Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > December > 29 > Entry
12/29: Back from vacation! 1230 goes all sports w/1340, radio station spins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The modest signals of WFOM-AM/1230 (heard mostly in Cobb County) has dropped news/talk and gone all ESPN syndicated sports talk including Mike & Mike in mornings and Tirico & Van Pelt during the afternoon. It will be known as 1230 the Fan 2.
David Dickey, who runs 680/The Fan, 1230 and WALR-AM/1340, now has three all-sports stations. 1340 now airs Fox Sports News syndicated talk shows and will be known as the Fan 3. 680 will be local focused, except for Colin Cowherd middays.
Dickey said when Bill O’Reilly said he was leaving, it opened up his chance to give ESPN Radio an entire station to itself over at 1230, which had been news/talk until December 22. This also enables Dickey to sell all three stations in tandem to a similar coveted male-oriented demographic.
Rival 790/The Zone, which had been using Fox Sports News as well as Sporting News, is now exclusively working with Sporting News radio for its syndicated news and talk. (The 2 Live Stews are syndicated on Sporting News).
So Atlanta now has four sports talk stations, albeit two on limited signals.
- The Bull is now promoting itself as the station that plays more country music than Kicks (without mentioning Kicks of course). Based on data from Mediabase 24/7, the Bull is indeed playing more music. But will it matter?
Cox Radio tried this tact a few years ago before the River came along on 97.1 with a hip-hop station (97.1 Jamz) to counter V-103. The station for virtually its entire life kept harping on how it played more music and fewer commercials than dominant V-103 but in the end, it could never garner much in the way of ratings or revenue or truly cut into V-103’s power base. Jamz was gone after two years.
The Bull is in a similar battle with Kicks. After two years, the station has been trying to find some traction with several different strategies. Given the fact it’s a soft economy and the station’s commercial load is probably lighter than Kicks, bragging about more music is easy. We’ll know soon if this tactic works. The station is still seeking a new male host to work with Kristen Gates for mornings.
During the week of December 21, the Bull averaged 324 songs a day while Kicks had 307. That week included Christmas and fewer ads than normal. That was a 123 song difference.
The week of December 14, Kicks averaged 298 songs vs. 314 for the Bull. That came out to 112 more songs for the Bull over the week or 2/3 of a song per hour.
For the week of December 7, the Bull averaged 317 songs while Kicks had 288. That was a 205 song differential or about 1.2 songs per hour.
Here’s the average number of songs played per day by a sampling of radio stations in Atlanta for comparison for the week of December 14 (the 21st was a weird week given the holidays).
The Bull: 314 (can’t compare to a year ago cos the station was all Christmas)
95.5/The Beat: 304 (305 the same wk a year ago)
Kicks 101.5: 298 (285 same wk in 2007)
Star 94: 284 (301)
Hot 107.9: 283 (275)
Project 9-6-1: 279 (291)
Dave FM: 269 (254)
Q100: 262 (numbers are depressed by the Bert Show, which plays virtually no music, 272 a year ago)
V-103: 242 (225)
Grown Folks: 202 (the station does all talk or heavily talk parts of the day… 197 a year ago)
Comments
By Randall Bloomquist - WGST PD
December 29, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
And I still have a job!!
By Jim
December 29, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
The Bert Show also plays the most commercials. My coworkers and myself used to listen to the show but their commercial breaks are so LONG that they even have a break in them telling us that the Bert Show will be back.
By who cares
December 30, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Who REALLY cares how many songs they play a day. They don’t even know what country music is!!!!!!!!!!!!
By kenny
December 30, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
97.1 Jamz was the best station in Atlanta. I hope this format returns.
By new river???
December 30, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Uh, how come it’s still 97.1 the NEW River?
The station is like the format: oldy, but not goody.
By Charlie
December 30, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
All Sports stations in Atlanta are absolutely HORRIBLE! So maybe giving ESPN a chance could be a good thing?John Kinkaid of 680 the Fan is the absolute worst of the worst. The guy is an egotistical troll who is so biased in his reporting it is sickening. Do yourselves a favor and get sattelite radio. You won’t have to listen to this Bozo or any other. And NO COMMERCIALS!
By Elmo
December 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
I think that the problem with 4 Sports Talk Shows is that the caller base gets watered down. Crappy Callers are the Cancer on Sports Talk. (any talk format). Let’s hope the Hosts can filibuster better than Fog Horn Leghorn. I also think that there are only so many ways to skin a Sports Story. This applies to any large market Rodney.
By rw
December 30, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Rodney - what happened to Brandon “hometeam” leaks? Where is he now?
By Millwood
December 30, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Steak Shapiro told my little girl that there is no Santa Claus.
By ATLRadioSux
December 30, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Great, 4 sports stations and still not one station that plays decent music. Go figure.
By Steak Shapiro
December 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
The little girl I told about Santa just got off the pole at the Cheetah, Cha Cha.
That’s one thing I learrrrrrrned
By paul
December 30, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Great, that’s all we need is another bunch of know it all want a be jocks on the radio.
By JM
December 30, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
I echo the sentiment that ALL Atlanta sports stations are lousy. It’s unbelieveable how bad they are. We need local programming with people who actually know something about sports, especially college sports.
By Informed Listener
December 30, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Charlie, Just letting you know that Kincade has his own ESPN Radio show. Believe it or not, he’s the best sports talker in this town. He is informative, captivating and admits when he’s wrong. He is a fan of the eagles and phillies but I don’t think it’s a bias for him, he’s a pro. He also doesn’t bark, that’s nice.
By nicole
December 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA!
By nicole
December 30, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA! WE WANT MIKE O’MEARA!
By JK Sockey
December 30, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Has Kinkade come out of the closet yet? My podcasts are the best sports talk in this town… Check our myspace page.
Also, Millwood, we know that wasn’t your daughter.
By Rufio
December 30, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
The more sports talk shows the better. It’s AM radio anyways, not like they are stealing air time from anything of quality. I’m not loyal to one station, I usually flip between 680 and 790 depending on what they are talking about. A couple of weeks ago I think, they both were interviewing Atlanta Thrashers on my way to work…. I had to find another station. That’s easier said than done. So a few more options on a morning like that will be welcomed.
By SUPERIOR
December 30, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
THE 2 LIVE STEWS SUCK AND DON’T KNOW JACK ABOUT SPORTS EXCEPT THE GHETTO ASPECTS OF FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL AND WHICH ATHLETES ARE GETTIN PAIDZ.
By Bill
December 30, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
When are we going to get a FM Sports Talk Station. They would have alot more fans if we could get a radio station, that we could pick up outside the city limits of Atlanta. All these stations have a weak signal.
By SAY WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?
December 30, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
THE GHETTO ASPECTS OF FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL…… what the hell is that supposed to mean???????
By Kyle
December 30, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
You’re right about that “who Cares”. Anyone who thinks Rascal Flats is country and wants to listen to that crap all day has a problem. Rock n Roll can have an oldies station 24/7 so why do we have to wait for Saturday nights to hear the real thing? When your a real country fan its easy to see why talk radio is so popular. I know thats where I’m at most of the time.
By Daniel
December 30, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
I listen to 680 TheFan almost every day on the way home and what I cant stand about radio is after a certain time of the day, WSB AM radio takes all the bandwidth and anyone who wants to listen to 680 AM cant.
By John
December 30, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
ANYTHING is better then those thugs on 790 The Zone in the afternoon. “Hometeam?” “Dogs?” “Poodles?” I love how educated they are. Can’t even speak English. I guess it’s Ebonics?
By Kincade is Gay
December 30, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Informed…
You evidently are NOT an informed sports talk show listener.. He rips on the South, UGA & Tech. Yet he went to Temple.. lol The next time their storied program goes to the Final 4 will be the first! Kincade is gay.. He got married only because Buck got hitched.. I know, because John paid me to knock up his wife…
By Publicenemynumberone
December 30, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
What happens to the Dennis Miller show?
What will the hours be for the Kaing and pretty boy?
Why is Cynthia McKinney in Israel?
By Arff
December 30, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Superior-You sound very ignorant. Maybe you aren’t but you certainly sounded very ignorant with that post. Exactly what are ghetto aspects of football? What do Steak Shapiro, Jon Kincaide, etc. know about, the trailer trash aspects of sports and where the best huntin’ is?
John-I guess you put down what you don’t understand. Go burn a cross and kiss your sister/wife good night for me!!
Have a good one hillbillies!!!
By Brian
December 30, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
I’m always amazed at home many of you rednecks get a little keyboard courage and spew your racist garbage in every blog no matter what the topic. You and I both no you don’t have the guts to say anything that you type on the blog in person. Why type it in a blog if you don’t have the guts to say it in person—coward. Sports can and should be the place where people from all backgrounds can put aside difference and root for their team or discuss the pros & cons of a game. Unfortunately, even that has to sullied by ignorance.
By Re..John
December 30, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
brian, not sure where you are calling “home” but who are you to be saying rednecks don’t have the courage to spew anything except whats on the blog. This is the only forum that is currently addressing this subject. That said, “the stews” don’t speak proper English but if people don’t like them, do like I did and turn them off! Simple, if the rating stink they will not last, if there are those who listen and the stews make it, more power to them. Lets just hope the next generation of youth don’t use there language as a role model.
By zone1atl
December 30, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
Dirty cops murder a 92yr old lady IN HER HOME, plant drugs AFTER THEY MURDER HER and we worried bout the slang talk of two black men. Only in ameriKKKa! By the way, Im down wit da 2 Live Stews!!!
By dre
December 30, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Some of you guys are incredible! I personally don’t like the Stews show for various reasons (I’m black), but what’s up with the code words like “ghetto”. And if you have such a problem with their inability to speak good “english”, I wonder if you have the same issue with institutions that you support overwhelmingly like UGA, UT, UFL, etc. giving scholarships to athletes who speak the same incorrect “english”. Probably not since they entertain you. What hypocracy!
By Obama is white
December 31, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
zone1atl - shouldnt you be at work? dotn make me call your boss at the checkers on memorial drive. aight aight !
By Bud
January 1, 2009 12:44 AM | Link to this
“It will be known as 1230 the Fan 2.”
Watch the midget death match continue between WQXI and WCNN while even more channels join the ultra-tiny niche of Sports Talk Radio. These 2 stations combined only get a 1.7 cume…which isn’t even a third of what WSB gets, or a fifth of what WVEE gets. Sports Talk is anemic and getting closer to death as a format every day.