a carry all the ESPN radio play by play broadcasts if possible.

 

[JimWilliams]

You know as a guy who's actually doing actual play by play (small scale, granted), I thought I was geeky when it came to play by play broadcasts. If I'm geeky, than J-May is...well...Webster's has no word for it.

I never even knew there was a radio call for the Derby...I'd be willing to bet that 99.9% of people outside of Churchill Downs were aware of that too. In other words, NO ONE CARES!

In horse racing terms, Julius you are becoming the Secretariat of trivial play by play events and their "necessity"...way out in front with no one coming close.

AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY, ERRR J-MAY COMES!!!

 

[Starscream]

Can I take an informal poll--how many people have heard the Kentucky Derby on the radio?

I distinctly remember hearing one of the triple crown races on WFAN a few years ago. I was building furniture and didn't have a TV nearby.

That being said Julius... if you want to hear the race, flip it to WFAN. I doubt you'll have signal issues.

 

[DToTheJ]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Have you asked WPEN/Greater Media why they aren't an affilate?

I will ask them and WPEN should take over the ESPN radio affiliation in Philadelphia...

In which order?

 

[Kyle D]

I remember in the past that the Derby was carried here in Philadelphia on the radio...and on WIP if I'm not mistaken. It may have even been on KYW, after all, the race itself only lasts a little more than 2 minutes.

When I was playing baseball growing up, there were many Derby Day's that we'd be at the local Babe Ruth field and some of the fathers would go gather around a car radio to listen to the race.

That was before ESPN Radio even existed, let alone had exclusive rights to the event.

I don't think I'd be out of line to say that as long as it remains an ESPN exclusive that it won't air on a station you'll deem acceptable Mr. May.

Would it be nice to have the race itself on the airwaves here in town? Sure. Will I lose sleep over it not being on? No, because I'll be watching it in beautiful High Definition in the comfort of my basement...no radio required!

 

[WTUX]

Each year, WFAN carries live all three of the Triple Crown events. Set your radio on 660, Julius. The race will come in loud and clear.

And 920 is the ESPN affiliate. Get over it.

 

[clouseau]

Actually, this is the first year of the Derby on ESPN Radio. In previous incarnations, it was on Premiere and was part of the triple crown. I don't think ESPN has the Belmont or Preakness.

Premiere used to sell the Triple Crown pretty hard to potential affiliates. This year, ESPN has sent out a couple of emails. Who knows what it will be like. But I would not count on it being on anywhere it was before.

Of course that's just my experience...

Clouseau

 

[BRNout]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Won't WNPV also carry the Derby? They also have an ESPN radio affiliation and generally take all of ESPN's weekend programming. WNPV is from Lansdale and also throws a decent signal into the northern and western parts of the Philly area - particularly during the daytime. It should come in perfectly fine in NE Philadelphia.

So, that's another option - isn't it? The Derby on radio isn't a big draw, so you're lucky to have it available on a couple of rimshots.

 

[Jul]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Each year, WFAN carries live all three of the Triple Crown events. Set your radio on 660, Julius. The race will come in loud and clear.

And 920 is the ESPN affiliate. Get over it.

NO I WILL NOT. 920 AM HAS A BAD SIGNAL, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?

 

[RayDio]

The bad signal has nothing to do with it. 920 AM pays affiliation fees and has signed agreements in exchange for exclusive ESPN programming. They became an ESPN affiliate when no Philly station was willing to. As a result, they are entitled to this exclusivity.

 

[BRNout]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Each year, WFAN carries live all three of the Triple Crown events. Set your radio on 660, Julius. The race will come in loud and clear.

And 920 is the ESPN affiliate. Get over it.

NO I WILL NOT. 920 AM HAS A BAD SIGNAL, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?

Then try 660, 1050 or 1440. At least 2 of the three should carry the race.

Besides, according to the (admittedly less than accurate) Radio Locator, 920 supposedly has a decent signal in most of Philadelphia proper:

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WPHY&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

There must be at least some truth to this because ESPN would not have otherwise given WPHY exclusivity in such a large market. Maybe you need to get a better AM radio.

 

[Jul]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

\

Then try 660, 1050 or 1440. At least 2 of the three should carry the race.

Besides, according to the (admittedly less than accurate) Radio Locator, 920 supposedly has a decent signal in most of Philadelphia proper:

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WPHY&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

There must be at least some truth to this because ESPN would not have otherwise given WPHY exclusivity in such a large market. Maybe you need to get a better AM radio.

This broadcast should be cleared in Philadelphia proper, not no rimshot station. WPEN should become ESPN radio and end this play by play problem. I will be in favor of it.

 

[BRNout]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

This broadcast should be cleared in Philadelphia proper, not no rimshot station. WPEN should become ESPN radio and end this play by play problem. I will be in favor of it.
[/quote]

Well, I wouldn't be. So what if it's on a rimshot? Actually, as I stated above, it's on TWO rimshots. Surely one of them should come in well enough to hear.

ESPN radio is not known as being a big draw - in any market. It's cheap name-brand programming, that's about it. Frankly, I think that Philly is better off having locally based sports talkers such as WIP and WPEN. Look at NY: ESPN 1050 gets lousy ratings, even though they carry some local sports play-by-play. Were it not for that, they'd get no ratings at all. Meanwhile, WFAN gets good ratings.

Why? Because they're LOCAL. Not just some canned feed.

No, this is a format that's well suited for small markets and rimshots. Why waste a perfectly good Philly AM signal on it?

 

[DToTheJ]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

ESPN radio is not known as being a big draw - in any market. It's cheap name-brand programming, that's about it. Frankly... this is a format that's well suited for small markets and rimshots. Why waste a perfectly good Philly AM signal on it?

I agree: All in favor of 1540 WNWR switching to ESPN Radio, say "aye"!

 

[Jul]

Re: WPHY 920 AM preventing Philly radio stations to air some play by play sport

Well, I wouldn't be. So what if it's on a rimshot? Actually, as I stated above, it's on TWO rimshots. Surely one of them should come in well enough to hear.

ESPN radio is not known as being a big draw - in any market. It's cheap name-brand programming, that's about it. Frankly, I think that Philly is better off having locally based sports talkers such as WIP and WPEN. Look at NY: ESPN 1050 gets lousy ratings, even though they carry some local sports play-by-play. Were it not for that, they'd get no ratings at all. Meanwhile, WFAN gets good ratings.

Why? Because they're LOCAL. Not just some canned feed.

No, this is a format that's well suited for small markets and rimshots. Why waste a perfectly good Philly AM signal on it?

I don't want the ESPN Radio station in Philly (if it ever happens) to carry all ESPN radio talk show programming, just some of their talk shows but carry all their play by play that the network offers.