Sports talk in Milwaukee

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Posted: November 27, 2018, 3:26 PM

Posts: 4757

Woke up this AM to the news that 97.3 is switching formats from top 40 to sports talk, making 5 sports talk stations in Milwaukee. All focusing on local sports talk.

First of all, I can’t see how so many stations can be successful. When we had 2, ratings were low, now the pie is split 5 ways.

Secondly with technology now, anyone can get any show they want with a touch of the button. I listen to Rome everyday on iheart. It’s the only sports talk I listen to. This is probably why stations are less apt to have national programming.

I really wish Milwaukee could offer unique music content instead of apparently focusing only on sports talk, oldies, and top 40. Besides public radio, there is little variety out there.

Also, there are so many resources out there to get info on the local teams, sports talk is not as important as it was before blogs, social media, and message boards.

Finally I’m willing to bet that this may be why Czaban left b&b, yet focuses on Milwaukee sports on his podcast. While I heard from someone that he and drew had a show, since he and kB started a new show on the new station, I find this not likely.

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OldSchoolSnapper

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 27, 2018, 3:36 PM

Posts: 2473

I don't know enough about this stuff but isn't one of them now Milwaukee's only "full power" station or something like that, meaning it has a stronger signal than the others? I vaguely remember someone I know being happy about that.

I don't know how anyone listens to this stuff. I always do when I want to make fun of the callers. The content is not super great and the hosts rarely know more than a respected poster on Brewerfan. The odds of me getting breaking news from there too is pretty small.

I think your post sort of answers itself though. People that want music have their own streaming service or mix for that; they're not passively listening to radio. Guessing the analysts have figured out people will listen to sports babble more readily than music.

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KeithStone53151

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 27, 2018, 4:00 PM

Posts: 3571
Location: New Berlin, WI

They recently just did this with 94.5, had been country up until a few weeks ago and switched to talk radio. 92.1 promptly filled the void by switching to country. I imagine another station will jump into the top 40 mix. Your point on sports talk radio is a good one. I personally have no interest in it, and I'm a pretty big sports fan especially Brewers. I can't imagine where they are getting their ratings. Maybe music licensing is getting so expensive that paying a guy to babble about sports is less expensive and overall more profitable despite less revenue. I'm completely guessing on that, I really have no idea. I'm sure there's a good reason this is happening though.

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FVBrewerFan

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 27, 2018, 4:40 PM

Posts: 7644

I've come full circle. Many years ago I listened to a ton of sports talk- both local and national. I can't stand it now, I literally never listen to it. The only exception is if I happen to be in the car after a Packers loss, because, well, those callers are gold.

Must get good ratings though, and probably with the age group advertisers love.

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JackNicholson1974

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 28, 2018, 12:56 PM

Tom Petty Apologist

Posts: 456

I listen to 107.5 the fan out of Green Bay on my way to work. Their demographic must be old guys over a certain age. The only and I mean ONLY commercials are for "male enhancement" "low-T" and other drugs and procedures for ED and the commercials insinuate that your wife wont be complaining. Its pathetic. Just recently they began running another commercial for a medication that addresses what sounds like an awful GI issue (commercial starts with a woman talking about how her #2 doesnt look like a #2...is there are a number 3? I dry heave every time I hear it).

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patrickgpe

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 28, 2018, 3:31 PM

Posts: 4757

I listen to Rome every day on 1057 the fan through iheart. Man there local hosts seem to be no better than what we have here from listening to their promos.

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jerichoholicninja

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 28, 2018, 3:48 PM

Posts: 7894

Just happened to catch some of Jim Rome today for the first time in about 10 years. I used to listen to him in college when I was doing a lot of driving. Kind of liked him at the time but couldn't stand it now. Unless he's trying to be a parody of himself, I don't know how anyone could take it seriously. It's not even entertaining in a bad way. It's basically an audio internet comments section.

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FVBrewerFan

Re: Sports talk in Milwaukee

Posted: November 28, 2018, 4:31 PM

Posts: 7644

jerichoholicninja said:

Yea, way back when he was entertaining because he was different. Wasn't afraid to take a stand, and the banter between callers from different cities was pretty funny. It just got old, and you're right it seems like a skit now.

Anyone in the Fox Valley remember Shane Sparks? Don't know why, but I thought he was hilarious. Part of it, like Czaban, is sports talk is more entertaining for me when they talk about other things besides sports sometimes. Not everyone can pull it off, but I really enjoyed listening to both those guys.

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