(SPORTS TALK) Ratings Domination

6-18-13

There's a new revolution in radio today. It's the invasion of Sports Talk Radio. We're starting to see Sports Talk like KNBR in San Francisco and the HUB in Boston dominate in the ratings, especially with men 25-54. I recently spoke to several of the Sports PDs making this format score big. As you read some of their comments take note of a common thread on why they are #1 in their markets.
Here are the SILEO "FAB 5" SportsTalk Stations:
1. KNBR - PD Lee Hammer
"There?s no doubt the San Francisco Giants have really helped KNBR. At the same time, however, there are no games in morning drive or 9 a.m.-noon, and we?re number one in those dayparts as well. I believe our ratings and sales success is a combination of the talent, the on-air imaging, the production, our marketing and promotion, and our ability to connect with the audience. As you know, our on-air moniker is ?The Sports Leader? and I think people in the Bay Area have come to know that if you want to talk Giants, (or Warriors or 49ers) or anything else for that matter dealing with sports, KNBR is the destination. I like to use the analogy that when people think TV sports networks, they think ESPN. When people think search engines, people think Google. And in the San Francisco Bay Area, when people think sports radio, they think KNBR. We?re not just a radio station, we?re a brand." 
 
2. The Ticket Dallas - PD Jeff Catlin
"As you can imagine, its not one answer or one simple thing, or everyone would do it. But the short answer is that it's the talk show hosts/talent, the stability they have had at the station and the relationship each show has been able to build with their audience. There's no barrier between the station's hosts and the listeners--we just happen to have the transmitter. That bond is very strong. One could say that the relationship with the audience is so strong that it leads to lineup stability, or the flip side is that the lineup has been so stable which allows time for that relationship to build. The other thing is that all the shows and show hosts like each other, get along with other, and root for each other for the betterment of the station and to the benefit and entertainment of the audience audience."
3. The "Sports Hub" Boston - PD Mike Thomas
"Here are some of my brief thoughts:
*We were the first FM sports station in Boston.
*We have exceptional talent that have gained the loyal following of Boston sports fans.
*We targeted the younger sports radio fans and they were the early adopters.
*The Bruins and the Patriots are the two hottest teams in town and we are the flagship for both."
4. The Ticket Detroit - PD Jimmy Powers
"There are many variables that I feel make us successful. I think local content that is relevant to the masses is vital.  Not only sports topics, but topics that listeners can relate to or have an opinion on. The topics need to be set up and delivered in a compelling fashion by knowledgeable hosts who are well versed in many areas."
 5. WIP-Philadelphia - PD Andy Bloom
 Andy was on vacation but I know him and he has done such a great job at not only making the transition from AM to FM in Philly, but because of the FM signal now, WIP is able to attract the younger listener because of being on the FM band...but also it doesn't hurt that they are in one of the best Sports Talk radio markets in the country and they are the Sports Radio brand for Philly.
As you can see, there are many reasons that these Sports Talk radio stations have great success. It all begins with great PDs and, of course, the awesome talent these stations have. Together they've made these stations some of the biggest brands in radio today.

They are the Gold Standard of SportsTalk radio, in my humble opinion.

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Craig Named APD At WSRV-FM Atlanta

6-20-13

Cox Media Group Atlanta radio has named 20-year market veteran and midday personality Steve Craig as Assistant Program Director/Music Director at Atlanta?s Classic Hits Station WSRV 97.1 The River. Craig returned to Atlanta after a run as APD and Midday Host at New York City?s WRXP. Prior to that, he was APD/Middays for the entire 17-year history of Atlanta?s legendary Alternative Rock 99X.

?It?s like hitting the lottery, getting someone of Steve?s caliber to join the River,? said WSRV Program Director Dave Clapper. ?His knowledge for music, enthusiasm for the business, and his reputation in Atlanta, makes it a no-brainer for The River. We are so excited to have him as part of our team and look forward to continuing the success of the River with him on board!?

?I?m proud and grateful to be surrounded by the amazing management and talent at Cox Media Group,? said Craig. ?The company culture and programming philosophies are second to none. I?m incredibly excited about working with Clapper and The River team and looking forward to helping exceed the standard we?ve set for engaging rock radio in Atlanta.?

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More Comments on Indecency Filed

6-21-13

Broadcasters are getting their comments on file with the FCC as the Commission prepares to consider possible changes to indecency law. Yesterday, the NAB submitted documents asking the commission to redefine the ancient rules on the books. Today, two more filings include overhauling the rules completely, prompt processing and chilled speech. Greater Media, Journal, Lincoln, Beasley, Entercom and Galaxy join together in a filing HERE. Emmis and Radio One join others in a filing HERE

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Robertson Launches UberStations

6-20-13

Michael Robertson has launched a new online service called UberStations that is similar to the TuneIn business model. Robertson says it's a better way to listen to radio. "Radio is an amazing library of audio, but without a guide it has been a black box with only a tiny peephole for listeners to peer into. UberStations is a new way to listen to Net radio stations and, since most AM/FM stations now broadcast online, it's a new way to experience AM/FM."

One cool feature allows users to select a song or show to listen to, then a "recommendation engine" searches music and shows playing on other AM/FM stations. Up to 20 other stations which may be of interest are displayed along with what is current on those stations. Music listeners can request an unlimited number of recommendations until they find something of interest to listen to. Those selecting a sports, politics, or public radio show will see other related talk shows on at that time they can listen to. Robertson says, "There's a comprehensive guide to radio showing listeners what's playing across the entire radio spectrum. An intuitive player displays and plays every station with a single click. Finally a recommendation engine steers people to music or shows of interest."

Robertson says his product has three industry innovations:
1) See in real-time what's playing on thousands of stations to identify what's of most interest.
2) Jump between thousands of stations in one uniform Web browser experience.
3) Recommendation engine scans 1000s of AM/FM stations directing listeners to interesting music and talk.

The current Web-based service is good for desktop and tablets. A phone app is in the works.

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Clear Channel Execs Pitch Advertisers In France

6-20-13

This week, during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, Clear Channel executives held a special VIP dinner with advertisers as the company continues to pitch advertisers on the unique capabilities of radio. Telling advertisers the story of radio has been a theme of Bob Pittman's ever since he became part of the company. The gathering in France was more than a party as the Clear Channel sales and marketing team held advertiser meetings throughout the week to continue to tell radio's story.

Clear Channel's Bob Pittman, John Hogan, and MediaLink CEO Michael Kassan hosted a party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. fun. and Michael Bubl? ended the evening with a first-time collaboration performance of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman told USA Today, "It was a big, expensive event but it's worth the money. An affair like this allows Clear Channel employees to mingle with clients and potential clients, and gives them the ability to show off our capabilities to do good events."

Guests included Sean "Diddy" Combs; Nas; Ariana Huffington; Kim Armstrong; Desiree Gruber; Ira Barkoff, Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP; Michael Roth, CEO of IPG; and an array of other business leaders and advertising partners.

Pictured here are Peter Gray from Warner Bros Records; Tim Castelli, President of National Sales, Marketing and Partnerships, Clear Channel; John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel; Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms, Clear Channel; artist Michael Bubl?; Bob Pittman, CEO, Clear Channel; John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises, Clear Channel.

(6/21/2013 11:31:25 AM)
Think big and act big and advertisers will look at you the same way. Radio is a big league player! Good for Clear Channel! The entire industry needs to follow this leadership example. It is long overdue.
(6/21/2013 11:31:02 AM)
Think big and act big and advertisers will look at you the same way. Radio is a big league player! Good for Clear Channel! The entire industry needs to follow this leadership example. It is long overdue.
(6/20/2013 9:56:00 AM)
While Clear Channel drowns in $20 Billion of debt, loses $200+ every fiscal quarter, chops employees commissions & salaries and layoffs great people, these Bozos insist on hob-nobbing on the French Riviera - sipping wine and eating cheese - on the company dime. What is wrong with this picture? It seems criminal to me! What a boondoggle: The rest of the company can't even order promotional items because of lack of budget and these guys are flying in Michael Buble to entertain themselves. What a bunch of bullsh#t!!

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WGN Wins Big In Illinois

6-20-13

WGN Radio took top honors at the 2013 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards. For the 6th year in a row, the IBA recognized WGN Radio as the Chicago Market Station of the Year at its annual best-in-state awards ceremony. In addition to being named Chicago Market Station of the Year, WGN Radio also earned first-place honors in five categories:  major market personality for Mike McConnell, best newscast for Judy Pielach, best station website for wgnradio.com, best play-by-play team for Chicago Cubs broadcasters Pat Hughes and Keith Moreland, and best humorous commercial for ?Chicago Food and Wine,? produced by Jason Skaggs.

?It is a great honor to receive the award for Chicago Market Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Association,? said Jimmy de Castro, President/General Manager of WGN Radio. ?To be recognized by our industry peers is a reflection of the tremendous talent and dedication from our staff to continue to provide the quality of programming our community expects from WGN Radio.?

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Stress Management Expert Kelly Orchard

6-19-2013

Kelly Orchard thinks the stress of our biz has made us crazy...the wrong type of crazy.

We've all joked from time to time about the mental state of the radio workforce, yet Kelly feels it's for real. She's currently creating and refining a series of presentations, webinars, and consultations on the issue of stress management, anxiety, and productivity, all in the hope of giving positivity to a mental health perspective.

Kelly Orchard is a second-generation broadcaster who has worked not only with her family's radio stations but also (with her dad) operated an FCC compliance consultancy.

From there came a turn in the road for Kelly. "A few years ago I began a journey to pursue a Master's Degree in Psychology and have been working as a therapist, maintaining Orchard Media Services from the sidelines hoping that the economy will turn around or radio would figure out what it's going to do and so on. I followed the trades, maintained relationships within the industry, even graduated from the NABEF's Broadcast Leadership training program.

"As I continued to consult with stations about their FCC compliance plans, I couldn't help but become extremely aware of the stress, anxiety, and general frustration and discouragement at the state of the industry. I'm on a mission to provide peace of mind, mental wellness tips, and help my friends in the industry because I see it all of the time. I'm a media and mental health advocate."

Kelly not only feels our relationships in the building need work but also our relationship with our audience. She feels that the "take a walk in their shoes" approach is an important process to take a staff through. She equates it to Marriage Counseling 101 and has some questions that a  therapist would tell radio to think about when considering counseling with
the audience:

1) "How much does radio know about an audience on a personal level? Aside from the raw research what do they really want?"

2) "How much does radio identify with the audience? Are you, as in a relationship, compatible?"

3) "What worked in the past? How did the audience first fall in love with radio and what has changed?"

Kelly feels that radio needs to stop chasing audience and that the real work should start within the walls of each and every radio station. She believes there are evidenced-based practices in the mental health therapy  industry that can help and it all starts with positive thinking. "Consider the laws of physics, broadcast engineers love this as do sales managers. Whatever you put out will come back to you. For every action there is an equal reaction."

For Kelly, it's about reconsidering your mindset as you go to work. "If you are thinking negatively and you hate your job and you hate the business, your audience will detect it. Radio won't be able to change the audience perception unless it changes from within."

Buzz Knight is the Vice President of Program Development for Greater Media and he can be reached at bknight@greatermediaboston.com. Knight was named among ?Best Programmers? by Radio Ink Magazine in 2007 and 2010. He has served on the programming subcommittee of the National Association of Broadcasters(NAB) and is currently a member of the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) COLRAM Committee.

If you want to recommend an "Expert in the Wings" reach me at bknight@greatermediaboston.com

(6/19/2013 2:38:42 PM)
An honor to be featured here with some other great "experts"! Would love calls or emails from readers. I can be reached at kelly@orchardmediaservices.com or 760-887-4444

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