Listener chimes in on AM radio

The Big Ear · Post by **The Big Ear** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:55 am

From the amateur cheap seats... from a Huntington AM radio listening perspective, several random thoughts - it would be interesting to hear from the pros.

Really this is more about what's on than anything... what is offered.

-Reds instead of Rush on 800 on day games. I could go either way. You can still get Rush on the web, although if I'm in the car where I do most of my radio listening, I'm hosed. Not that many day games, but this election is scorching hot too... so I'm 50-50 on that move. Then again you have Beck and Hannity either side of a Reds game so I guess that's cool. If they play even half way decent I see the logic in it.

-I am glad that we have ESPN radio on 930 as a choice over politics sometimes. Nothing against 800 at all, it's just a mental thing. Sometimes you need mindless fun in sports vs. politics. However, I was looking for a Masters update Sunday and instead we get Freddie Coleman with some kind of Best of ESPN Pod-Casts show... literally a summary of the "best stuff" from the web site podcasts. Their choice as #1 this week? An indoor football podcast. The young host interviews some coach and says, "Your guyses wide receivers are great..." now I know why it's a podcast. Ugh. Never did hear the Masters Update until I got home and got to the Golf Channel.

I'm 50-50 on WV Power games. That's really a Charleston thing. But you could consider it "local." Kind of a wash there since the only other counter to Reds most nights would be ESPN which gives you sports vs. sports. As a listener I don't feel like I'm missing anything either way. Local is good in terms of service but I'm more interested in the Reds.

-Costas on Sundays? I like that.

-Jerry Doyle vs Rollye? I like that. She's definitely all about the craft of radio, and her radio stories are great, but after that she gives callers too much leeway, etc. So far I like Doyle.

I have to admit that I really only need 2 AM presets around Huntington. I used to catch a bit of Sporting News Radio when it was on those 3 stations... are they still on? Tony Bruno still on? He's fun to listen to in small doses. I say lack of signal strength kills the other stations around here. Too bad. In the age of MP3 and HD radio, I think AM still has some appeal.

Overall for only two main AM stations, I think there's a lot of choice.

Thoughts?

Cameron · Post by **Cameron** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:26 am

ESPN Radio SportsCenter reporter Dan Davis presented updates from Augusta National Golf Club throughout the Masters Tournament April 10-13. Davis provided hourly, drive-time updates (3:40 p.m.-8:40 p.m.) during the first two rounds Thursday and Friday, April 10 - 11. For the third and final rounds, Davis presented updates at 20 and 40 minutes after the hour (1:20 p.m. - 8:40 p.m.).

That was the "live" content. All SportsCenters (Every 20 minutes starting at the top-of-the-hour) had the standings beyond that.

ESPN Radio promoted the hell out of it on air.

The Shadow · Post by **The Shadow** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:11 am

I think I've heard Sporting News on a station somewhere in the tri-state. I think it's on 1520 or something like that. I'm not too familiar with the station, but it seems pretty strong during the day in most of the area.

SHADOW · Post by **SHADOW** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:42 am

What the.....?

Cameron · Post by **Cameron** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:04 am

Dusting off the ol' field-strength meter in Huntington:

800 - 270mVm
1340 - 3.7mVm
1470 - 100mVm
1420 - 10mVm
1520 - 1.6mVm

genlock · Post by **genlock** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:21 am

Hoosier Daddy · Post by **Hoosier Daddy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:43 pm

genlock wrote:930?

Secret.

Cameron · Post by **Cameron** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:55 pm

genlock wrote:930?

...measurement available after new transmitter is installed in 2 weeks.

(The backup with the glowing firebottles is holding its own, though).

genlock · Post by **genlock** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:11 pm

New transmitter?

What kind?

Can I see it?

Big Dawg · Post by **Big Dawg** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:11 pm

I cannot provide you any insight on Huntington AM's, just what I do on the AM in Morgantown. We don't bump Rush for daytime Pirate games. We did in the 90's, but the complaint calls from Rush fans far outnumbered the complaint calls that the Pirates weren't on the air.
Interesting that you mentioned Masters coverage. I hadn't done much with it in the past, but figured since we're starting "Tee-To-Green", the Metronews golf show with Fred Persinger tonight, I aired "Masters Today" from Westwood One Thursday through Sunday nights 11pm-11:30am, 3 minute updates, 1 per hour 1pm-4pm Saturday (Pirates Sunday afternoon) and live coverage Saturday and Sunday afternoon 4-7pm. I did this all mainly because I could automate the programs with WWI tones and our SS32.
We are also airing WVU Baseball games, which doesn't necessarily equate with airing the Power, because we're the only ones carrying WVU while several stations carry the Power.
Incidentally, we're carrying a football scrimmage this Saturday. The WVU Gold/Blue game, but it's what we do.

The Big Ear · Post by **The Big Ear** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:10 am

Cameron, I was listening at about 8pm-ish on Sun to ESPN specifically for the Duke's updates because the tournament was ending. I didn't last until 20 after with the Podcast show. Maybe it was a filler. The ESPN suits will probably nix that one.

And thanks for the power readings for the stations. I can see why you can't really haul in many but the main two. I have an old radio receiver setup with a large antenna in the attic that was installed in my house when it was built some 25-30 years ago. Very analog and you can get 700 WLW very well even in the day and at night it's amazing. Sadly, it's hooked to a Mike & Carol Brady style full-house intercom type system so you'd have to blare it across the whole house and at night that won't fly with sleeping family members. There's no speaker at the control panel... you just hear it from all of these other room speakers built in the walls. When you pull open the control panel there are about 3,000 tiny wires in there. It still works... it's just too large to rip out of the wall at small expense. The local AM stations of course sound like you're IN the studio and are decent strength at night on that receiver.

As for baseball... gotta love a game on radio when driving around just to kill time... unfortunately neither the Power or Reds are doing much right now. Is the Logan FM still doing Braves games? Sorry OT...that's FM!

Edit: Hey Dawg... isn't spring football strange as far as airing the "game?" Maybe this year with the new coach it's interesting, but my team vs my team is always a tough program. But you're right... it's what you do. Diehard fans expect it. From a casual fan perspective I'd probably rather hear NFL draft breakdowns or some MRN or something like that. Now REAL games... can't stop listening!

Big Dawg · Post by **Big Dawg** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:24 am

The Big Ear wrote:
Edit: Hey Dawg... isn't spring football strange as far as airing the "game?" Maybe this year with the new coach it's interesting, but my team vs my team is always a tough program. But you're right... it's what you do. Diehard fans expect it. From a casual fan perspective I'd probably rather hear NFL draft breakdowns or some MRN or something like that. Now REAL games... can't stop listening!

I think the broadcast is more like a Sportsline Show "live on location" in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. Then we go right into WVU Baseball, so I guess it's a good radio doubleheader for WVU's athletic supporters

Chris Lawrence · Post by **Chris Lawrence** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:25 am

We put the Reds during the day over on ESPN 1490, so long as they don't conflict with the Power. I always wondered how many people actually follow the Power on the radio--we promote the heck out of it, and apparently it's paying off. Yesterday (and I admit this sounds vague) somebody, somewhere in this building, switched a setting for some unknown reason. Turns out that change caused a long dormant connection from about three rewirings ago to put one of the newsroom editing boards on the board feeding the power. People were calling like CRAZY. I was pleased to hear that people called (not pleased by the phantom mistake), but at least the constant promotion and cross-promotion is working.

herdgirl72 · Post by **herdgirl72** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:42 am

When we broadcast our spring game, Woody treats it like a full fledged game as much as he can. I was on the sidelines last year interviewing "celebrities" etc.
The format is much looser than a regular game so there is more time for things like that.

Chris Lawrence · Post by **Chris Lawrence** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:51 am

Coach Rod used to go up in the stands and let fans call the plays during the spring game. I'm pretty sure that was the formula he used for the Pitt game last fall too!!!!!!

Cameron · Post by **Cameron** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:38 am

Chris Lawrence wrote:Coach Rod used to go up in the stands and let fans call the plays during the spring game. I'm pretty sure that was the formula he used for the Pitt game last fall too!!!!!!

I heard he was up there to keep a closer eye on the "collection basket".

Dave Allen · Post by **Dave Allen** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:00 am

We run the braves, then broadcast the Reds on a non-compete basis. 'Course so far this season both the Reds and The Braves have been on a non-compete basis with the other teams.

Furthermore, I have video proof that Chris Lawrence sleeps with goats.

'Just Sayin'

EZ103.3FM · Post by **EZ103.3FM** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:37 am

Chris Lawrence wrote:Coach Rod used to go up in the stands and let fans call the plays during the spring game. I'm pretty sure that was the formula he used for the Pitt game last fall too!!!!!!

Who was he letting call the plays - the Pitt fans?

EZ103.3FM · Post by **EZ103.3FM** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:41 am

I don't know if the Power games will be on 930 in Huntington or not this year, but in the past if they came on 930 I turned to something else immediately. I'm not interested in listening to a Charleston team's games, no matter what their name is.....

Now that I have my Pioneer Inno and listen to XM it's a moot point. I can listen to ESPN Radio no matter what 930 has on.

Dr. Whiplash · Post by **Dr. Whiplash** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:18 pm

The Big Ear wrote:Reds in the afternoons...You can still get Rush on the web, although if I'm in the car where I do most of my radio listening, I'm hosed...Thoughts?

Two suggestions: a better car radio or simply an AM car antenna upgrade - check http://www.ccrane.com.

Haven't been in Huntington for a while but I'm thinking Rush should be available on WKRC 550, WCHS 580, WTVN 610, and WLAP 630. Here in Parkersburg-Marietta, I can get all those except WLAP plus WKBN 570 Youngstown, WHLO 640 Akron, and WWVA 1170 Wheeling.

Rush Limbaugh is on almost every good AM signal in the entire region. Damn.

WVBROADCASTING.NET

Listener chimes in on AM radio

Listener chimes in on AM radio

Re: Listener chimes in on AM radio