The Raiders, who have long been unable to secure a top radio outlet that would enhance their brand, should make an attempt to buy KTRB and turn it into a KNBR-like radio fortress benefiting the Silver and Black.
Since the Raiders return back to the Bay Area sixteen years ago, they have not been able to secure a big station to broadcast their games and related content.
In the late 90's and early 2000's they meandered from KNBR 1050, (The Ticket) to KSFO and now, via Compass Broadcasts, 1550 AM and 105.3 FM.
None of those stations have the availability nor format that could benefit the Raiders vision of an all-sports outlet that would program around the franchise's games, news, and yes, of course, talk shows, a la KNBR that builds its content around the Giants, Warriors, and 49ers.
I don't know the specifics of the Raiders' deal with CBS/Compass, but I'm quite sure there are buyouts and/or options that would allow both clients to negate the current deal.
The Raiders would love the opportunity to have in possession a clear, 50,000-watt radio station that could be the centerpiece of their product and more importantly, build up and act as a virtual 24/7 advertisement of their business.
KTRB, now virtually a radio albatross without the A's and operating on an audio prayer, would be ripe for the picking. Their receivership-status and lack of real programming makes them a potential bargain. I don't think Comerica, (the bank that owns them) could have such a more ripe time to make a deal with a ready and willing potential buyer.
What's a few million bucks for an NFL franchise looking for a strong radio broadcast wing that would boost its presence in the 4th largest market in the country? At the very least, I'm betting it'd be a great outlet to sell tickets and promote the team.
Yes, there's a myriad of obstacles that would negate a deal, but not big enough to which nothing could be negotiated. This is a no-brainer. The Raiders should hop on this immediately. It makes too much sense.
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ht is a brilliant observation......Raider Radio, for the bay area, news talk 81, KGO San Francisco....NOW, change the calls and BOOM.......every top of the hour......LARGE DRUM SOUNDS....'BOOM...... BOOM BOOM BOOM......The autumn wind, is a Raider'.........
ReplyDeleteI think That if the new 95.7 sports can't find a Great Air staff, That a Raiders KTRB would have even more problems...
ReplyDeleteEven the A's had to know that just 162+ games a year did not make a format...So 20 for the Raiders is even worse. 95.7 should buy KTRB and simulcast 95.7. That may dent KNBR and fill in the holes that their signal does not cover very well...Like in SJ. You need more than just Games,even though that is ALL anyone really listens to KNBR or 95.7 for. The KNBR Talent is ALL LOW BID...As is 95.7's. The new radio corporate ethic is not are you good...It's are you cheap. Followed by...You should be great full you have a Job...That is why Radio, Sports and otherwise sounds like it does. All KNBR has is The Giants, everything else is CRAP, They should run Tone before and after the games. A Classless Talentless group that doesn't know how bad they are because the local management is even worse. The place should be cleaned out.
Games on the radio-meh.
ReplyDeleteFootball talk on the radio-good.
Raiders looking to spend $ to promote the team?-they could start by purchasing unsold tickets at pennies on the dollar (ala the 49ers and other teams) to avoid local black-outs.
Why don't the Raiders get on-board with the A's new station? That would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat gets me is-the WOLF has the right attitude about going after KNBR's weakest points-the ruts and homerisms they wallow in. The downside is-WOLF's signal is very weak for FM. Scratchy sound on a FM station is rare..but it's constant with the WOLF in a moving car. Yet,KTRB was so passive vs KNBR..I stopped listening to them.
ReplyDeleteHow to combine strong signal with pro eastbay stands? Better to boost WOLF's signal..or sell(or transfer) WOLF,use that money to buy KTRB..and create a real sports powerhouse at least equal to KNBR..A's ,Sharks,Raiders, Stanford.
KNBR's ratings prove it's for the taking..dropping like a rock between every Giants game.
whoa-11:10's post sounds so much like mine-thats not posted yet. Great minds think alike.
ReplyDeleteTrue the raiders like the A's should get on stations that people can hear.
ReplyDeleteSince most of the raiders games dont sell out the only option is to listen on the radio it would nice to hear it clearly which is NOT the case in San Jose
ktrb would be the best choice
95.7 is one of the weaker FM stations in the Bay Area. (Its antenna is on a tower on San Bruno Mountain shared with two other stations, KIOI/101.3 and KMEL/106.1. KMEL pumps out 69,000 watts and KIOI runs a flamethrower with 125,000 watts. By contrast, 95.7 only sends out 6,900 watts, although from a slightly higher antenna height.) It's always going to be at a disadvantage in the more challenging locations.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, Entercom recently took 102.1 away from classical music and is now using it to simulcast KUFX/98.5 from San Jose. And 102.1 is a strong signal, and overlaps 98.5 in many places. 98.5 is a solid signal pretty far up the peninsula and East Bay and only needs augmenting from about the airports north.
If Entercom were really smart, they'd swap the two stations. Run the sports format on 102.1 with its full market signal, and simulcast 98.5 on 95.7, augmenting it in the northern parts of the market where it needs it most.
KTBR is a turkey, a cursed facility which, despite its nominal 50,000 daytime watts, should never have been allowed to be squeezed in. The Raiders, the A's, anyone who thinks seriously about acquiring it is out of their ever-lovin' minds.
I know you aren't a fan of KNBR. But how much all-sports demand is there in the bay area? 20 days of live action programming is a tough basis on which to build a radio station.
ReplyDeleteThere hasn't been a viable seconds sports radio station here in years KNBR bought 1050 for its surplus inventory of Warriors and 49ers broadcasts when the "mothership" had the Giants and / or wanted to keep format at drive time when the Warriors are out east.
But they've locked up Jim Rome, Dan Patrick, Tony Bruno and ESPN with it, or basically all of the national product that's in demand. Sporting news radio? Fox Sports radio? Sub-standard.
They've got to have something more than simply being a Raiders propaganda machine or I'd listen to it as much as I listen to KNBR, which is to say other than live sports, not much.
Agree. The Raiders need to take advantage of this opportunity.
ReplyDelete