Yankees Radio: Decision 2012

[DToTheJ]

There are many major decisions to be made as to New York Yankees radiocasts from 2012 onward: from the flagship station to the people in the booth.

Bob Raissman predicts that, while WCBS-AM is likely to retain radio rights to the Bronx Bombers after the current contract expires in 2011, 1050 ESPN could inquire about them, as well. (Note that they have their hands full with play-by-play of three other major franchises, and with that, plus a limited signal, they'll really have their hands full.) Raissman even predicts the Yankees could buy a station (WRXP?) outright.

And of course, there's the possibility of whether or not John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman (whom Raissman affectionaly dubs "Ma and Pa Pinstripe") will be back.

Full story:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...g_future_of_john_sterling__suzyn_waldman.html

 

[SuperRadioFan]

And of course, there's the possibility of whether or not John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman (whom Raissman affectionaly dubs "Ma and Pa Pinstripe") will be back.

One can only hope that one's ears will no longer be subjected to "The Yankees WIN!! THUUUUUUUUUUU-UUU-UU-UUU-HHH Yankees Win!"

 

[bub]

1050 ESPN could inquire about them, as well. (Note that they have their hands full with play-by-play of three other major franchises, and with that, plus a limited signal, they'll really have their hands full.) Raissman even predicts the Yankees could buy a station (WRXP?) outright.

If you want to refer to the Knicks as a major franchise, that's your business.

And of course, there's the possibility of whether or not John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman (whom Raissman affectionaly dubs "Ma and Pa Pinstripe") will be back.

One can only hope that one's ears will no longer be subjected to "The Yankees WIN!! THUUUUUUUUUUU-UUU-UU-UUU-HHH Yankees Win!"

I may be in the minority but I don't have an issue with John Sterling. I grew up around his calls of the old NY Nets of the ABA. Any guy who calls Morgan State Football games in the first 8 years of his career to pay his dues I give the benefit of the doubt.

It's Suzyn Waldman who has the fingernails across a chalkboard voice I can't stand.

 

[KML0224]

I sincerely hope they don't go to WEPN-AM 1050! Their signal in central Connecticut is horrible 24/7! WCBS-AM 880 is decent during the day and varies at night. It helps that they're 50,000 watts, have a transmitter in the Bronx and that it's right next to a body of salt water (Long Island Sound). I used to have varying results with them on WABC-AM 770 way back when.

Friends of mine have ripped on Susan, ever since she uttered the line of "RAW-ger Clemens is in the OH-nur's BAWX!". That's one thing, but "GOODNESS GRACIOUS!" was another. Ugh!

I know Charlie Steiner was the color commentator before Susan came in. Michael Kay is busy with YES and his work on WEPN-AM 1050. Who could she be replaced by?

[NOTE: The Yankees affiliate in greater Hartford is WPOP-AM 1410, a 5,000 watt station with a Newington transmitter and a directional pattern. They're fine here in New Britain, CT, but go west to Bristol or much past Meriden and their signal is crap. Occasionally, WPOP may choose to carry another area team or the Yankee game gets joined in progress, so having WCBS-AM as a backup helps.]

 

[spunker88]

That would be terrible, 1050 has a horrible signal here in Upstate NY because of CHUM out of Toronto. My local sports stations reduce power at night so I have found myself catching the game on 880 when I can't find it on TV (since online streaming is disabled), or when Im traveling anywhere in the northeast at night.

What I dont get about ESPN/ABC/Disney is why they dont put Radio Disney on 1050 and put ESPN on 1560. Its not like anybody is listening to the skywave signal of Radio Disney. And if you are going to say they don't care about skywave signals, well then what have they got to lose. Chances are sports are one of the few things on radio that people still tune in via skywave since sometimes its the only free way to get the game. And both 1050 and 1560 must cover NYC about the same (they are both 50kw), so it shouldn't affect listening audiences in the city.

 

[wabc860]

Wrong the signal around the city area are like night and day. 1050 am is much better.

 

[ansky212]

I love John Sterling's calls. I usually mute the tv and listen to the radio broadcast.

 

[kover]

I think an interesting option would be for the Yankee's to buy a radio station turn it into YES Radio as a companion to the YES Network on TV. The upside is 100% control and profits but the downside being that unless they acquired an existing sports station they will likely have a smaller audience for awhile. Plus what would they air in the off season? My guess is that they will not go this route and stick with one of the existing sports station.

 

[KeithE4]

I think an interesting option would be for the Yankee's to buy a radio station turn it into YES Radio as a companion to the YES Network on TV. The upside is 100% control and profits but the downside being that unless they acquired an existing sports station they will likely have a smaller audience for awhile. Plus what would they air in the off season? My guess is that they will not go this route and stick with one of the existing sports station.

The White Sox are going to be doing this in Chicago starting next year. They are going to be programming an HD channel on CBS's WJMK 104.3, although I'm not sure if the games themselves will be simulcast.

Maybe this is something the Yankees and/or Mets would be willing to try. It depends on how many HD-FM radios are in use in NYC.

 

[Wbzfm2010]

they do something like that in Pittsburgh with the penguins!!

 

[bub]

they do something like that in Pittsburgh with the penguins!!

With Mike Lange Goal Calls?

"Heeeeeeeeeeee Shoots and Scores! Get in the fast lane, grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll!"

 

[radioguy39nj]

If the Yankees do not re-up with WCBS-AM in 2012, they won't go to a station with a directional signal. The Yankees have been on a 50 kW AM blaster since they signed on with WABC in 1981.

The only way WEPN has a chance to get either the Mets or the Yankees is if they get to 101.9 FM, arguably one of the best class B's in NYC. 101.9 has no adjacent channel issues in NJ or CT, so it's easily received throughout the NYC Metro area.

 

[ansky212]

If the Yankees do not re-up with WCBS-AM in 2012, they won't go to a station with a directional signal. The Yankees have been on a 50 kW AM blaster since they signed on with WABC in 1981.

The only way WEPN has a chance to get either the Mets or the Yankees is if they get to 101.9 FM, arguably one of the best class B's in NYC. 101.9 has no adjacent channel issues in NJ or CT, so it's easily received throughout the NYC Metro area.

The big problem with the Yankees being on FM is the coverage area will be much smaller. Geographically their coverage would be cut in half. I know people all the way up in MA and RI that listen to the Yankees on WCBS. If they go to 101.9 you won't be able to hear them anywhere north of Danbury or Bridgeport, and not anywhere south of Trenton.

 

[MarcB]

If the Yankees do not re-up with WCBS-AM in 2012, they won't go to a station with a directional signal. The Yankees have been on a 50 kW AM blaster since they signed on with WABC in 1981.

The only way WEPN has a chance to get either the Mets or the Yankees is if they get to 101.9 FM, arguably one of the best class B's in NYC. 101.9 has no adjacent channel issues in NJ or CT, so it's easily received throughout the NYC Metro area.

The big problem with the Yankees being on FM is the coverage area will be much smaller. Geographically their coverage would be cut in half. I know people all the way up in MA and RI that listen to the Yankees on WCBS. If they go to 101.9 you won't be able to hear them anywhere north of Danbury or Bridgeport, and not anywhere south of Trenton.

Yankees are on WLAD 800 Danbury, WICC 600 Bridgeport, WAVZ 1300 New Haven, WPRV 790 Providence, WPOP 1410 Hartford (crappy signal), and WHLL 1450 in Springfield.

 

[necrat123]

Yankees are on WLAD 800 Danbury, WICC 600 Bridgeport, WAVZ 1300 New Haven, WPRV 790 Providence, WPOP 1410 Hartford (crappy signal), and WHLL 1450 in Springfield.

Why do you single out WPOP as the one with the crappy signal? Of the ones you listed, WICC, and WHLL's are 10x crapper.
Ugh, anyways...

Back to the subject at hand, IF the Yankees were to buy a signal in the market, you'd have to wonder about 1560. With Radio Disney shutting down AM signals all over, it might be a fit for them. While it's not a Non D, it's a better signal than 1050 is around the area, no?

 

[fybush]

Back to the subject at hand, IF the Yankees were to buy a signal in the market, you'd have to wonder about 1560. With Radio Disney shutting down AM signals all over, it might be a fit for them. While it's not a Non D, it's a better signal than 1050 is around the area, no?

Nope. Not even close. Lots of close-in nulls and daytime skywave/groundwave cancellation issues, not to mention being way up at the shortwave end of the dial. 1050 is substantially better, especially off the new towers.

While there are certainly a few areas where 1560 is better than 1050, there are many more where 1050 wins.

 

[ansky212]

Yankees are on WLAD 800 Danbury, WICC 600 Bridgeport, WAVZ 1300 New Haven, WPRV 790 Providence, WPOP 1410 Hartford (crappy signal), and WHLL 1450 in Springfield.

Those stations are all really weak. I know in places like Farmington you can barely even pull in WPOP at night.

 

[TheBigA]

The big problem with the Yankees being on FM is the coverage area will be much smaller.

This is one of those things that are bad in some ways, and good in another, depending on who you are.

Right now, Major League Baseball is promoting it's online radio service where you can hear WCBS anywhere in the world for $9.95 a season. Shrink the free coverage area, and then they might consider buying the MLB deal. Same with XM. As these sports teams focus more on monetizing their own platforms, the old traditional free radio with a huge multi-state signal becomes more of a hinderance than an advantage.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

...there are many more where 1050 wins.

Uh, Professor Fybush, don't you mean "where 1010 WINS"?

(Sorry, I'll go play with my lamptimer now.)

 

[KML0224]

I don't think 1010 AM would be much better than 1050 AM. Just as Toronto's 1050 messes with WEPN-AM here at night in central Connecticut, I can almost never get WINS-AM due to interference from CFRB-AM 1050.