Tigers and Wings to 97.1FM

[Bo don't know Ernie]

Great news! Per WDIV. They also mentioned that Parker and the Man will be canceled.

[markmeista]

When does each team move to the station?

[Shaggy Ry]

I wonder if his moles let him in on that news first...

I don't know why, but I don't like the idea of sports on the FM side of the dial.

[Oblong]

Parker and the Man is actually a good show.

Are those stations owned by the same company?

[Bo don't know Ernie]

Apparently they are both CBS owned sister stations.

[Oblong]

Henson's blog says that Michelle chick was fired today from 97.1 and suggested they are going to be Sports 97.1

I'd not be unhappy if 1270 went to a general talk format like they had in the 90s.

[chasfh]

Henson's blog says that Michelle chick was fired today from 97.1 and suggested they are going to be Sports 97.1

I'd not be unhappy if 1270 went to a general talk format like they had in the 90s.

Yeah because, you know, there just aren't that many conservative radio hosts on the dial. :wink:

[estrepe1]

When does each team move to the station?

I would guess the beginning of next season for each team.

[Bo don't know Ernie]

WKRK 97.1 FM

http://www.radio-locator.com/pats/WKRK_FM_LU.gif


WXYT 1270AM (DAY)

http://www.radio-locator.com/pats/WXYT_AM_LD.gif

WXYT 1270AM (NIGHT)

http://www.radio-locator.com/pats/WXYT_AM_LN.gif
(I think this map is a bit optimistic)

[Shaggy Ry]

My 1270 is sketchy at night - has a constant whistle sound though you can still hear the programming on a good night and nothing on a bad night and I'm almost right in the middle of the redzone.

Given the scale difference of the WXYT vs WKRK the daytime coverage area is not that much different

[slim pickens]

I hope this is true. I work nights and cant get AM reception in the plant. So now I can listen to all the Tiger games. This is great news for me.

I am glad that Michelle chick was fired, she was not funny and that show sucked. I like D & D, so I wonder what will happen to them?

[Shaggy Ry]

They should have taken whatever WJR was offering as their signal reaches so much farther and you'd reach many more potential markets.

[estrepe1]

They should have taken whatever WJR was offering as their signal reaches so much farther and you'd reach many more potential markets.

One of the main sources of income for a team is the media contract. Given that it is in the best interest of the team to maximize the amount of money that they can make off of any contract rather than maximize their signal strength.

If the deals were within a couple thousand of each other then I think they would take the WJR contract. But I doubt the deals were that close considering WJR dropped out of even bidding for the contract fairly early on.

[Anthony]

Oh my god, this is great.

Now all I need is the pistons to move to FM, so I can hear them at the gas station. Theres no AM reception what so ever behind the bullet proof.

[mtdman]

WJR dropped out.

[slim pickens]

Oh my god, this is great.

Now all I need is the pistons to move to FM, so I can hear them at the gas station. Theres no AM reception what so ever behind the bullet proof.
LOL!! I dont know why this made me laugh....It just did!

[Shaggy Ry]

Do teams have XM deals? Could you have both XM and AM/FM deals? Does radio really pay that much anymore in the grand scheme of things? I think I'd rather reach the most number of people in the hopes of expanding the franchises fanbase with hopes of roadtrips to the stadium and merchandise sales. How much money and difference between WKRK and WJR would we be talking here?

[estrepe1]

XM has a deal with the entire MLB which then splits the money amongst all the teams equally. Same with Extra Innings.

As I mentioned and mtdman mentioned WJR dropped out of the bidding that tells me a lot about how far apart they were from the other offers.

Success will do far more for increasing tickets/merchandise than having a deal with WJR.

It was the perfect time for them to come to the end of their contract I am sure this combined deal was worth quite a bit.

[Oblong]

Wasn't the last deal like $40 million for both teams combined?

I don't think the Tigers gain much by being heard in Indiana or TN.

[Oblong]

Yeah because, you know, there just aren't that many conservative radio hosts on the dial. :wink:

There's no good talk shows anymore, liberal or conservative. Too bad David Newman had a stroke. I also liked Tom Leykis.

[estrepe1]

Wasn't the last deal like $40 million for both teams combined?

I don't think the Tigers gain much by being heard in Indiana or TN.

Yes and with the success of the Tigers I have to imagine the deal was worth more than that this time.

I don't think they do either. As nice as it would be for the fans in those areas the Tigers wouldn't gain all that much from it.

[slim pickens]

There's no good talk shows anymore, liberal or conservative. Too bad David Newman had a stroke. I also liked Tom Leykis.
Leykis still comes on 97.1 like at 3 AM.

[Oblong]

But he's not really that political anymore is he? He wasn't the last time I heard him. He was more the Man Show type.

[slim pickens]

Yeah its more man show type, he gets political once in awhile.

[DTroppens]

I don't care what those maps say. I can tell you what I experience. There are places (even in Detroit) you can't get 1270 especially at night. I have no problems getting 97.1 FM anywhere in that supposed range. I have listened to it in Owosso at 9:30 p.m. before. It's reception is clearly better than 1270.
This is clearly great news.

[pfife]

i agree with trop. I find it difficult to even tune in 1270 at CoPa. I'm hoping XYT stays sports. Or their hosts move to FM.

[Gabraham]

Have you seen that guy? Leykis looks like an obese woman.
Never mind that he does the same show night after night after night...I've listened occasionally, but he has to be the most redundant and unimaginative host in history.

[Oblong]

I'm happy for all those listeners in the Metro Detroit area and surrounding communities who had trouble with the signal. This is great news for you.

[Tyrus]

How fortunate for Mike Ilitch that the contract ran out just as the team got good! One year ago, and this is an entirely different contract.

[Oblong]

He must have planned it that way.

[Domino]

Wow this is awesome news. Totally awesome.

Also awesome that Parker and the Man will be cancelled. I hope "the man" finds another gig on another station because I liked him, but Rob Parker brings no value to anything whether he's on the air or writing for the Detroit News.

[Domino]

If 97.1 becomes a sports station, put your money on 1270 becoming something non-sports.

Greg Henson's blog

http://gregghenson.typepad.com/gregg_hensoncom/2006/12/michelle_mckorm.html#comments

[slim pickens]

Rob Parker just said he was told over the phone he had been let go.

[Anthony]

Parker is a joke. And thats being extremely nice.

[PuNk42AE]

Rob Parker just said he was told over the phone he had been let go.

Isn't that how it should be when you're in radio? We hear them and don't see them. :')

[slim pickens]

Isn't that how it should be when you're in radio? We hear them and don't see them. :')
he said they brought mark wilson in.............

[slim pickens]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061229/SPORTS07/612290360/1136

'Parker and the Man' is canceled

Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

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The Detroit sports talk radio firing season continues.

WKRK 97.1 fired Rob Parker and Mark Wilson Thursday, marking the immediate end of the duo's seven-year run on the station.

This move could signal WKRK's intent to make a run for the broadcast rights to air the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings. The Tigers contract with WXYT 1270, a sister station of WKRK also owned by CBS Broadcasting, expired at the end of the season. The Red Wings contract, also with WXYT, expires at the end of the season. The two teams are owned by Mike Illitch and the radio contract will be a package deal with one station. The station currently broadcasts Detroit Lions games.

Clearing out the "Parker and the Man" show, which aired weeknights, accomplishes two things: It saves money and frees up time which could be used for games.

"We were just told that the station was going in a different direction," Parker said.

"Mark and I aren't planning on separating. We plan for 'Parker and the Man' to live on in Detroit on another station -- different Bat time, different Bat channel."

Craig Schwab, WKRK's program manager, did not respond to interview requests.

The "Parker and the Man" show has been on in Detroit since 1998, starting on WDFN 1130. The duo moved to WKRK in 1999, occupying various evening time slots and doing Lions pre and postgame shows.

WXYT fired Art Regner and two behind-the-scenes staffers over the past month.

WKRK, WXYT -- along with WOMC 104.3, WVMV 98.7, WWJ 950, and WYCD 99.5 -- are owned by CBS Broadcasting.

"I'm not surprised or stunned this happened, Wilson said. "We were a sports show on a non-sports station, so I guess we beat the odds anyways. Radio is an adult business, and if you're not prepared for changes, you're not doing your homework."

[shabba4detroit]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061229/SPORTS07/612290360/1136


I knew a Joanne Gerstner back when I was in high school some 20 years ago. I wonder if she's the same person.

[shabba4detroit]

Wow this is awesome news. Totally awesome.

Also awesome that Parker and the Man will be cancelled. I hope "the man" finds another gig on another station because I liked him, but Rob Parker brings no value to anything whether he's on the air or writing for the Detroit News.


Parker and the Man was the best sports show in Detroit radio. With the best theme song. I am sad to see them go. Parker on the radio was 100 times better than Parker in the paper.

[mtdman]

Parker and the Man was the best sports show in Detroit radio. With the best theme song. I am sad to see them go. Parker on the radio was 100 times better than Parker in the paper.

I'd have to agree. It's kinda shocking because they did pretty well in their timeslot, but I understand why they would want to dump salary instead of moving them to another slot. Especially if they bring over shows from 1270.

[One Man's Fool]

WXYT 1270AM (NIGHT)

http://www.radio-locator.com/pats/WXYT_AM_LN.gif
(I think this map is a bit optimistic)

That looks like Casper the Friendly Ghost.

[One Man's Fool]

There's no good talk shows anymore, liberal or conservative. Too bad David Newman had a stroke. I also liked Tom Leykis.

Most of the hosts these days have become charicatures. The lineup on WXYT in the late '80s and early '90s was exceptional. Unfortunately, it was the tail end of the era in which someone like Chuck Fritz could own and operate a local radio station.

Now we're growing up to Radio Musicola.

[Bo don't know Ernie]

From today's Free Press

WKRK-FM (97.1) could be ready to simulcast Red Wings and Tigers broadcasts.

WDIV-TV Local 4 reported Thursday that WKRK -- which handles Lions games -- had parted ways with weeknight sports talkers Mark Wilson and Rob Parker to make room for the broadcasts beginning with the Wings' New Year's Eve game.

The Channel 4 report would indicate that CBS Radio, WKRK's parent, had maintained rights to Tigers games.

The Tigers are on WXYT-AM (1270), and it was believed only the nighttime games would be simulcast on WKRK, avoiding a conflict with popular afternoon talkers Deminsky and Doyle. WXYT's nighttime signal has been an issue since the Tigers moved from WJR-AM (760) almost six years ago.

CBS Radio officials were unavailable for comment. John Hahn, the Wings' senior director of communications, said a new deal wasn't in place.

Wilson is a former sportscaster on Channel 2. Parker is a columnist for the Detroit News.

[mottsi]

I don't want to get to upset about this yet, but living in Ft. Wayne it was so much better when WJR had the contract. I have no chance for 1270 so I doubt that 97.1 will reach either. I can get 590 sometimes, will they still be carrying the Tiger games. These situations only come into play when I am in my truck, when at home I watch the games that are televised and listen on the internet for the games that aren't on TV. I might just have to suscribe to XM again.

Great news about Parker, I hope he ends up in Chicago!

[DTroppens]

mottsi,
I can get 97.1 much farther away than 1270. I'd give it a shot. I wouldn't be surprised if this move will help you out a bit as well.

[Oblong]

I just wanted to write this:

Rob Parker was fired.

[dadair6]

This is great news. The teams' first priority is to take care of their home market and moving to 97.1 will accomplish that. It would have been nice if 760 had continued negotiations for the sake of those out-of-state, but the affiliates shouldn't change since both 1270 and 97.1 are CBS owned stations.

[vannzee]

For the guy from fort wayne...try 96.1 fm. Its out of archibold Ohio and that what we listen to in lenawee county at nights.

[Domino]

Parker and the Man was the best sports show in Detroit radio. With the best theme song.

I really couldn't disagree more with this. Anything that has Parker asssociated with it cannot be good in my opinion.

It is What is Is, Stoney and Wojo, and the Big Show are easily all better than Parker and the Man without even thinking about it. All have better ratings also, in fact Stoney and Wojo is the highest rated talk radio show in Detroit period (non sports included). I do like Mark the man Wilson, but Rob Parker is just a waste of time whether writing or talking, his comments and opinions are so far off base it's ridiculous.

[Domino]

I just wanted to write this:

Rob Parker was fired.

Now he just needs to get canned at the papers and it will be awesome.

[DTroppens]

Actually I thought the radio show was pretty good. Parker came out a ton more credible on the radio show than he does with his columns. I found it entertaining and it was probably less in-your-face than most of the sports shows in Detroit which made it more relaxing.

[FloridaTigers]

Rob Parker is pretty idiotic.

Thats about the only statement I could come up with in this topic. I know nothing about radio contracts and radio signals in Michigan.

[holygoat]

Parker and the Man was the best sports show in Detroit radio. With the best theme song. I am sad to see them go. Parker on the radio was 100 times better than Parker in the paper.
I agree with this 100%.

[Oblong]

As do I.

[shabba4detroit]

I really couldn't disagree more with this. Anything that has Parker asssociated with it cannot be good in my opinion.

It is What is Is, Stoney and Wojo, and the Big Show are easily all better than Parker and the Man without even thinking about it. All have better ratings also, in fact Stoney and Wojo is the highest rated talk radio show in Detroit period (non sports included). I do like Mark the man Wilson, but Rob Parker is just a waste of time whether writing or talking, his comments and opinions are so far off base it's ridiculous.


Opinions vary.

If it is true that Stoney and Wojo is the highest rated talk show in Detroit, that merely reflects poorly upon the Detroit radio listener.

Wojo is the anti-Parker. Brilliant in the paper, lousy on the radio.

[49er]

Opinions vary.

If it is true that Stoney and Wojo is the highest rated talk show in Detroit, that merely reflects poorly upon the Detroit radio listener.

Wojo is the anti-Parker. Brilliant in the paper, lousy on the radio.

I find Wojo to be almost unlistenable. He does come across much better in the paper.

I don't like the idea of the Tigers being on the same station as Tom Leykis. His show is disgusting.

I also don't care much for all the sex-oriented ads that run on 97.1. I hope they stop running those when the Tigers are on. I don't want kids listening to that.

[JR]

For the guy from fort wayne...try 96.1 fm. Its out of archibold Ohio and that what we listen to in lenawee county at nights.
This station also was allowing the internet stream to work during the games too which was nice if you weren't near a radio

[Casimir]

WXYT 1270AM (NIGHT)

http://www.radio-locator.com/pats/WXYT_AM_LN.gif
This map is false

Hey, fixed this for you.

[Casimir]

For the guy from fort wayne...try 96.1 fm. Its out of archibold Ohio and that what we listen to in lenawee county at nights.

Definitely worth a shot. It comes through pretty well in the western parts of Toledo, so its quite possibly attainable in Fort Wayne. You'll be disappointed during Labor Day week, though. Lots of Fulton County Fair updates. You know, livestock winners, entertainment information, that sort of thing. You miss about half of the game from this. But its only for a week, so its a small price to pay.

[The Ronz]

Parker and the Man was the best sports show in Detroit radio. With the best theme song. I am sad to see them go. Parker on the radio was 100 times better than Parker in the paper.

Completely agree. I will miss listening to the show.

:alien:

[TigerFan4ever]

I am in Milford, MI (western Oakland county), and I applaud the move to FM. I cannot pick up ANY Tiger games in the summer once the sun goes down. Oddly enough I get Cubs broadcasts out of Chicago, and Reds out of Cincinnatti.
I am a Sirius subscriber so I don't listen to local anymore (hardly).

I am really looking forward to listening to the Tigers while I am laying in my pool next summer.

[NotoriousCPC]

I just wanted to write this:

Rob Parker was fired.

Was it as cathartic as you had hoped?

[belcherboy]

in fact Stoney and Wojo is the highest rated talk radio show in Detroit period (non sports included).


S&W has more listeners than Drew and Mike and Rush Limbaugh in Detroit? If so, they really have grown, because Drew and Mike were clearly the lion in the Detroit radio market and I just assumed that Rush carried a big stick anywhere he was broadcasted.

[estrepe1]

I read today that it is going to be a simulcast between 97.1 WKRK and 1270 WXYT. The simulcast is supposedly only for night games as well.

Also you will already be able to catch Wings games. I forgot that both of the stations are CBS affiliated so it makes sense.

[Domino]

S&W has more listeners than Drew and Mike and Rush Limbaugh in Detroit? If so, they really have grown, because Drew and Mike were clearly the lion in the Detroit radio market and I just assumed that Rush carried a big stick anywhere he was broadcasted.

I know that it was for a period last year, not sure if it still is today. Pretty sure that S&W is always the highest rated sports show.

[belcherboy]

I know that it was for a period last year, not sure if it still is today. Pretty sure that S&W is always the highest rated sports show.

Yeah it is the highest rated sports show, but as far as I know they have never had half the audience of Drew and Mike in Detroit in all around ratings (all forms of talk show). I remember listening to a show a few years back that they were discussing the dominance of Drew and Mike in Detroit. They have stomped most competition over the past 10 years IIRC. Maybe things have changed, but I thought S&W were really limited by their broadcast range taking away any chance of competing with D&M.

[Lou Ferigno]

S&W is nowhere in D&M's neighborhood. S&W is the highest rated sports show and the highest rated radio talk show in their timeslot. They are not the highest rated radio talk show overall.

[tigerfanfromchicago]

I hope that the XYT sports format continues at 97.1 or 1270. I enjoyed listening to their internet stream last season. The Bulls moved to Chicago's "Free FM" station this season, and they kept their talk format. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happened in Detroit. Chicago's ESPN radio (ABC owned) lost both the Bulls and White Sox, and they have kept a sports format despite rumors that they would go to talk.

[sabretooth]

I don't care what those maps say. I can tell you what I experience. There are places (even in Detroit) you can't get 1270 especially at night. I have no problems getting 97.1 FM anywhere in that supposed range. I have listened to it in Owosso at 9:30 p.m. before. It's reception is clearly better than 1270.
This is clearly great news.

Absolutely correct. Listening to the Tigers games, even in Sterling Heights, was torture. I'm thrilled. Would have died of happiness if WJR had gained the contract, but I'm satisfied with this.

I derive little pleasure from 1270's programming at this point. I really don't care what happens to their format. One sports talk station on the AM dial is more than enough, as far as I'm concerned.

I loved listening to David Newman, too. Wherever you are, Big D, God bless you!

[Oblong]

about the ratings, Stoney and Wojo may not get the same numbers but they get enough of the right kind of listeners to get some big advertising money. Between his newspaper gig and the radio gig, I bet Wojo's clearing almost a million bucks a year.

[toadhunter911]

Absolutely correct. Listening to the Tigers games, even in Sterling Heights, was torture. I'm thrilled. Would have died of happiness if WJR had gained the contract, but I'm satisfied with this.

I derive little pleasure from 1270's programming at this point. I really don't care what happens to their format. One sports talk station on the AM dial is more than enough, as far as I'm concerned.

I loved listening to David Newman, too. Wherever you are, Big D, God bless you!

David Newman and Mark Scott were a powerhouse mid-day/afternoon drive 1*2 punch during the mid eighties @ "XYT. I really miss those days...

[dadair6]

I received my copy of Sports Business Journal today (a trade publication for the sports industry) and the lead story in the media section was about the Tigers radio deal. Below is the article as I can't post a link to it.

Tigers considering no-rights-fee radio deal
Andrew Marchand

Even after appearing in the World Series, it looks as though the Detroit Tigers will not be able to secure a rights fee for their local radio coverage.

Instead the Tigers are contemplating agreeing to a revenue-sharing deal with CBS Radio’s WXYT-AM and WKRK-FM. Previously, WXYT paid the team north of $5 million a year.

The past few years, CBS Radio Chairman and CEO Joel Hollander has been on a crusade to drive down local team rights fees. With the advent of satellite radio and the Internet, which have been great advances for MLB’s bottom line, Hollander has argued that the exclusiveness that stations once owned has vanished.

“The bottom line is there are more choices for advertisers and more choices for consumers,” Hollander said.

But he added that the Tigers’ situation also was influenced by geography.

“In Michigan, it is probably a little bit of different circumstances,” Hollander said. “Unemployment is probably the highest in the United States and the advertising business for radio and TV is a little difficult over the last few years. There was probably nobody else who was going to bid.”

Duane McLean, Tigers senior vice president of business, declined to confirm the deal, but said he hoped to have something to announce in the near future.