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Under The Radar – October 2, 2017

Jason Barrett

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There’s been a lot happening across the sports media universe over the past two weeks. The items you may have missed are laid out below. A reminder, if you have news to share that’s related to your brand or personal career, please pass it along via email to [email protected]. Now here’s the latest developments.

Congratulations to CBS Sports Radio’s Jim Rome. The leader of the clones called upon his passionate audience last week to help lift the show’s podcast to the top of the iTunes charts. Rome promised to make Friday’s radio show special by featuring some classic moments and guests and creating some unique segments and the trick worked as the clones got behind it using the hashtag #Romeageddon leading it to the top spot. To hear how Rome paid off the audience with Friday’s show click here.

One of the bigger sports radio mysteries is unfolding in Seattle where Mitch Levy has been off the airwaves of Sports Radio KJR following his arrest in a local prostitution sting. The radio station has re-branded morning drive as The Morning Show and has scrubbed Levy’s image off of its website but no statement has been made about Levy’s future. Sources say it’s unlikely the longtime Seattle morning host will be retained by KJR and a confirmation about the station’s morning plans are expected soon, but for now, listeners are left to speculate.

A tip of the cap to Bill Daughtry who recently announced his retirement from the New York sports radio airwaves. Daughtry spent the past 11 years with 98.7 FM ESPN New York but also worked for WFAN and MSG. Altogether he spent more than four decades informing and interacting with audiences. His warm personality and infectious energy will be sorely missed. To hear Daughtry’s final appearance on the Michael Kay show click here.

ESPN Radio deserves credit for recognizing one of its valuable longtime behind the scenes members. Liam Chapman, who has served as a producer on a number of programs including Mike and Mike, has been elevated to the position of Program Director. The promotion means Chapman will spend even more time in the future alongside former studio mate Justin Craig helping enhance the network’s on-air content and execution.

With one moving up in Bristol, another is moving out. Thomas Carroll has announced he’s leaving ESPN Radio after a little more than two years to return to Boston as a producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Carroll will work primarily with Celtics and Bruins broadcasts and also have a hand in weekend programming.

San Diego sports radio host Lee Hamilton has returned to the airwaves of The Mighty 1090. The market veteran is joining Scott and BR weekdays at 5pm to recreate his popular segment, “The Best 15 Minutes in Radio.” Hamilton spent a total of 26 years hosting radio shows in San Diego.

Changes are taking place at 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma City. The radio station has parted ways with its midday show, “The G-Men”, which had been hosted by Erik Gee and Anthony Fogle. The Franchise hasn’t yet revealed which show will be occupying the schedule going forward but an announcement should be coming soon.

Following the death of AM 1300 The Zone sports radio personality Sean Adams, a memorial fund has been set up for listeners and industry folks to make donations to help provide financial aid to African-American students seeking to attend college with one key reminder – The dream is free. The hustle is sold separately. Go to work. To pledge your support to The Sean Adams Memorial Fund click here.

Another industry member is also in need of support. WBBL program director Dave Jaconette suffered a stroke in June and is still in rehab and needing help with medical bills. To donate and help out the Grand Rapids radio man click here.

Good news has come to Brendan Gulick. Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan has hired Gulick to serve as an update anchor and deliver sports updates on the radio station. Gulick officially started working for the station last week.

102.9/750 The Game in Portland continues its search for an afternoon drive host. This week FOX Sports Radio host Brian Noe steps in Tuesday-Friday.

Former ESPN 730 in Charlotte host Lanny Ford has resurfaced on the North Carolina sports radio airwaves. Ford has teamed up with David Keever to host “The Bottom Line”, a one-hour program airing weekdays from 8a-9a ET on Sports Radio 1350AM in Asheville, North Carolina.

Marc Ryan is expanding his horizons and hoping to use his ability to educate listeners to do the same for students. The Sports Radio 610 part-time host has added the role of High School Media Teacher at Sam Rayburn High School. Ryan is in charge of the TV show for the school “Planet Rayburn” and is also teaching a graphics and animation class.

It looks like the Chicago Bears will be sticking around for a while on CBS Radio’s WBBM. The radio station has confirmed a new multi-year deal has been reached with the NFL franchise to continue airing its games on Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM.

The Bears aren’t the only team to sign a new agreement. The Indiana Pacers have also inked a renewal with their radio partner 107.5 and 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis. The NBA franchise has aired on Emmis radio stations for the past 22 seasons (Emmis owns The Fan). Terms of the renewal weren’t disclosed but longtime play by play voice Mark Boyle will return for his 30th season behind the mic as part of the new deal.

In Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic announced an extension of its partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers. The two sides have struck a new multiyear agreement to keep 76ers games airing on the radio station for the foreseeable future. As part of the extension, play by play voice Tom McGinnis returns for his 23rd season.

Pittsburgh Penguins radio voice Mike Lange has announced he’s cutting back on his schedule this season. Lange plans to call all of the Pens home games and roughly 15 road games. He will also handle all playoff contests should the Pens advance to the postseason. Josh Getzoff will step in to call the games Lange isn’t available to work.

On the national front, Westwood One Sports has been utilizing Ted Emrich to call a few college football games. Emrich has worked the USC-Washington State and Colorado-Washington games and is scheduled for the upcoming Wisconsin-Nebraska game as well.

vSporto is busy creating new podcasts. Their latest project is The Family Huddle featuring Calais Campbell, Jared Campbell and Josh Barnes. To familiarize yourself with the program click here.

Kansas City sports radio producer and on-air contributor Ben Heisler has taken on a side project hosting the Awful Announcing podcast. Heisler’s first episode included a conversation with Brent Musburger. To hear it click here.

Moving to Raleigh, 99.9 The Fan has created a cool new video series called Drive Thru Takes featuring on-air hosts Joe Ovies and Lauren Brownlow. To watch the latest episode click here.

A little further south in Tampa, WDAE‘s Len Martez has taken the plunge into the podcast arena. The sports radio host has created the Monday Morning Extra Point podcast which focuses strictly on the NFL. To hear it click here.

Sticking with podcasts, Entourage member Jerry Ferrara has taped a new episode of “Bad 4 Business” and CBS Sports Radio afternoon host Brandon Tierney appears on the latest installment. The two Brooklyn natives spent over 90 minutes talking about sports, life and a variety of other topics. To hear it click here.

A tip of the cap to The Reelish Media Group which chronicled Kate Scott‘s first football play by play broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. To watch it click here.

An edition of UTR wouldn’t be complete without details of a new addition at The Athletic. The latest names to join the upstart sports website include legendary baseball writer and reporter Peter Gammons and Darnell Mayberry. Gammons has been added to contribute to the website’s major league baseball coverage. Mayberry has agreed to work for the outlet’s Chicago division covering the Chicago Bulls.

After 9 years as the Puck Daddy editor for Yahoo Sports, Greg Wyshysnki has announced he’s leaving the company for a new challenge. Details about his next move will be revealed soon.

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Advertising Strategy for 24/7 Businesses

With lower ad costs aimed at the audience who makes staying open late worth it, you can be ringing in the profits on the night shift.

Jeff Caves

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Graphic for a business sign "Open 24 Hours"

If you have prospects who are open for business between Midnight and 5 am, why not have them make it worthwhile and help them develop an advertising strategy? They might be surprised how inexpensive it can be.

Many companies operate 24/7:

– Convenience stores, gas stations, and truck stops.

– Fast food chains like Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, and McDonalds.

– Hospitals and Emergency Care clinics.

– Hotels, motels, and grocery stores.

– Airports, bus depots, and cabs.

With an effective marketing strategy, “it’s gonna be all right on the night shift.” Here are some insights and tips to give these prospects to help them attract and retain customers to their 24/7 business:

Understand the Night Owl

At night, customers seeking services or products often prioritize convenience, speed, and availability. Sometimes, price isn’t the controlling factor, nor is it even the best quality they seek. Make offers and go to market with these needs to better cater to your target audience and keep them returning for more.

Advertise: Digital Billboards

Digital billboards are great for visibility, especially at night when there’s less competition for attention. Consider strategically placing advertisements along busy freeways or nightlife hotspots to capture the attention of passersby and promote your business’s offerings and operating hours. If you can buy :15 ads on Times Square in NYC for $40, you may be shocked at what you will pay locally for rotating ads from Midnight to 5 am. 

Radio Ads on the Cheap

Radio is a powerful medium for reaching customers during the late-night hours. Larry King was America’s most listened-to-talk radio program in the late 80’s. For 16 years, he broadcast live between Midnight and 5:30 am from coast to coast. Select radio stations with programming tailored to your target audience’s preferences and air ads during peak nighttime listening hours. Pop music stations for night clubbers at 2 am or News Talk for late-night drivers wanting to stay engaged. Give incentives to overnight listeners to visit your business NOW. While the audience may only be 10% of the daytime crowd, so are the prices. And let’s face it, if they are driving and listening to the radio, that’s your #1 prospect! Expect rates at most stations under $25 per commercial in major cities and less in other areas. Promote late-night specials, highlighting convenience and speed of service. If you are a hospital, airport, or bus company, brand your business with the overnighters, reminding them you are open when they need you.

Mobile Digital Advertising

Target potential customers in the vicinity of your business during late-night hours. Use geotargeting to deliver ads to mobile phone users in high-traffic areas like concerts, ballgames, or nightlife districts. Drive foot traffic right through your front door. Promote time-sensitive offers or exclusive late-night deals through mobile ads. Don’t expect a price break, though, when purchasing them.

Easily Monitoring KPI’s

Regularly monitor the performance of your efforts and adjust as needed. Your late-night business is probably way less than daytime, and tracking key metrics such as foot traffic, sales, and customer feedback will be easier. If an offer is working on your radio campaign, look into buying more stations and cut back on areas that don’t work. Apply the 70-20-10 rule to your ad budget.

With lower ad costs aimed at the audience who makes staying open late worth it, you can be ringing in the profits on the night shift.

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Todd Walsh on Arizona Coyotes Sale, Relocation to Utah: ‘This Didn’t Have to Happen’

“My fear all along going into this for the last few years was at some point, someone’s going to walk up to a microphone in front of a bunch of cameras and say, ‘We did everything that we could,’ and I have a feeling we’re going to hear that.”

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Todd Walsh
Courtesy: Nicki Escudero

The National Hockey League Board of Governors has approved the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City, Utah, establishing a new NHL franchise under the ownership of Smith Entertainment Group. Hockey assets within the Coyotes organization will be transferred to the new team, which will play its games at Delta Center, the home of the Utah Jazz. The Coyotes concluded the 2023-24 NHL season on Wednesday night from Mullet Arena and defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2. After the game ended, Coyotes studio host Todd Walsh anchored postgame coverage and concluded the broadcast with a heartfelt message to the Coyotes fans on the Scripps Sports broadcast.

Within his prose, Walsh explained what the Coyotes meant to him and the special bond shared among those who consider themselves members of the hockey community. He discussed how people were there for him when he lost his parents and uplifted him in difficult times. To close his message, Walsh stated to viewers that they all “walk together forever as Coyote fans,” advancing a well-known hockey quote, “Win today and we walk together forever,” from Fred Shero, former head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Although the Coyotes were never able to attain a Stanley Cup championship, the organization provided plenty of memorable moments on the ice and developed players who made a lasting impact on the sport. Shane Doan, Dale Hawerchuk, Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk are just some of the players who energized hockey in the desert over the last 26 seasons. Walsh joined Bickley & Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 on Wednesday to elaborate on his emotions surrounding the situation.

“As I said, I’ve been sort of preparing for this moment, but I never thought it would be when the team was turning out the lights after we were done with our broadcast and leaving town,” Walsh said, “but I just wanted to speak from the heart and I wanted to thank the game and acknowledge briefly somehow, someway the people in it, because if you’ve been around this sport even a minute, I think you start to understand [and] realize that there’s nothing quite like the sport of hockey and the people in it and the great reverence that they have for anyone who puts time into the game.”

Walsh imparted a lesson he learned over the years that states that if you are good to the game, the game will be good back to you. He was able to relate to that on a personal level, and woke up to see the sun rise in the morning to make sure that life would go on after the Coyotes. Co-host Dan Bickley asked Walsh to elaborate on how everything felt for him, especially having been a part of the organization over many years. In response, Walsh explained how people who had not seen each other made eye contact and took time to speak with one another, engaging in similar conversations with several people.

“The first words that one of us would say – it was universal – [were], ‘This didn’t have to happen,’” Walsh said. “That’s what I kept hearing, and then I started to repeat it and that’s how I feel today. I’m not smart enough to talk about finances when you’re getting into the billions of dollars, but I am smart enough to know how things can work and I’ve seen it work, and I’ve seen the due diligence that has been done and has to be done in a situation like this in cultivating a sport, and I’ve seen how it has failed.”

The interview with Walsh took place before the official announcement of the team’s relocation. This transaction includes a stipulation that Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has the right to reactivate the franchise if “a new, state-of-the art facility appropriate for an NHL team” is constructed within five years. Nonetheless, the outcome for many hockey fans in Arizona was disappointing, with Walsh describing the environment at Mullet Arena resembling that of a wake.

“My fear all along going into this for the last few years was at some point, someone’s going to walk up to a microphone in front of a bunch of cameras and say, ‘We did everything that we could,’ and I have a feeling we’re going to hear that,” Walsh said. “And I don’t want to hear it from the current ownership, but I feel like we’re going to hear that, and that’s what troubled me.”

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Sports Media Reacts to Awkward Caitlin Clark Press Conference Moment with Gregg Doyel

“I was just doing what I do, talking to another athlete, another person, and didn’t see the line – didn’t even know there was a line in the vicinity – until I crossed it.”

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Photo of Caitlin Clark
Credit: Clark Wade/IndyStar

By now almost everyone it seems has weighed in on an incredibly awkward situation at yesterday’s Indiana Fever press conference involving Caitlin Clark and Indianapolis Star reporter Gregg Doyel. Doyel’s strange exchange started with him making a heart gesture with his hands, something Clark flashes to her family after each game. “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine,” was Doyel’s reply.

Doyel has since apologized and wrote a column about it which said, in part, “I’m devastated to realize I’m part of the problem. I screwed up Wednesday during my first interaction with No.1 overall draft pick Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever…I was just doing what I do, talking to another athlete, another person, and didn’t see the line – didn’t even know there was a line in the vicinity – until I crossed it.”

Several in sports media gave their thoughts on the situation, on the air and through social media:

Josh Klingler and Bob Fescoe played the audio from the press conference on 610 Sports in Kansas City and when it ended, Klingler said, “What the hell was that?”

Fescoe responded, “That’s just creepy and if I’m Caitlin Clark, I’m like, ‘I don’t want this guy around.’ What was he doing to begin with?…Don’t get creepy…that’s just disgusting.”

In Boston, The Greg Hill Show on WEEI highlighted the incident in a segment called ‘How Creepy Is It?’

“He’s kind of a dink,” Hill said. “…If I were Caitlin Clark, I wouldn’t accept the apology.”

“He was lightweight flirting with her, he tried to make a joke and it didn’t land,” said co-host Jermaine Wiggins.

Mike Mulligan and David Haugh talked about the issue on their morning show on 670 The Score in Chicago. “It just fell so flat, and it was so borderline sexist, misogynistic, it was just the wrong tone,” Mulligan said. “It was completely unprofessional for an introductory news conference.”

Haugh replied, “Well it was unprofessional, but what was worse is because it was a 22-year-old female, it was inappropriate, and he should have known better…His apology was clumsy itself.”

105.3 The Fan in Dallas’ RJ Choppy said about Doyel, “He was an idiot…He tried and attempted humor…and it backfired. He’s not part of the problem, he is a problem, in general.”

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