Sports Radio News
Lance Zierlein – SportsTalk 790
Published
10 years agoon
In the city of Houston there certainly isn’t a problem when it comes to finding an entertaining sports morning show to listen to. “The Proper Gentlemen of Sports” features Lance Zierlein and Adam Clanton and together they’ve been patrolling the airwaves of SportsTalk 790 since August 2013. In less than 1 year the show has experienced strong ratings growth including holding the #1 spot during the February 2014 book. For Zierlein it was the 4th time in his career that he’s had the highest rated morning show in the Houston market, a feat even more impressive when you take into account that he’s done it at 3 different stations.
When I’ve listened to Lance in the past there were a number of things that stood out that I believe make him successful at what he does. First and foremost, he’s got a passion and understanding of the NFL that’s impossible to ignore. Having grown up in a football family with a father who’s coached for over 30 seasons in college and the NFL, it’s easy to see why football is a big part of his life and a strong focus on his show. Read his website The Sideline View and you’ll see just how much time and effort he puts into studying the pro and college game. Now combine that football obsession with a fan base which cares deeply about the Houston Texans and you’ve got a winning combination.
Secondly, his quick wit and ability to be a natural smart ass makes listeners react both positively and negatively and that shows an ability to stir emotions and connect with an audience. On one particular day I listened in as Lance and Adam presented what they titled “The PGS Programming Survey” where listeners could call up and discuss what they loved or hated about the show and sports talk radio and after hearing one caller explain how he wanted less entertainment on the show and more “hot takes”, Lance and Adam instantly flipped the switch and turned into wide world of sports-like anchors delivering a very old-school style presentation that would bore today’s audience to tears. It was laugh out loud funny and it’s that type of quick thinking and ability to have fun on the air that keeps Lance’s audience engaged and curious. To hear it click here.
Last but not least, Lance is not afraid to take a stand and deliver some riveting rants (click here for his passionate rant last season on the Texans) yet he’s also quick to feed off the energy of the room and break into one of his many known characters and leave the room in stitches. His impressions of Jon Gruden, Wade Phillips and Phillip Rivers are outstanding and he’s also a master at creating characters such as the SEC guy and Communist News Network Spokesperson among others. Check out this video and you’ll get a better idea of how Lance brings his Wade Phillips impersonation into the on-air discussion.
I had the pleasure recently of reconnecting with Lance and we discussed his approach to entertaining, how he determines what’s most important to his audience and some areas of his game that he believes can still get better. Enjoy!
Q: If I asked a Houston sports radio listener to sum up the “Proper Gentlemen of Sports” by using 3 buzz words what would they be?
A: Entertaining, Energetic and Unique
Q: How do you determine which content gets featured the most on the show? Is there any research you use that supports why you go in a certain direction?
A: We visit with our PD and he’s able to monitor which show topics hit nerves with listeners through our PPM trends. By tracking individual shows – especially the ones that have seen spikes – we’re able to trust in the data and have a greater understanding of what hits with listeners in terms of “A” topics. As for the “B” topics – which are often the differentiators in ratings success if you do those topics well, they come from show prep on a variety of non-mainstream sites (Deadspin, Big Lead, etc.) and they’ll make their way onto the show when things start slowing down.
Q: When you listen to other local or national sports radio shows what draws you in and what sends you away?
A: What draws me in is spirited debate between the hosts or topics/angles that are unique. What drives me away is mindless topics that make me feel like the hosts are putting it on cruise control or when hosts have bad chemistry. If what I hear on the radio doesn’t sound like a conversation or banter I might hear between two or three people in a sports bar or sitting on a couch in someone’s living room, then I probably won’t stay for very long.
Q: What is the most difficult part of your job?
A: I think one of the most difficult issues that I deal with is remembering that topics aren’t old to listeners just because I’m getting bored with them. Listeners are joining my show for the first time that day throughout the morning so staying disciplined and making sure to continue to hit the primary topics is something that can still be difficult. If I’m getting bored with a topic, I have to be able to either find a new angle to the topic, or come up with a segment that allows me to have fun and be creative before getting back to headliners. It’s like having my own recess but in the middle of a segment.
Q: How often do aircheck yourself or listen to audio with your PD or show unit?
A: I don’t aircheck myself as often as I used to. When my PD airchecks us after the show, it is usually not a good thing because that means he’s getting ready to make a point. I think airchecks are essential in the formative years for a host and they were very helpful for me at that time. To be honest, I should probably do it more often than I do right now.
Q: Over the years you’ve developed a ton of characters and included them in your show and they seem to have connected well with your audience. What is the hardest part about creating a character and what advice would you give to someone who’s trying to add that type of creativity and fun into their show?
A: The hardest part about creating a character is finding the right voice and personality for the character that will allow the character to become memorable for listeners. I also feel like it is important to create quirky characters with over-the-top personality traits so that layers can be added to the character and storylines can be fleshed out. When listeners feel like they are “in on” the bits, they become more loyal listeners. These characters become something they can share with their friends either over the phone (‘hey did you hear what happened on the show today?’) or via podcast links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjf_skDzbmA
Q: How often do you involve characters in your show and how do you decide what’s enough, not enough and/or too much on the show?
A: I like to let the character involvement happen organically. I don’t like to be forced into doing the characters or I feel like it becomes more forced than fun. I will be doing SEC Guy or Gruden or Philip Rivers during the football season but will only bring them out on rare occasions outside of football. Often, I will just see an opening for a character to call in and I will literally dial the hotline on my cell phone as I’m leaving the studio towards the hall. I’ll conduct my call from the hall and then hang up and jump back onto the show. Program directors and other hosts have wanted me to do these character much more frequently but I try to be cognizant of not doing them to death and over-saturating the listener.
Q: Having ascended to #1 in the ratings in your time slot, what are you doing different today then you were doing 5 years earlier that’s helped you have success?
A: I was #1 in my time slot five years earlier at another station so I will change the question. What am I doing differently now than two years ago? I would say the key to my ratings re-emergence has been getting back to doing unpredictable, entertaining radio. There is an artificial ceiling on shows that follow the same script and formula each day. Once I decided to take the lead and trust my own instincts and talent rather than trying to just blend in and do what others were doing, it all clicked for me once again. Your advice to take the lead played a big role in the way I started approaching the show. I’ve always done fun, memorable shows that rated well but I got into a funk for about 3 years and was being bounced from show to show and I’m finally locking in on doing what I do best once again.
Q: Having established a strong brand in your market, which area of your game do you believe still needs improvement and how can your PD, Producer and Co-Host help you in the process?
A: There is no question that my interviewing skills need so much more work despite the time I’ve put in on the radio. I can ask good questions and I can transition from topic to topic effectively with a guest but I take entirely too long to ask the questions sometimes. The best way a PD could help me is to simply pull an aircheck of when he hears me going long with questions.
To learn more about Lance’s morning show on SportsTalk 790 in Houston click here. You can also discover more information about Lance himself by checking out his website The Sideline View or by reading up on his wikipedia page.
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
3 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
3 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
23 hours 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.