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WTAM and WKRK Bid For the Indians

Tim said:
The only thing that doesn't make sense is every day that WNCX stays on 98.5.
I'm not sure about that yet. Isn't NCX still billing well? I would wait until they get a PBP contract or better ratings before moving it to 98.5, just so I'd be sure that the move would generate enough revenue to offset the decrease in NCX revenue.
 
My 2 cents:

WTAM getting way out at night:

WTAM, like every AM station, is subject to much more interference than ever before. Computers, the new light bulbs, you name it are just making noise all over the AM dial. Plus, most AM radios are so crappy these days, you are lucky if you get a local station, never mind distant skip. So this business that WTAM has scores of regular listeners hundreds of miles away at night is ridiculous. Yes, there are radio fans who tune in with high quality radios hundreds of miles away, but how many people is that? Certainly not many, if they can get the station at all on anything but a lucky night.

Plus, building penetration is terrible for AM. Regardless of how strong WTAM is, try listening in the middle of an office building right downtown.

WKRK:

As some have said, I wouldn't be surprised if CBS commits to moving the sports format to 98.5 as part of the deal to get the Indians.
I don't see them moving without the Indians, tho. WNCX would, in theory, go to 92.3 and probably retain most of their audience (and billing) in the Cleveland metro, since no one else is catering to the audience that wants to hear Kashmir by Led Zeppelin every single day.
 
Don't discount the possibility of TAM throwing more games on WMMS (either by simulcasting or just outright sliding them over).

That's the one thing CC has that CBS can't match--an AM/FM combo.

Maybe put all weekday day games on The Buzzard, give them all games that conflict with the Cavs, and perhaps simulcast some weekend games.

It fits 100.7's man cave motif.

CC will go dollar for dollar to keep what is a ratings winner, and they have more options for where to put games than does CBS.
 
I would like to see them go to 92.3 or 98.5..different dynamic..Perhaps more of Tom Hamilton guesting on the talk shows on occasion..They wouldnt be "stupid" to stay at WTAM, though...
 
HHH said:
My 2 cents:

WTAM getting way out at night:

WTAM, like every AM station, is subject to much more interference than ever before. Computers, the new light bulbs, you name it are just making noise all over the AM dial. Plus, most AM radios are so crappy these days, you are lucky if you get a local station, never mind distant skip. So this business that WTAM has scores of regular listeners hundreds of miles away at night is ridiculous. Yes, there are radio fans who tune in with high quality radios hundreds of miles away, but how many people is that? Certainly not many, if they can get the station at all on anything but a lucky night.

Plus, building penetration is terrible for AM. Regardless of how strong WTAM is, try listening in the middle of an office building right downtown.

WKRK:

As some have said, I wouldn't be surprised if CBS commits to moving the sports format to 98.5 as part of the deal to get the Indians.
I don't see them moving without the Indians, tho. WNCX would, in theory, go to 92.3 and probably retain most of their audience (and billing) in the Cleveland metro, since no one else is catering to the audience that wants to hear Kashmir by Led Zeppelin every single day.

It's tough to get WTAM clearly in parts of Lake County at night.
 
There are real changes going on in the advertising industry, as ad agencies and national brand products and services have discovered that where consumers go for entertainment and information has really fragmented and spread out over more and more different TV/cable channels, radio stations, and on-line entertainment platforms than ever before. Thus, effective advertising is a more challenging task than ever before because today's consumers are all over the media map.

This has it's effect on everything in media, as even sports teams struggle to find the right flagships, and media partners.

WTAM is a place of comfort for the Indians because they've been on 1100 for so many decades...and over the years they've had huge audiences, especially in the Indians better-performing seasons. But, most AM stations consistently deliver smaller audiences and older listeners than FM stations. And younger to middle-aged listeners/consumers is what most advertisers want (bascially people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, and early 50's)....and most folks in those age groups listen to FM stations...not AMs.

So...it'd be a big change for the Indians to go to TheFan on FM. But, if CBS would move that format to the big-coverage 98.5....the potential radio reach to younger listeners could be far easier...as 80% of people who listen to radio listen to stations on FM.
 
Tim said:
There are real changes going on in the advertising industry, as ad agencies and national brand products and services have discovered that where consumers go for entertainment and information has really fragmented and spread out over more and more different TV/cable channels, radio stations, and on-line entertainment platforms than ever before. Thus, effective advertising is a more challenging task than ever before because today's consumers are all over the media map.

This has it's effect on everything in media, as even sports teams struggle to find the right flagships, and media partners.

WTAM is a place of comfort for the Indians because they've been on 1100 for so many decades...and over the years they've had huge audiences, especially in the Indians better-performing seasons. But, most AM stations consistently deliver smaller audiences and older listeners than FM stations. And younger to middle-aged listeners/consumers is what most advertisers want (bascially people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, and early 50's)....and most folks in those age groups listen to FM stations...not AMs.

So...it'd be a big change for the Indians to go to TheFan on FM. But, if CBS would move that format to the big-coverage 98.5....the potential radio reach to younger listeners could be far easier...as 80% of people who listen to radio listen to stations on FM.

Indians were on WKNR from 1991-1997.
 
Keep sports on AM where it belongs. Put music back on WMMS 24/7. Stop knocking WNCX and Led Zeppelin. The Indians really are losing listeners as us Zeppelin fans get older and wiser. Sports is a business. Players don't play for the city they represent. We as boomers will never see a champion. We saw great football with Sipe and the gang. The Mark Price era for the Cavs. The Thome -Ramiriez days of the Tribe. Now its all about selling tickets. Putting on a show. Earings ,tattoos,long hair out of football helmets,and just personal showmanship. So we tune off the sports and request Kashmir every day on WNCX with a cold beer. ;D
 
billf82 said:
Indians were on WKNR from 1991-1997.

And then WKNR was bought by Jacor, who took the Indians rights as part of their pillaging, then turned around and sold it.
 
Tim said:
Whatever happens, the Indians certainly don't need a Cleveland affilliate who covers up to 750-miles at night...since 95% of their fans who attend games come from an approximate 100-mile radius of Progressive Field.

See, this is one of the reasons I want the Indians to stay on WTAM... I occasionally listen to out of market games at night via AM, and I don't want that magic taken away from people that do likewise... all without subscription fees.
 
raccoonradio said:

The deal hasn't been signed yet, but Chris is hearing the same thing others are hearing.

Problem with the item: comparing WTAM to WKRK by using wattage. 40,000 watts FM are not the same as 40,000 watts AM and vice versa. WTAM would certainly be "more powerful", but you can't compare watts to watts.
 
OhioMediaWatch said:
raccoonradio said:

The deal hasn't been signed yet, but Chris is hearing the same thing others are hearing.

Problem with the item: comparing WTAM to WKRK by using wattage. 40,000 watts FM are not the same as 40,000 watts AM and vice versa. WTAM would certainly be "more powerful", but you can't compare watts to watts.

Going by the info the story, I think that WTAM won more due to offering 5 years then The Fan's 2.

I wonder how much (if anything) WMMS is gonna get out of the deal, or will they merely stick with airing the usual handful of overflow games and occasional Friday simulcasts?
 
5 years and comfort with the established player means a lot.

CC/WTAM was probably willing to extend the offer to try to match whatever CBS offered money-wise for 2 years on WKRK.

(I have no idea if the 2/5 is true in reality.)
 
Could this mean CBS Cleveland is more interested in going for the Browns? They'd of taken the Indians, but prefer the Browns (who wouldn't, I guess....this is a crazy for football area).

Wonder if 923TheFan will ever move to a frequency where they can be much easier heard over a much wider area? 98.5, 102.1, or 104.1? (though WDOK & WQAL are long-term big money-makers...not so much any more for WNCX).
 
I was seriously hoping for 92.3 to get the Indians. The two pregame shows before Indians games are horrendous. Having Mike Trivisonno on anything sports related is ridiculous. For the whole season he was saying that Manny Acta was the best manager in baseball hands down. The day Manny was fired he said Manny was a terrible manager and one of the worst in the league. Mike has ZERO credibility when it comes to sports. He also said if you recall that Butch Davis was bar none the best head coach in the NFL at the time he was with the Browns. Anyone who calls his show and brings that up he hangs up on them now. I hope that the Browns at least go to 92.3 they need some more sports play by play on that station
 
74WIXYGrad said:
billf82 said:
Indians were on WKNR from 1991-1997.

And then WKNR was bought by Jacor, who took the Indians rights as part of their pillaging, then turned around and sold it.

When Jacor bought WKNR/1220 back in 1997 while they had designs on moving the Indians to 1100 they had every intention of keeping it and either keeping it sports or turning it into a talker to flank WTAM. Then Jacor bought the entire Nationwide chain which included some "waterfront" Cleveland properties. At the time the DOJ capped market share at 40% and WKNR put them just over the top so they were odd man out.
 
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