Post by TNmike on Jan 30, 2007 11:22:59 GMT -5
ESPN Radio returns to area airwaves
BY MIKE COPPER
mike.copper@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: January 30. 2007 6:00AM
The roller coaster of area radio formats went for another loop Monday when national sports talk returned to the area airwaves after a three-week absence.
The Citadel Broadcasting Co., which owns four Erie stations, replaced its 1950s and early rock 'n' roll music on WRIE with ESPN Radio 1260/AM The Score.
Citadel market manager Jim Riley anticipated varied responses when he arrived at the Robison Road station Monday.
The listeners didn't disappoint.
"The reaction was generally mixed," Riley said. "There were obviously a lot of folks disappointed we'll no longer have 'Music of Your Life,' but a lot of sports fans called that were enthusiastic sports radio is back."
Sports talk was dropped Jan. 8 when Connoisseur Media changed the format on two of its six stations.
WFGO-FM/Froggy 94.7, which played 1960s and '70s rock, was transformed into variety-oriented WXBB/Bob 94.7. The Froggy 94.7 format then replaced WFNN-AM/1330, which served as Erie's go-to station for area and national sports talk.
The national format is back.
"Erie is a sports town," said David Sparks, 39, of Erie. "A sports town should be able to have all three mediums: radio, newspaper and television. I'm glad we're getting it back because sports radio should be here."
Cliff Hamilton, 60, also was pleased about the return of ESPN Radio - for his son.
"Keith was excited when I mentioned it to him," Hamilton said. "I felt bad for him when we lost ESPN, but now it's my age group that's going to be very upset. I'm surprised they'd pull something like this around here. Losing ('Music of Your Life') isn't going to fly with a pretty big chunk of our population."
Riley looked to corral ESPN into the Citadel loop shortly after it left the 1330 frequency. The two companies completed negotiations late Saturday.
The format switch became official when ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning went on the air at 6 a.m.
"I really pushed for ESPN to be on the air for Super Bowl week," Riley said.
Buffalo Bills games will remain on WRIE, but Riley offered no immediate word on additional sports programming. ESPN will broadcast from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MIKE COPPER can be reached at 870-1614 or by e-mail.
BY MIKE COPPER
mike.copper@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: January 30. 2007 6:00AM
The roller coaster of area radio formats went for another loop Monday when national sports talk returned to the area airwaves after a three-week absence.
The Citadel Broadcasting Co., which owns four Erie stations, replaced its 1950s and early rock 'n' roll music on WRIE with ESPN Radio 1260/AM The Score.
Citadel market manager Jim Riley anticipated varied responses when he arrived at the Robison Road station Monday.
The listeners didn't disappoint.
"The reaction was generally mixed," Riley said. "There were obviously a lot of folks disappointed we'll no longer have 'Music of Your Life,' but a lot of sports fans called that were enthusiastic sports radio is back."
Sports talk was dropped Jan. 8 when Connoisseur Media changed the format on two of its six stations.
WFGO-FM/Froggy 94.7, which played 1960s and '70s rock, was transformed into variety-oriented WXBB/Bob 94.7. The Froggy 94.7 format then replaced WFNN-AM/1330, which served as Erie's go-to station for area and national sports talk.
The national format is back.
"Erie is a sports town," said David Sparks, 39, of Erie. "A sports town should be able to have all three mediums: radio, newspaper and television. I'm glad we're getting it back because sports radio should be here."
Cliff Hamilton, 60, also was pleased about the return of ESPN Radio - for his son.
"Keith was excited when I mentioned it to him," Hamilton said. "I felt bad for him when we lost ESPN, but now it's my age group that's going to be very upset. I'm surprised they'd pull something like this around here. Losing ('Music of Your Life') isn't going to fly with a pretty big chunk of our population."
Riley looked to corral ESPN into the Citadel loop shortly after it left the 1330 frequency. The two companies completed negotiations late Saturday.
The format switch became official when ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning went on the air at 6 a.m.
"I really pushed for ESPN to be on the air for Super Bowl week," Riley said.
Buffalo Bills games will remain on WRIE, but Riley offered no immediate word on additional sports programming. ESPN will broadcast from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MIKE COPPER can be reached at 870-1614 or by e-mail.
