Sports Radio News
Under The Radar – March 6, 2018
Published
6 years agoon
The sports radio world has had a number of developments recently which are worth passing along. I remind you that this column doesn’t work without your input. Whether it’s company news, personal news, a brand success story, a creative idea or something else that you think would be valuable to our readers, if you have an item worth passing along, please send an email to [email protected]. Now here’s the latest information.
Last week Entercom confirmed the rumors of a flip to talk in San Diego. Those who were expecting Energy 97.3 to become a full service FM sports station though were left with only part of their appetite fulfilled. The station has been rebranded as 97.3 The Machine. The lineup includes some sports via San Diego Padres baseball and Dan Sileo in middays. The Machine though is taking a different approach in both drive times, focusing on hot talk and comedy courtesy of The Men’s Room and Kevin Klein Live. Evening and weekend programming will include a mixture of classic rock and comedy bits. With San Diego having just one professional team and two sports stations with established local talent in place, The Machine is hoping a different approach allows it to make a greater impact.
One show which is not part of the new lineup on 97.3 The Machine is The Jim Rome Show. Rome was recently dropped by The Mighty 1090, the San Diego station where he first introduced his unique brand of sports talk. Despite being a mainstay on the station over the past few decades, 1090 said Rome’s numbers had declined and a change was necessary. The decision created a lot of local noise which led 1090’s Market Manager Mike Glickenhaus to make a rare appearance on Scott and BR to address it. To hear the interview click here. Rome’s program has been replaced on 1090 by ESPN Radio‘s Dan Le Batard Show. Le Batard’s program has also been added to ESPN 1000 in Chicago’s evening schedule.
A little further north, Sean Farnham has quietly left the afternoon show at ESPN LA 710 after just two months on the job. The ESPN college hoops analyst and former radio host had been added to the mix in December where he was to join Marcellus Wiley and Eric Davis as part of a revised three man team. Davis though was let go the following month after sexual harassment allegations arose from his time working at the NFL Network. That led to Wiley and Farnham working together as a two-man unit. However, that too was short lived because now Farnham is gone and Travis Rodgers has been added to the mix. Local sources haven’t said much about the change. Farnham hasn’t addressed it directly either.
One place you will be able to hear Farnham going forward is on SiriusXM‘s Pac-12 radio. The satellite company has launched a series of new college conference channels. The Pac-12 product hit the air on Monday and includes a new morning show featuring Guy Haberman and Ryan Leaf, and an afternoon show with Geoff Schwartz and Kate Scott and Sean O’Connell taking turns as lead host. Farnham and Charles Arbuckle are expected to make appearances on the channel, and former Arizona State head basketball coach Bill Frieder and former Arizona State guard and Pac-12 Player of the Year Eddie House are visiting this week to discuss the Pac-12 Tournament.
SiriusXM also unveiled its ACC Radio channel. The lineup includes “ACC This Morning” with Mark Packer and Wes Durham. The afternoon slot is being branded as “ACC Today” and features the team of Chris Spatola and Jac Collinsworth. The channel also includes contributions from Fran Franschilla, Bobby Cremins, Aaron Taylor, Jonathan Vilma and Tom Luginbill.
If that wasn’t enough SiriusXM news for you, Mad Dog Sports Radio has one item to pass along as well. Danny Kanell has been added to channel’s weekday lineup. The former QB turned radio and TV analyst is joining Steve Torre weekdays from 1p-3p ET.
WEEI in Boston created some buzz on Tuesday. The radio station brought in Britt McHenry as a third host on the popular morning program Kirk and Callahan. No word if future appearances will take place with McHenry or if it’s a one-time deal. The station is also going thru a search in afternoons to fill the seat vacated by Michael Holley. McHenry has also added a Friday night TV program in Washington DC on FOX 5 working with Bram Weinstein and Guy Lambert.
Well wishes go out to Beanie Wells. The former NFL and Ohio State RB has been battling health issues which have caused him to miss time from his radio program on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus. Wells said he’s been experiencing headaches and dealing with memory loss as a result of a traumatic brain injury which he suffered while playing football. The challenges have forced Wells to take on a diminished role on the show for the foreseeable future while dealing with his challenges. The station will use a rotation of co-hosts alongside host Tim Hall until further notice.
Afternoon producer and on-air host Ben Heisler is ready to take on a new challenge. After spending 4 years with 610 Sports, Heisler has announced he’s leaving the station for an opportunity as the new Director of Media Relations for Fantasy Sports Markets. Heisler says he plans to continue hosting his fantasy show on 610 and remain a fantasy insider in radio/TV/digital. He also stays active hosting a podcast for Awful Announcing. To read FSM’s release on hiring Heisler click here.
Kudos to Ben and Skin of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. The afternoon show landed an interview on February 23rd with Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant which generated a lot of mainstream media attention. The brash Cowboys wideout addressed speculation about his future in Dallas and said “I’m ready to make my mark. I don’t care what nobody is talking about, I couldn’t care less. Everybody that ain’t with Dez Bryant, they can kiss my ass.” Those remarks were followed up by Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones offering a number of non committal responses about Bryant’s future with the franchise. To hear the Bryant interview, click here.
Westwood One‘s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament coverage will be utilized as part of Turner Sports, CBS, and the NCAA’s March Madness LIVE streaming services. The network’s play-by-play broadcasts from all 67 tournament games will be streamed along with TV coverage from Turner and CBS as part of a special “Fast Break” channel which will be similar in style to what NFL fans have become accustomed to with “Red Zone.”
Portland Trail Blazers play by play announcer Brian Wheeler continues to battle health issues. As a result, it’s forced Wheeler to restrict his availability to working only home games. Scott Lynn has been handling road games for the franchise.
Congratulations to Zach Gelb. The afternoon host and program director of 920 The Jersey FOX Sports Radio has announced he’s leaving the Trenton, NJ sports station for an opportunity on CBS Sports Radio. Gelb will be heard on weekend overnights hosting the 2a-6a ET shift. His final day with 920 will be March 15th. The radio station hasn’t announced yet how they will operate in afternoon show beyond that date. With his move to CBS Sports Radio, Gelb will also give up his part-time hosting role during the football season on 97.5 The Fanatic.
Sticking in the Tri-State area, 98.7 ESPN Radio New York host Dave Rothenberg will be honored on Saturday April 21st by his alma mater NYIT. The school has declared that day ‘Dave Rothenberg Day‘. The special day will include an appearance by Rothenberg and his on-air partners Chris Canty and Rick DiPietro at the school’s LaCrosse game against LIU Post. The trio will preside over a ceremonial faceoff among other activities. For more information click here.
Hall of Fame broadcaster and the voice of the San Francisco Giants Jon Miller appeared on the Watch The Media podcast with John Shrader. Miller offered his insights on a number of subjects including his admiration for Vin Scully and his call of Hank Aaron’s 715th homerun, Barry Bonds’ homerun chase, his lengthy career and more. To hear it click here.
SB Nation Radio has launched a new show. Two Man Game features former NBA star Mario Elie and local host Joel Blank. The program is scheduled to debut on March 10th and will air each Saturday from 3p-4p ET.
In South Florida, Alpha Media Hot AC morning co-host Kevin Rolston has been handed the keys to his own sports program on 640 The Hurricane. Rolston is now installed weekdays from 3p-4p ET and hosting the show affectionately titled “Kevin’s Other Show.”
After 42 years, John ‘JT’ Thompson decided it was time to step away from mornings on Talk/Sports 960 WBST in South Bend. The station has replaced Thompson’s show with ESPN Radio‘s Wingo and Golic.
Jason Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Sports Media. Prior to launching BSM he served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He has also produced national shows for ESPN Radio including GameNight and the Dan Patrick Show. You can find him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or reach him by email at [email protected].
Sports Radio News
SiriusXM Media, GroupM and Edison Research Team Up for Sports Audio Report
The report notes sports fans spend six hours and 26 minutes with audio content each day—that’s over two hours more than the average American spends listening to audio.
Published
4 hours agoon
April 17, 2024By
BSM StaffSiriusXM Media, GroupM and Edison Research recently conducted the first-ever Sports Audio Report to understand the role that audio content, across sports podcasts, satellite, and radio shows, plays in fans’ engagement with sports and leagues. Through an online study of over 3,500 Americans ages 13 and older who self-identify as sports fans, some solid insights were identified.
One major note from the study is that a massive 89% of sports fans say they frequently or occasionally watch sports content, while 64% say they frequently or occasionally listen to sports content.
“The passion and community of sports fans is undeniable, and we’re excited to share brand-new research that not only confirms this but shows the power of audio content for sports fans as well,” said Melissa Paris, VP Sales Research at SiriusXM Media. “Our new report with GroupM and Edison Research shows that audio offers sports fans unique perspectives on sports that aren’t covered in other media. And advertisers should take note: Sports audio listeners (especially podcast listeners) are spending significantly more than sports video viewers.”
“There is a deep connection between listeners and the audio content they consume, whether it’s music, sports, talk shows, books or podcasts,” said Jen Soch, Executive Director, Channel Solutions, GroupM US. “Many times, audio audiences find content related to their interests and passions, and we know sports fans’ zeal is unmatched. Audio is a critical component of holistic media investments, and it needs to be a top consideration for brands looking to extend their reach and overall presence in sports.”
While baseball has been labeled “America’s favorite pastime,” the study found that the NFL dominates as the most popular sport or league—90% of sports fans ages 13+ are NFL fans, with 59% saying they follow it closely. College football is not far behind, with 74% of those surveyed identifying as fans and 37% following closely.
The report notes sports fans spend six hours and 26 minutes with audio content each day—that’s over two hours more than the average American spends listening to audio. And over 90 minutes of sports fans’ daily audio time is spent listening to sports content specifically. While sports radio leads for Gen X and boomer fans, sports podcasts lead the way for Gen Z and millennials.
Other audio highlights from the first Sports Audio Report include:
- 66% of sports listeners say they listen to hear unique perspectives on sports that aren’t covered in other media, and 60% listen to get exclusive content.
- 86% of sports listeners say they listen to stay connected to their team or sport, 58% to be part of a community of fans, and 56% to feel more connected to friends/family/colleagues.
- 52% of sports listeners say they listen to be a more informed sports bettor, and 44% to be a more informed fantasy sports player.
From a financial standpoint, the study showed that compared to sports video viewers, sports audio listeners are bigger spenders. They spend an average of $262 on sports merch/memorabilia in a year (even higher for sports podcast listeners at $321), compared to just $185 for sports video viewers.
Sports Radio News
Courtney Cox: WNBA Could Be Approaching ‘Turning of Tides’
“And I’m just saying there could be a change here with Caitlin Clark.”
Published
4 hours agoon
April 17, 2024By
BSM StaffThe 2024 WNBA Draft on ESPN was the most-viewed edition of the event in league history, averaging 2.45 million viewers and peaking at 3.09 million viewers. These numbers followed record-breaking viewership of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament, including a National Championship Game that averaged 18.1 million viewers. Iowa guard and NCAA Division I Basketball all-time scoring leader Caitlin Clark was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever on Monday, which led to her jersey being sold out in all sizes within the first hour on Fanatics. Courtney Cox discussed these metrics on Wednesday’s edition of The Greg Hill Show on WEEI and explained their significance in the landscape of women’s basketball and sports as a whole.
Clark has made a palpable impact on women’s sports, evidenced through viewership numbers during the NCAA Tournament, her growing NIL portfolio and impact on young athletes. The WNBA is coming off a record-breaking 2023 regular season that attained over 36 million total unique viewers across all national networks. The WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty averaged 728,000 viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched championship round for the league in 20 years. No WNBA game has surpassed 1 million viewers in 16 years, but there is evidence suggesting that the league is about to embark on a paradigm shift.
“I just think that this could be a turning of tides,” Cox said. “I’m not saying overnight that they’re going to have the same numbers as the NBA at all.”
Co-host Jermaine Wiggins expressed that the league needs to cease playing in the summertime because of the nice weather and the fact that people are outside. Show producer Chris Curtis then utilized an example of NBC morning host Hoda Kotb discussing the pay gap between Clark and NBA players on her show to demonstrate how the league is receiving more attention. Curtis did not think Kotb had ever discussed the WNBA on her program and implored people to discuss and support the league if they want other people to watch and reciprocate through conversation.
Basketball fans were stunned to find out that Clark will be making $76,535 in her rookie year and a total of $338,056 in her four-year contract, prompting several people to call for equal pay between women and men. Cox stated that journalist Jemele Hill did a good job in saying to stop comparing the NBA and WNBA and how much she is making compared to other first-overall draft picks.
She believes that the topic goes beyond whether or not she should be making as much as an NBA player, articulating that it is a “shockingly low number” for somebody who is being regarded as the face of women’s basketball. Nonetheless, Cox believes that there is a chance she will revolutionize the sport and help grow its overall fanbase.
“Listen, no one cares about the WNBA – that’s it,” Wiggins countered later in the discussion. “We talk about Caitlin Clark. Her biggest fame is going to be from when she played in college basketball. She’s going to go to the WNBA, and she’s going to be like all those great WNBA players. She’s just going to kind of fade off into never, never land.”
Co-host Greg Hill is not sure that will happen, asking why women and men tuned in to watch the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament at record levels. Curtis replied by stating that it was an event people are into, similar to when Michael Phelps competed for his 12th gold medal or when there is a chance for a Triple Crown to be attained in horse racing. Wiggins feels that the reason behind the numbers was the drama being built up with LSU and star player Angel Reese, who defeated Clark in the 2022 National Championship Game.
“I think it was because she was setting a record when it came to men and women in points scoring in NCAA Basketball,” Hill conveyed. “I think that people go, ‘Who is this woman? She’s incredible. I’m going to tune in and watch.’ Maybe that will happen with the WNBA. I think it’s probably unlikely, but it might happen.”
Cox postulated that it is salient to invest in Clark if there is an interest in growing the sport, something that was evident over her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Furthermore, she cannot understand why those interacting with the show through Twitch or the text line are “butthurt” when they bring up the argument about Clark’s salary. Wiggins concluded that companies will struggle to find a return on investment when people do not know about and/or watch WNBA games.
The point is the female basketball players that were successful in college – like a Breanna Stewart; Aliyah Boston – once they got out of college, all eyes are off of them,” Wiggins argued.
“And I’m just saying there could be a change here with Caitlin Clark,” Cox replied.
Sports Radio News
Arizona Sports Becomes First Ever Sports Radio Station to Win NAB Crystal Award
Since 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards have recognized radio stations for their exceptional year-round commitment to community service.
Published
1 day agoon
April 16, 2024By
BSM StaffCongratulations to Arizona Sports. The Phoenix sports brand received one of 10 Crystal Awards given out by the National Association of Broadcasters. The honor gave the Bonneville sports station the honor of becoming the first ever sports radio station to receive the prestigious award.
Winners were announced at the We Are Broadcasters celebration on Tuesday at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The 10 winners were chosen from a list of 50 finalists. Arizona Sports had been a finalist in 2023.
Since 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards have recognized radio stations for their exceptional year-round commitment to community service. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges representing the broadcast industry, community service organizations and public relations firms.
“It’s a major part of the fabric of what we do and to have it be recognized sort of brings it all into perspective why we do what we do,” said Bonneville Arizona Director of Programming Operations Brian Long about the commitment the station and cluster make to working within the community.
Bonneville Phoenix SVP, Market Manager Ryan Hatch added, “Thank you to all Bonneville Phoenix teammates for their efforts to build up, inform and uplift our community. Whether it’s connected to a station program or volunteering on a project to help improve our neighborhoods, it has a meaningful impact.”
One example of the work done by Arizona Sports and sister station KTAR News 92.3 saw the two brands team up with Phoenix Children’s Hospital for a Give-a-Thon week in 2023. The two outlets combined to help raise $2.15 million for kids and families in need.