May

7

Winter Sports Radio Ratings, Part 7

May 7, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Sports Radio | Leave a Comment

More Winter ‘08 Arbitron ratings for some of the sports radio stations from across the country. The numbers reflect all listeners ages 12 and up…

Cleveland (#28 Radio Market)
WKNR 2.0 (#15 in Market)

Norfolk, VA (#43 Radio Market)
WGH 1.0 (#20 in Market)
WXRG AM/FM 0.9 (22)

Raliegh-Durham (#43 Radio Market)
WRBZ 1.0 (#16 in Market)
WCMC 0.8 (17)

Greensboro, NC (#45 Radio Market)
WBLO 0.4 (#23 in Market)

Richmond, VA (#56 Radio Market)
WRNL 1.3 (#16 in Market)
WXGI 0.9 (17)

Knoxville, TN (#71 Radio Market)
WNML-FM 2.2 (#8 in Market)
WVLZ 0.5 (17)

Ratings courtesy of Station Ratings

May

6

Winter Sports Radio Ratings, Part 6

May 6, 2008 | by Keith | Categories The Rest | Leave a Comment

Here are more ratings numbers from the Winter ‘08 Arbitron ratings book for local sports radio stations from across the country..

Phoenix (#15 Radio Market)
KTAR 2.0 (#19 in Market)
KGME 0.7 (27)

Charlotte, NC (#25 Radio Market)
WFNZ 1.8 (#17 in Market)

Sacramento (#27 Radio Market)
KHTK 3.2 (#12 in Market)

San Antonio (#30 Radio Market)
KTKR 1.3 (#19 in Market)

Nashville (#44 Radio Market)
WGFX 3.3 (#12 in Market)
WNFN 0.9 (20)

Oklahoma City (#48 Radio Market)
WWLS AM/FM 3.5 (#11 in Market)
WKY 0.4 (23)

Memphis (#49 Radio Market)
WHBQ 1.0 (#18 in Market)
KQPN 0.5 (26)

Rochester, NY (#54 Radio Market)
WHTK 1.4 (#15 in Market)

Birmignham, AL (#57 Radio Market)
WJOX 3.2 (#13 in Market)
WSPZ 0.8 (20)

Ratings courtesy of Station Ratings.  Numbers reflect all listeners ages 12 and up.

May

3

More Buzz…Less Angry…Still Half Misguided

May 3, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Internet, Newspapers | Leave a Comment

In case you missed it, Buzz Bissinger talked about blogs again yesterday durng an interview on NPR.

He was a lot more calm in this interview, which was part of a larger discussion focusing on his work chronicling the life of Barbaro.  He said he regretted his tone on the Costas NOW program but is still passionate in his oppositon to blogs.

He mentions on a couple of occasions that not all sports blogs are bad.  That’s a good first step.  He still, however, seems to not understand the purpose of blogs.  He also continues to be confused as to the difference between a post and a comment.

I still agree with Bissinger in that the unintended goal of some sports blogs is to dumb down the level of discourse and to cater to the lowest common denominator.  And sometimes these blogs get the greatest number of hits.  There is a level of “gotcha” reporting on some blogs which can be seen as entertaining, yet damaging to athletes.  Bissenger says these stories sometimes impacts an athlete’s relationship with ALL reporters.

There is an audience for this content.  I don’t want to see it curtailed.  It’s disappointing that many of today’s youth take the juvenile behavior of some of blogs as to be the authority in sports coverage.  Many of us can see the difference.  Many others do not.  It’s this credibility that Bissenger, and I, feel is of concern when it comes to the future of sports journalism.

May

3

Winter Sports Radio Ratings, Part 5

May 3, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Sports Radio | Leave a Comment

Here are more local sports radio ratings from the Arbitron Winter ‘08 ratings period. The numbers reflect all audiences ages 12 and up:

Atlanta (#8 Radio Market)
WCNN 1.5 (#23 in Market)
WQXI 1.0 (25)

Miami (#12 Radio Market)
WQAM 1.6 (#22 in Market)
WAXY 1.0 (26)

Seattle (#14 Radio Market)
KJR 2.1 (#19 in Market)

Tampa (#19 Radio Market)
WDAE 3.0 (#13 in Market)

Kansas City (#32 Radio Market)
WHB 3.6 (#13 in Market)
KCSP 1.3 (20)

Milwaukee (#36 Radio Market)
WSSP 0.6 (#24 in Market)
WAUK 0.6 (24)

Columbus OH (#37 Radio Market)
WBNS 2.1 (#15 in Market)

Numbers courtesy of Station Ratings.

May

2

What They’re Saying, May 2, 2008

May 2, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Internet, Newspapers | Leave a Comment

Sports media columnists from across the US are writing some fresh material this Friday.  Let’s get a sampling…

In New York, Neil Best at Newsday starts his weekly notes mentioning Tuesday night’s Costas NOW program to point out how journalists have lost some of their responsibility.

Bob Raissman at the NY Daily News has a piece on Yankee Manager Joe Girardi’s attempt to control the media.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has his take on Costas NOW.

Tom Hoffarth at the LA Daily News has a piece on boxing and free TV.  Here’s more from Hoffarth on his blog.

Michael Hiestand at USA Today has a TV preview of the Kentucky Derby on NBC.

So too does John Schiebe at the LA Times

And Nancy Marrapese-Burrell in the Boston Globe.

And Jim Carlisle at the Ventura County Star .

And John Maffei at the North County Times.

And Ray Frager at the Baltimore Sun.

Elsewhere in Boston, Jessica Helsam at the Boston Herald has the story of WBZ’s Bob Lobel’s farewell.

Back to the LA Times, Bill Plaschke talks to Vin Scully about his future.

Teddy Greenstein at the Chicago Tribune has news of the Windy City sports radio ratings.

May

1

Winter Sports Radio Ratings, Part 4

May 1, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Sports Radio, The Rest | Leave a Comment

More sports radio ratings from the Arbitron Winter ‘08 ratings period…

Dallas-Fort Worth (#5 Radio Market)
KTCK/KTDK 2.6 (#11 in Market)
KESN 1.7 (22)

Minneapolis (#16 Radio Market)
KFAN 2.8 (#13 in Market)

Denver (#22 Radio Market)
KKFN AM/FM 2.8 (#14 in Market)

Pittsburgh (#24 Radio Market)
WEAE 1.6 (#16 in Market)

Cincinnati, OH (#29 Radio Market)
WCKY 1.4 (#16 in Market)
WSAI 0.5 (29)

Buffalo (#52 Radio Market)
WGR 4.8 (#8 in Market)

Numbers courtesy of Station Ratings.  The ratings measure all audiences ages 12 and up.

May

1

Winter Sports Radio Ratings, Part 3

May 1, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Sports Radio | Leave a Comment

Here are more Winter ‘08 Arbitron ratings of some of the sports radio stations from around the country. The ratings measure all audiences ages 12 and up…

San Francisco (#4 Radio Market)
KNBR 2.2 (#13 in Market)

Washington DC (#9 Radio Market)
WTEM 1.3 (#18 in Market)
WWXX/WWXT/WXTR 0.7 (23)

St. Louis (#20 Radio Market)
KFNS AM-FM 1.4 (#21 in Market)
KSLG 0.7 (23)

Baltimore, MD (#21 in Radio Market)
WJFK 1.0 (#21 in Market)
WNST 0.4 (#32 in Market)

Arbitron numbers courtesy of Station Ratings

Apr

30

A Few Angry Reporters…and Bloggers

April 30, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Internet, Newspapers, Sports Radio | Leave a Comment

I finally had a chance to view last night’s Costas NOW telecast on the state of sports media. My reaction is that, overall, the program did a good job in trying to explore the evolution the media has undertaken in our sports lives.

Costas and crew were spot on when it comes to the negativity on sports radio. Jay Mariotti is right that much of sports radio is “low brow” and “mindless” and caters to the lowest common denominator. And when it comes to “guy radio”, I could not agree more that it has no place in sports. WSCR’s Mike North is correct that guys at a bar talk about more than just sports…But Mike, you’re not in a bar! Stick to sports please. The use of T&A just shows a level of childishness and points to the possibility that some talk show hosts lack the capability to talk sports for an extended period of time.

Now on to Buzz vs. Will. I agree with so much both had to say it’s scary. Will, and others who responded today, are correct in saying bloggers are offering an alternative to typical sports news. Unlike the opinion of Michael Wilbon, it doesn’t matter that one has training in journalism to express his or her opinion on a game. Keep those thoughts coming! Yea First Amendment!

I do also agree with Buzz that if some of those bloggers are the future of sports journalism, there is cause for concern. Too much of what is being written by some bloggers is being accepted as fact. As much as we want to give our readers the benefit of the doubt that they understand what they’re reading, many do take some of what we write as gospel. The level of mean spiritedness and vulgarity in some writing does nothing in raising the level of discourse in sports discussion. It’s more dumbing down of the audience. It’s not needed.

There is no doubt Buzz and others in the mainstream media appear jealous or threatened by bloggers. I have no idea why. Their level of professionalism will always win out when fans are seeking hardcore information. Some bloggers say they don’t want access to the press box and athletes. That’s fine. Then don’t come off as being more than what you are, just guys and gals with an opinion. If you treat yourselves as journalists, then I fear for the future of the profession.

Buzz and his ilk need to embrace the changing sports media landscape. There soon will be no more newspapers, just media organizations sharing information over multiple platforms. The sooner these reporters get that, the sooner they will realize their craft has a future.

A couple of last points on the show…I agree with the TV guys that the perception that they are afraid to delve into delicate topics because of the business relationships their networks have with sports leagues is just that…perception. Not reality.

I also agree with the athletes who say they don’t trust the media that cover them. You can blame sports radio negativity and the “gotcha” of some sports bloggers for that way of thinking.

The reaction to the Costas NOW program has been telling indeed. I want bloggers to answer this question…Why do you care what the mainstream media says about you? You pride yourself on being independent thinkers and trail blazers. You have no need for those who work in the press box. So why do you get your underwear is such a bunch when they criticize you?

I think I know why. Because some bloggers, especially those who are successful today, are still kids. They have not grown-up. They do not have the real life experiences that many of us face in the professional world. Some of them probably grew up with little responsibility and had many of their needs met with the help of others. You can read this in some their posts every day.

If you read the responses on the Costas NOW show from some in the blogsphere you can hear that they can’t handle the criticism. A few of these guys I like…but they come off as spoiled brats. I will link a few…but a word of caution… some of these posts are not suitable for all eyes.

Awuful Announcing
Kissing Suzy Kolber
Every Day Should be Saturday
The Sporting Blog

Unfortunately what you read above fuels the fire of perception that some bloggers do not deserve the level of credibility they seek.  And you know what, I agree.

To sum up…both mainstream reporters and bloggers need to chill out. And we as customers of sports media need to practice caveat lector…let the reader beware.

Apr

30

Costas NOW Backlash

April 30, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Internet, Newspapers, Sports Radio | Leave a Comment

I have read quite a bit this morning about the last night’s Cosats NOW town hall telecast on the status of sports media.  I will chime in as soon as I see it…

One snap judgement based on what I’ve read online today…everyone needs to chill out! 

More after I see the program…

Apr

30

Winter Sports Radio Ratings, Part 2

April 30, 2008 | by Keith | Categories Sports Radio | Leave a Comment

Here are more ratings of sports radio stations from across the US based on the recently completed, Winter ‘08 Arbitron ratings period…

Boston (#10 Radio Market)
WEEI AM/FM 5.7 aggregate (#5 in Market)

Detroit (#11 Radio Market)
WXYT AM/FM aggregate 2.5 (#19 in Market)
WDFN 1.1 (22)

San Diego (#17 Radio Market)
XEPRS 1.8 (#21 in Market)

Hartford, CT (#50 Radio Market)
WPOP 1.1 (#17 in Market)

Allentown, PA (#68 Radio Market)
WEEX/WTKZ 0.9 (#17 in Market)

Akron OH (#74 Radio Market
WKNR 2.2 (#16 in Market)

Some notes…WEEI’s numbers remain phenomenal, by far the highest in the country.  Their 25-54 demo must be enormous.  How dominant are they?  There is another sports radio station in Boston (WAMG).  They didn’t even register in the ratings (12 +).

WFAN in New York shows up in the Hartford and Allentown markets.  In fact they out rate WPOP in Hartford. 

WKNR is actually the ESPN Radio affiliate in Cleveland.

The ratings you see are all listeners ages 12 and up.  Thanks to Station Ratings for the numbers.






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