Friday, April 30, 2010

Savage delivers the goods on XTRA Sports 860; Friday media notes

Like him, hate him, despise him, love him,  Michael Savage has delivered a firm knock-out punch to the Bay Area radio airwaves since he re-emerged nearly three months ago on XTRA Sports 860 (KTRB-AM)

Savage' audio stage show has been so popular that XTRA repeats his live show, (3-5PM M-F) the next morning during its AM drive-time, (6-9 AM.)

Savage's return hasn't had a direct impact on the Arbitron books since he's only been back in SF since February, but buzz and word-of-mouth chatter around the local industry media circle, indicates his impact has provided the station an ample amount of major pub.

The only potential drawback: Savage's political theatre act and the Oakland A's fan base reaction. Those in the know say the combination of A's baseball/ listeners and Savage's local audience base has not hurt each other. Makes sense, given indirectly, and perhaps unintentionally, Savage's core of local listeners is a great lead-in for the A's flagship station. Ditto Savage, who has the benefit of attracting a younger listener base who may not have heard his "unique" take on the day's politics.

**The local radio sports talk show clubs can thank Bruce Bochy for a day and a half of baseball chat fodder. It was Bochy, of course, that gave ammo to the talk tonsils by removing Tim Lincecum out of Wednesday's heart-braking Giants loss to the Phillies.

Talk about symmetry. Bochy's controversial decision took place on Wed. afternoon. The Giants were off the next day and the SJ Sharks didn't play until Thursday evening. That left for a day-and-a-half of venting from the local leather lungs clogging the lines asking for Bochy to be sent to Gitmo. Good timing, Bruce.

24 comments:

  1. Rich....the new Aribtron PPM measurements should already be showing something for Savage, since it give a more immediate read when stations make a dramatic change...which clearly the Savage thing is. Even with the benefit of the doubt...we should be seeing something by May or June....but I think its unlikely that it will be anything major.

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  2. So the repeat is because Mr Weiner is "so popular" yet when KNBR repeated shows this past February is was "to save money"?

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  3. I can tell you when my local station in Houston is playing the crappy astro's game, Savage gets bumped, and I tune in on the online stream for San Fran 860.

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  4. I feel bad for A's fans because even though Chris Townsend does his little A's call in show on KTRB, they have zero local programming to depend on. ZERO!. Savage may broadcast from the Bay Area but he doesn't talk sports, and Ron Barr's sports-by-line programming also may broadcast from SF but they are just syndicated shows that have to reach national audiences. I don't really know how to read the arbitron ratings but it looks like KTRB has a very little market share for 3/4/2010 to 3/31/2010. If that is true how is Savage helping? They are still tied for 68th with a bunch of stations I have never heard of.

    I think if the A's had a local sports home that could help get the fans excited then maybe they would get more than a few thousand for a game. Getting a paltry 19k(I think) for the Yankees when they were in town was sad.

    It is my opinion for the A's to get any love they need the attention of a "local" radio station, would it be too much $$$ for KTRB to get a guy (or a few) to do a full time local show that focuses on local sports, especially the A's and Raiders??? They best thing KTRB had 'bar none' was Marty Lurie and they couldn't keep him as he left for KNBR. Now I listen to KTRB very rarely only to catch Ken Korach do a few innings of A's baseball because Petros&Money and Myers&Hartmen are not on KTRB anymore, which was the only reason I tuned in. :(

    Also Rich, I enjoy your praise of D Bruce. from 12-4 he blows what 680 offers out of the water.

    Keep up the good work.

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  5. P.S. On another note I'm pumped to hear Greg Papa on LIVE 105 this year. Football on the FM dial is amazing

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  6. With a velvet voice and a calm demeanor, Mr. Savage will capture the bondage crowd in San Franpsycho without a wimper. Lars

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  7. I hope that Savage is reaching a broader audience with his move to a sports station. Sports are fine entertainment,to a point.I know way too many sports fans who can tell you the every stat of the top 10 football draft picks, but if you mention our $1.6Tr federal deficit they have no clue.

    Thank you Dr Savage,

    "Only a more Savage Nation can survive."

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  8. Actually Savage gets bumped so people can hear Michael Berry who gets bumped by the Astros game on 740. Frankly, I'm tired of it... Don't Bump Savage the 9-5-0!!!!!!!!

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  9. Mr. Salage is right in his opinions (mirror mine) about 35% of the time. All the rest are his attempt to get ratings and are dangerously wrong.

    I suspect this is about how 90% if his listeners feel.

    Thank God for the off button on the radio.

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  10. I'll be a great day when they bump a game's broadcast to air Savage.

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  11. THE OLD STATION THAT SAVAGE BELONGED TO PROVIDED FREE PODCASTS OF HIS SHOW ON ITUNES.

    NOT SURE WHY THE NEW STATION ISNT DOING THE SAME.

    I LOVE THE SAVAGE NATION BUT WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY MAKE PEOPLE PAY TO LISTEN TO SOMETHING THEY CAN LISTEN TO FOR FREE ON THE RADIO?

    UPLOADING PODCASTS ONTO ITUNES IS FREE AND CUTTING AN AUDIO FILE DOESNT TAKE MUCH WORK.

    PLUS WHEN THE SHOW IS FREE IT INCREASES HIS FAN BASE.

    APPARENTLY SAVAGE CARES MORE ABOUT HIS POCKET BOOK THAN HIS LISTENERS WHO CANT AFFORD TO PAY $60 YEAR TO LISTEN TO HIM ON ITUNES.

    WHAT A SHAME!!

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  12. I agree. The 95zero needs to get rid of Berry and play Savage.

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  13. If you have a Facebook account you can request Savage as a friend where his programs stream for free.

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  14. As a long time Savage fan I am simply grateful that I'm able to hear him on a sports station, even though I am not a sports fan. The am repeat show is particulary appreciated since Lee Rodgers on KSFO was fired and there is nobody interesting on that station in the am slot.

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  15. Dr. Savage is often the only voice of reason when everyone gets led off the cliff willing.

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  16. Savage ROCKS! I listen to him, but when A's is on I turn back to online San Diego station that carries Savage.

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  17. Put Savage back w/o interruption
    950 am Houston for 3 Solid Hours...thx

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  18. Savage should look into getting his show hosted on his website or something, he has a growing international audience thanks to the net. I'm from the UK and have listened to him for about 2 years, I hardly miss a show

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  19. Vinny deletes any real comments that are true. Savage is a mental case- A Jewish Hitler as he constantly talks about the superior white race!..what a nut.
    Yes,his homey style talk is real entertaining- to sociopaths..
    Ohhh.And an honest man? sure, like when he backed the "miracle gas saver"..lol..what a con artist he is..

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  20. In ten days I will be in Jamay, Jalisco MX for three weeks. I will catch the Savage Nation each afternoon live sreaming on 760 KFMB San Diego!

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  21. I feel very sorry to anybody to listens to a baseball game on the radio,,wow, get a life better yet, WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!!

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  22. I was supposed to appear on CBS local news channel five. I was supposed to speak about the new 1070 law. I am for the law but I just gave them the simple facts. Well Tamra Thomas Ingersol an Editor emailed me back and she said ,, the producers that I was too sane to talk about the 1070 law... I have the actual e-mails from CBS local channel 5 news, The editor , actually told me she almost lost her job because she is for the law. God help us all!

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  23. I never miss Savage - best voice on radio!

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