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Yankees?

It's Yankee Opening Day, so I turned to WECK, but it's music. So, I guess they are not carrying the Yankees anymore? Is anybody local picking them up?
 
bbb said:
It's Yankee Opening Day, so I turned to WECK, but it's music. So, I guess they are not carrying the Yankees anymore? Is anybody local picking them up?

WACK 1420 in Newark, NY has the game streaming on its website...not sure MLB.COM would be happy knowing that...found it via TuneIn.com and the list of Yankees radio affiliates (not updated for 2012) - http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/schedule/radio_affiliates.jsp

Richard in Allentown, PA (formerly of East Aurora, NY)
 
Thanks. I actually have an mlb.com account, so I am able to listen online. I just would like to be able to listen in my car and on the radios around my house.
 
I know selected games are still airing (at least whenever the local AAA team, the Red Wings, aren't playing) on WHTK-AM 1280 in Rochester and its rimshot FM sister in the Finger Lakes, WHTK-FM 107.3.
 
At first, I was rather surprised that WECK dropped the Yankees. The Breeze continues to languish in the ratings. Since the Yankees have a loyal following in Western New York, I had assumed their broadcasts would attract some listeners and advertising dollars.

But on further reflection, perhaps that's not the case. Yankees fans here can already see most games on the YES cable network. And if you don't have access to a TV, maybe you're like bbb in having an account with mlb.com. The bottom line is that unlike 30 years ago, you no longer need radio to follow your favorite major league team.

Now, I'm not saying radio play-by-play is dead. Local teams like the Bills and Sabres need a radio presence. But for out-of-town teams, even one like the Yankees, the pool of potential listeners is diminished. I enjoy a baseball game as much as anyone. But in all the four years the Yankees were on WECK, I can say that I never listened to one game.

With a schedule of 162 games, the Yankees played havoc with WECK's music format. So, if the Breeze is going to have any chance at all of catching on in this market (and that's a big "if" at this point), you can't be breaking in for three to four hours a day with sports.
 
I listen to almost every game of the season. Most of the time on WECK the last few years, because it was just easier.

I have XM only because when GR dropped the Yanks before WECK picked them up, and I just had to have them on the radio.

But, XM plays the home team announcers, and I'd rather hear John and Suzyn when the Yanks are on the road (I know I'm in the minority on that one, but I like them. Listening to baseball is like a worn in mitt - you want the comfort of your own).
 
Alan Pergament wrote this today:

Inquiring minds want to know: Will another local radio station pick up New York Yankees games after WECK dropped them? One radio expert told me it might be hard to find one because it is too difficult to make money off of the games. WGR would appear to be the most likely choice. But it plans to start a new evening show about the Buffalo Bills that is hosted by John Murphy. So that leaves WKBW-AM as the only possibility that I see.

http://networkedblogs.com/wbUaJ
 
bbb said:
SirRoxalot said:
According to the Yankees Radio Network, WGR is an affiliate.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/yankeesradionetwork/

You could also try WHAM...

That is really weird. They are definitely not on GR. Could it mean they will be soon?

I hope so. On the days/nights when I am not around the tv, I like to listen to the broadcasts. Same during the weekends when I'm out doing work in the yard. Sterling gets a bad rap, but I enjoy his broadcasts. Wouldn't mind if they replaced Suzyn though.
 
Yeah, this is becoming more of an issue in my life than I thought it would!

I'm fine as long as I'm at my computer, and I'm OK when in my car, but not as happy as I would be if the Yanks are on the road.

But, anywhere the house, the yard, etc. it's an issue!

My friend called yesterday. He drives all the time for work - and he goes "Why can't I find Opening Day on the radio?!?"

With all the crap on the radio, you'd think there'd be a market for this.
 
WHTK carried the yankee home opener on the radio yesterday afternoon which was a surprise to me because they won't even carry the weekday day schedule for our local team the rochester red wings!
 
Funny. I'm listening online, and Sterling said earlier that some day we have to mention all our affiliates. The network is in Vegas, a few more cities, and then said Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse - all great cities.

He must be looking that sheet that Sir put up.
 
This was in Greg Connors' column in yesterday's News:

Yankees off radio dial

Yes, we have no John Sterling.

The radio voice of the Yankees has been stilled in these parts after WECK 1230 in Cheektowaga decided not to renew its contract to carry the Bronx Bombers' games.

No other Buffalo-area radio stations opted to pick up the broadcasts, either.

Yankees games are all over the TV dial, on YES Network, ESPN, Fox, etc., but there are still fans who prefer their baseball the old-fashioned way, on radio.

The only ways to do that would be to invest in satellite radio, or move closer to Jamestown or Rochester.

WJTN 1240 in Jamestown and WHAM 1180 in Rochester are part of the Yankees Radio Network.

That network also has radio affiliates in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla., by the way. And Syracuse, Albany, Elmira and Binghamton. Just not Buffalo.

[email protected]
 
Baseball may be the national past time and flagship stations for major league teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs may score massive ratings, but as a network station, baseball isn't as easy as a walk to first base. Baseball can be a traffic-programming boondoggle when games are rained out, rain delayed or called in mid-game.

From my experience at an originating station for the AAA Bisons and network affiliate of the Yankees, re-scheduling commercials and programming when weather forces alterations, especially when double-headers are scheduled (the next day or night) to make up for rained-out games, presents a challenge that even the best traffic and programming departments find onerous.

Stations are at the mercy of the baseball teams' managers and league officials when bad weather forces a decision about calling or cancelling a game and scheduling a make-up game. The process gets more complicated on weekends, when traffic/programming personnel have to go to the station to reconcile/merge a log for a game that's been rained out. As downsizing takes a toll on the local traffic and programmers, airing baseball becomes more of a challenge.

ESPN, TBS and Yes present formidable challenges to baseball on radio and selling the radio games (as a network affiliate) is especially challenging in markets where cable penetration is high. The Yankees on radio in Buffalo are thought to be a big draw, but the actual value to broadcasting the Yankees' as a network station is more about bragging rights and promotion than ratings and local revenue. It's no surprise that stations cherry pick weekend or night games rather than take on the entire schedule, or turn their backs on baseball altogether.
 
I'm not repeating the quote here:

JPB...well said about the logistics of a pro ball game on the Philco ;D
Few understand.
Your post puts a re-emphasis on...emotions & ego seem to override intelligence.

HDBG

PS: Glad I'm not a Yankees fan....I might not get the info I need on my smart phone :D
 
Thanks, JPB, for literally going Inside Baseball for me on that. Now, it does make sense. I had been thinking that it would be worth it for a smaller station like WECK to get some better ratings than normal (I think they would at least - I just know people who want to hear it, but really wouldn't look for the station otherwise.)

And, maybe it's just another way that our entertainment choices get more specialized, because heyday mentioned smart phones, and the way I got around this problem was exactly that. MLB has an app called At Bat 12 - for $15 I got every game for the whole season for every team, along with all kinds of stats, video, etc.
 
bbb said:
And, maybe it's just another way that our entertainment choices get more specialized, because heyday mentioned smart phones, and the way I got around this problem was exactly that. MLB has an app called At Bat 12 - for $15 I got every game for the whole season for every team, along with all kinds of stats, video, etc.

And, unlike XM's MLB coverage, you can pick between home & away broadcasts using the At Bat 12 app. Every once in a while I'll listen to the early innings of an LA Dodgers West Coast game just to hear Vin Scully (the first 3 innings of Dodgers broadcasts are simulcast TV audio).

Richard in Allentown, PA (ex-East Aurora)
 
rdcuffpa1 said:
bbb said:
And, maybe it's just another way that our entertainment choices get more specialized, because heyday mentioned smart phones, and the way I got around this problem was exactly that. MLB has an app called At Bat 12 - for $15 I got every game for the whole season for every team, along with all kinds of stats, video, etc.

And, unlike XM's MLB coverage, you can pick between home & away broadcasts using the At Bat 12 app. Every once in a while I'll listen to the early innings of an LA Dodgers West Coast game just to hear Vin Scully (the first 3 innings of Dodgers broadcasts are simulcast TV audio).

Richard in Allentown, PA (ex-East Aurora)

Exactly - I don't know why XM can't have both teams broadcasts on? I want to hear "my announcers" every game - not just the home games........I was afraid At Bat 12 would do the same thing as XM, but happily they don't.

Great idea on Scully. I'm going to have to do that myself!
 
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