The Sports Animal going country?
That's the latest rumor. Sorry sports fans. Congratulations, Merle Haggard fans.
If I were KRDO, I'd turn 1240 AM back into a sports station, stat.
UPDATE: It's official - classic country. And it'll have "Don Imus in the Morning" in the, err, mornings. And check out the call letters: KCS. Takes you back, doesn't it?
DOUBLE UPDATE: I hadn't realized that Clear Channel flipped KGHF (1350 AM) to the old KDZA. That leaves southern Colorado completely without sports radio, right?
It also raises the question of what CC is plotting for the Jet (107.9 FM), because it was pretty close to KDZA's sound when it started. Maybe they just see it as a check against KKPK (92.9 FM), which has been chewing up the ratings pretty much since it signed on.
posted by AndyW @ 6/25/2008 04:01:00 PM
50 comments
50 Comments:
This would be a great place for Jim Rome..Colin...and Mike and Mike...and of course Tony D....KRDO...Wake up and make this happen...lots of Sports Animal Family guys want Tony D back
Who do we contact at KRDO to make this happen...I miss Tony's show..it was really good
KRDO could become the sports leader and take everything that the animal left behind. It is all about making money thou, and doubtful that Citadel threw in the towel if there truly was a buck to be made?
Citadel threw in the towel because they lost close to a billion dollars and started cutting everything in sight. They cut two DJs in the Springs on two money-making stations.
Currently KRDO simulcasts their FM signal on their AM. Going sports can add new dollars to their pocket.
ESPN is free to stations so it wont cost them anything to put Mike and Mike, Colin and Tirico on the air. I cant imagine that Tony D broke the bank at Citadel. Plus he had tons of spots on the air for sports bars and stuff. This could be new money for KRDO
The experts at KRDO wont touch any of this rubbish. Too much work and effort for a tiny return.
Wow...I really appreciate everyone wanting me back on the air...but that is still a tough business decision for KRDO to make.
I know that sport radio was working in this town but it does take a dedicated sales force to make it work. Citadel didnt really have people committed to the product to make the kind of money you would expect sport radio to make.
However, ratings were going up every book. April trends showed ESPN 1300 beating KVOR in men 18+ and we were just behind some solid FM stations, so we were making noise. In fact, I got congratulation emails from people at other radio stations when they saw the numbers.
Mike and Mike did well, as did Jim Rome. My show held its own too. Now ratings are nothing if there are no sales people behind it. All of the sales staff at Citadel were required to sell out the FM stations we had. If you did sales where would you focus your energy?
I agree with some of the posters here. It's a tough decision to make for KRDO and I dont know what they should do. Do I want a sports station in town? Yes. Do I want to stay in the Springs? Yes. Can I guarentee that it would work again? I cant but its a good bet it will.
Still a very tough decision for the experts at KRDO.
I believe the classic country is a superb move by Citadel. This is a way bigger country town than sports and they make KCCY and take notice on their older demos. Also taking charge of the legendary KCS moniker was pure genius.
oh yeah right...sure country music is big but three country stations plus the ones out of Denver vs no sports station in a city 60 miles from a city with four sports teams!
I bet this new station doesnt come close to the ratings KKML was getting with sports. Plus, music on the AM dial stinks.
I bet this station exceeds sports. Sports is very niche and country, especially classic or oldies is MASS APPEAL. We shall see.
MASS APPEAL for Classic country music...you are out of your mind. Nothing has mass appeal in radio. Everything targets a demographic. Sports is geared towards young mane. Hot AC is geared towards young men and women. Country targets women. News talk targets men. Nothing in radio has MASS APPPEAL.
Take a look at the ratings in Colorado Springs. The best station gets an eight share not a 60 share which is what MASS APPEAL would generate.
One other thing, Citadel wont promote this baby either. Do you think the 100 percent of the city is going to tune in to 1300 on accident when its been sports radio for 5 years?
This isnt about ratings for Citadel. Its about managing money. This is very cheap and requires no board ops, producers, promotions, or talk show hosts. Play music and walk away.
MASS APPEAL...you are crazy
Sports radio in this town has never worked. As a former seller at KRDO, I can tell you that CC is the only thing that sells locally. Sports Animal was a joke from day one. For that matter, why would a sales person waste time selling a crappy little $300 buy on a boring local show when they could use the same amount of time selling a $2000buy? Simple economics people.......
I don't think KRDO will try any All Sports format either on AM or FM.
However I think Mike Lewis (who programs KRDO Radio) should consider putting Jim Rome on the station even if its taped delayed.
Rome would be great for the 7PM-10PM daypart. KRDO runs Sporting News Radio on Weeknights and most hours on the weekends anyway. How about going with someone that is not a throw away.
Tony D could be used on The Drive Home if they don't want to do a Sports program in the afternoon.
As for Jet 107.9 and Oldies 1350; Jet will be a 70's focused station and a Colorado Springs station while 1350 is a 60's focused station and the later will dip into the 1950's more so.
Love the comment from a former sales person. Someone who gets it. Sports is not a client friendly extravaganza. They want it, but they dont want to pay for it. KRDO has been showing nice increases lately, going sports because Clear Channel and Citadel threw it away is a poor business decision. The only sports show with any substance is Jim Rome and maybe the two mikes.
I have to agree. KRDO should not go sports again.
Tony D..you need to get out of town. You really were an incredible talent and you have major market potential. Why on earth would you want to stay here in a market that doesnt think sports radio would work. Get out now and go make some real money and make a real name for yourself.
Dont die in Colorado Springs. It has killed a lot of careers. Dont let it happen to you!
Are you folks serious? Because you are all idiots! Andy is accurate because 1350 out of Pueblo is now oldies (and off my presets). Music on AM is absolute crap.
KRDO has the opportunity to take all of it's sports programming to AM- rejuvenating 1240- add to it with Tony D & ESPN and then make FM solely news and beat the crud out of KVOR and Citadel on both sides. With his experience, Tony D would give better sports reports than Rob on FM. Not a knock on Rob, but Tony D adds a better voice.
Denver stations also have the chance to increase their signal and gain listeners (are you listening Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan?)
Sports Radio in this town is definitely possible. Yes, it's work for the sales people (Kevin out of Citadel did a fantastic job selling the format) AND with Tony D available- he goes out of his way to sell the advertising product. All the other on-location promos are jokes. Tony D even takes time from his show to sell and he had done more on-site promotions than anyone else in this town. He'll do what it takes!
As for the Rockies- who made that decision (Tony D totally sold it here)? Morons- KOA 850 is easily accesible, so that was a HORRIBLE choice. Plus, he talked more about the Rockies when they put them on his station.
Yes, I support Tony D 110% because he cares about the listener and he cares about this community. He's talks about the Sky Sox and he lifts up the AFA programs & CC hockey any chance he gets. He's had MMA and roller derby people on his show. If he goes elsewhere, we are stuck with sub-par sports coverage and interaction. He has handled his departure with truth & grace.
KRDO this is your chance to make news news and make sports your own. DO IT!!!
I always thought Citadel didn't cross-pollinate KVOR and KKML the way they should have. If KRDO were to make the switch - although I have NO indications that they're considering it - I'd have the sports guy do hourly sports segments on the flagship news station and maybe simulcast the show for a half hour or hour when there's a big sporting event to discuss (although KRDO's locked into a pretty tight wheel).
So Cal Dave, you are passionate but line up 10 more people. Youd have a hard time Im afraid.
The whole thing didnt work. Didnt work for 1350. Didnt work for 1300. And didnt work the last time KRDO did it.
If it doenst make REAL money you must aquit these days pal. And sports makes teeny tiny dollars, the reason so many have abandoned it - which you arent grasping.
So, I have to put up with 3 country stations that all aren't that good?! Remember when KCS went off the air? Last I heard, these are public airwaves and the listener should have options and variety, even if it forces the for-profit hand. Did you see Tony's most recent book? Not everyone can be #1, but there is money to be made in sports radio (& smooth jazz, and...). Unfortunately, we don't matter...
Yes, I realize change happens all the time in the biz, but again there is no way AM music does better (especially). I'll challenge Citadel, CC, and anyone else as to how it compares with Sports radio in this town- next week, next month, next year...
BTW- Andy- thanks for the opportunity to have some interaction (especially since Citadel does not answer/return phone calls).
Here's an idea- could you please post a link on your blogger page to a general "radio stations in our town or Southern Colorado" page, where they are, and what they play? Thanks!
Andy can tell you. Sports was always the lowest rated in this town. I guess the ratings were wrong too.
Sports Radio is not about ratings 12+...its about men. The number one billing radio station in the country is not a rock station, its not a country station, its not an AC station.
Its sports 660 WFAN in New York. No radio station brings in more money than them. Why, because Men 18-44 is the most highly coveted deomographic for advertisers. That's where the money is.
Sports radio is not trying to get women or children or old men. It targets Men and only Men. Ratings 12+ are not what sport radio management cares about. I can not stress this enough. I know because I was a seller for The Fan in Denver for a number of years.
By the way, KKML was ranked in the top ten for men in this market for many books. Once he was top four.
Tony....hang in there. You have no idea how many radio people are thinking about you and you will be back. Idiots on this blog dont know radio but you do. You will be back somewhere.
Hey dummy read this: like most here youre wrong:
WLTW-FM, Clear Channel's top-rated Light Adult Contemporary radio station in New York, was the top billing radio station in the nation last year, according to figures released Monday by BIA Financial
Get your facts straight and then post ok?
Its about ratings and money and the sports animal had neither.
If you are an advertiser in this market and have 5,000.00 a month to spend to reach these men 18-44you buy the top 4 or 5 stations, maybe. Last i looked thats not the sports animal and if it was, they would get 200-300 bucks. Do you see the math? It doesnt work.
hey gang this thread is actually interesting for a change(in terms of getting some good opinions and feelings about local radio) but what it reveals is how difficult it is to do sports radio in a smaller market..the best sports stations in the country (like the ticket in dallas) have huge metro populations to draw upon (and yes sports radio is ALL ABOUT men 18-49)..and 4 major teams and a healthy and lively sports "talk" community..all of which colorado springs is kind of caught in the middle. keep up the chat!!!
Yeah, the metro/secondary city divide in sports radio is pretty huge. But since KKFN went to FM, it left the Springs totally high and dry. And there are plenty of secondary and even very small cities that have sports radio stations. They just pick up the ESPN or the Sporting News feeds and stick it on the air. Doing an all-satellite sports station is no more difficult than doing a satellite country station (and the new KCS is from Jones Radio up in Denver).
The questions are, can you sell it, do you want to bother selling it, do you have something better to put on and, if the ansewrs to those are yes, yes, and no, then you can think about whether you want a local show.
I've never sold a radio ad, so I don't know, but it seems like selling a package of news-talk and sports radio might be easier than selling music on the one hand and sports radio on the other.
Andy they are selling KCS in a combo sale with Cat Country. Buy get Cat Country and get KCS.
Yeah, that's what I figured. But they always seemed to sell the Sports Animal seperately from KVOR. And I dunno - maybe advertisers don't want it or don't care, but at least from the standpoint of an initial pitch, news-talk and sports-talk seem to be an easier sell than, "Here's 60 seconds on our top 40 station. You'll reach XX teenage girls... and, by the way, would you be interested in a our sports-talk station?"
They have created a country combo and if u let a client decide, as you suggest, they will usually say NO THANKS or want it for pennies on the dollar, and it takes alot of pennies to add up to one dollar.
Andy, you are right.
Do you know how many sales people at Citadel that were responsible for ESPN came to me and asked me "How do I sell your station?".
They couldnt go to their sales managers because they didnt know either. It was very frustrating.
That being said, I am very hopeful that someone will put sports back on the air here, even if they decided not to have a local show. I know people were listening and I know this town needs one, even like you said, it was all national feeds.
Tony D. was a horrible host. Whiney voice that was always getting way too dramatical. He wasn't really local, as he talked more about Boston than Denver. I always lobved it when Jim filled in.... I saw this coming... I actually wrote the station a few months back. Nobody I know liked Tony D. as a host (nothing against the person, just his skills as a host). I knew if he annoyed everybody I knew, then we weren't alone. And ever notice it was always like the same, maybe 12 people calling in? Yes, I did listen to him (unless I was on the north side of town where I can get THE FAN from Denver), but it wasn't cause I thought he was a good host, I just like sports talk.
However, will miss Rome and Mike and Mike and the other programs.
O Great Psychic who never called, but had the opportunity- time to check in to Cedar Springs...
Have you even read this blog, did you even bother to listen to the show? He was respectful of every single listener, even the ones he disagreed with- in fact he gave them more air time. Jim (Arthur?) was a below average host, but belongs on the news side.
Yes, Tony D was/is PASSIONATE and it showed. He was totally local and he talked Denver sports constantly.
Tony D was/is a FANTASTIC host. Don't even come on here and say otherwise, because it shows how clueless how are...
Its nice too see that Tonys five listeners have continued to support him.
It was all new england all the time constantly barking about boston sports. Totally one sided.
To bad there is no sports in a town this size. While I agree Tony's show was not really for fans of Colorado teams its was still sports. I think a sports station and even a local show talking CO sports could work but I dont know the biz I guess. Good luck Tony even if you were chearing for the Sox over the Rockies I enjoyed the show none the less.
Well, I am female, and I am definitely angry there is no more sports radio in the Springs.
I do realize it takes ratings + money to run a successful media outlet no matter what the format, but I have to vehemently disagree that we need another damn country station in this city.
Unfortunately, I really don't think any local broadcast company will bother with a sports format for a while. No one has the cojones to step in & get it done.
Thanks for all the support that I have seen on these boards. And thanks for all you didnt like my show either. Radio show hosts are not universally liked by everyone and I know there were some people who didnt like it.
I'm sorry my show wasnt for everyone but there is nothing I can do. Right now I am just looking for a way to take care of my kids.
I am really proud of the show. It was not all-Boston all the time. I did cover Air Force, CC and all the Denver teams. We did do a show called "Broncos Monday" during the football season.
In fact, not one time did we have a Red Sox beat writer on the show. We did have the Celtics beat writer but it was Marc Spears, formally of the Denver Post to talk mostly about the Nuggets and the NBA. We talked about the Patroits like all talk shows did this football season and I can not name three players that play for the Bruins.
I do want to thank everyone at the Gazette though. Frank Schwab, Jake Schaller, Dave Ramsey, Kate Crandell, Brian Gomez and Milo Bryant. All of them made numberous stops on my show and I loved it.
So thanks everyone. I do miss all of you.
Was looking forward to another go at getting a columnist from every NFL city to talk with Tony D on the air about the state of their hometown teams in a countdown to the football season ... now I've got no reason to ever listen to 1300AM again (until the next format switch - maybe).
You folks who are claiming that Tony D never talked about Colorado teams are being disingenuous.
He has a fantastic way of blending everyone's teams together. Yes, he talked about New England teams- it's his show- and last I checked, they have several recent championships- but he talked about all of the Colorado teams constantly. Denver radio (not just sports) completely ignores college hockey, for instance, so Tony bridged the gap.
Please, Bronco Monday was always about the Broncos. Sure, he allowed us "outsiders" to get our team in, but that was every now & then. He talked about the Nuggets a lot, too.
And, while we're on it, there are certainly more listeners of Tony D and the Sports Animal than you could think off the top of your head. Not every listener of Tony D is going to come on here to talk about it. An outlet has been lost.
Momma always said, "Stupid is, is stupid does." I can listen to country music almost anywhere on the dial. Sports talk radio was heard ONE PLACE!!!! And now, NO PLACE!!! A corner on the market? Only the most uninformed businessman would've made this sort of move. Yup, like momma always said....
I love the old country songs. How refreshing.
Music on AM is bad enough, but classic country is Death. I guess grandma and grandpa need a place to listen to music everyone else could care less about. Radio is becoming obsolete anyway. Time to go pick up satellite radio. Don’t worry grandpa and grandma, your old fart music will stay on AM, where no one will find it till it is replaced with some other kind of music no one wants to listen to or else it would be on FM.
Absolutely devastated by the loss of the animal. Mike and Mike have gotten too touchy-feely for me and Tirico and Van Pelt make me want to vomit with all their philosophizing, but Colin and Rome, those are my brothers! I turn, then, to music...
As for the late Tony D:
Tony D was a complete hack. He may not have been a bad person but man he knew nothing about sports, wasn't funny, and wasn't smart. Two sequences that outraged me:
1. He and Kip the idiot lamented the fact that the Nuggets hadn't signed Gilbert Arenas several years ago. Arenas is the same sort of me-first, more hassle than he's worth "star" as our entire roster is composed of these days. What a solution! I wanted Ginobili...
2. He and Kip couldn't think of the name Monta Ellis! I realize he's not an everyday name, but if your JOB is to know about sports, you shouldn't have to look up the name of a budding star.
I used to turn my radio off completely between 3 and 6 because I'd get so upset I thought I might run into something. I don't wish Tony or Kip harm, but good riddance.
Words alone cannot express my disgust at losing the Sports Animal, however I will try to articulate the best I can.
I am very unhappy that sports talk radio is now absent from Colorado Springs. I remember the days when I could listen to 1240, 1300, 950 the fan, even z560 to get my sports fix. I loved listening to the local sport shows that talked about the local teams, including CC and AF. I can't get that day in and day out local coverage listening to the national broadcasts.
I may not have always agreed with Tony D or even called in to his show, but I thought he spent a large portion of his shows (the times I would listen, anyways) devoted to Colorado sports. He went above and beyond to showcase pro and college CO sports, especially CC and AF hockey when no one else was.
Sure, some segments of 1300 I didn't care for, like Thursday Hit and Run, but overall, I knew that if the Broncos had a great victory or a stunning letdown, I could count on Tony D to be there the next day to break down the game.
I really miss having that perspective and now with am950 moving to FM only, plus 1240 and 1300 losing the sports feed, I'm finding that I have to listen to CDs or the fm dial instead.
It's a sorry state of affairs that has led us to this point, and I can only hope that sports talk will return.
Thanks for bringing your enthusiasm and flair to Colorado Springs Tony D. I've listened to you since the morning show even before Pappy came aboard back in 2004 and I was a steady listener ever since.
Even if you don't find another sports talk outlet in the Springs (which I hope you do), I sincerely wish for you and your family to find that outlet, wherever it may be.
I remember back in 2007 when Tony stated that Jay Cutler "is a GREAT quarterback." Not... "he's got the stuff to be great." Or, "In time, I can see Cutler as a great quarterback." Nope. He stated that Cutler IS A GREAT QB. No Tony D., Elway, Manning, Brady, Montana, Marino along with a few others were GREAT. This is how I knew Tony D was clueless about Colorado sports. Now don't get all upset you Cutler fanatics... I dig Cutler. Righw now, Cutler is kinda middle class. Not the bottom, but far from the top.
In case you were wondering, it wasn't just one time that he made that statement. I'd be fine with one statement about Cutler being great. But this was a normal thing throughout the 2007 season.
OH.... and it annoyed me when a pushing 40, MARRIED man with kids would get all worked up over, on air, about the hooters girls. But I guess if his wife doesn't care....
SOCAL DAVE....
I am doing well at Cedar Springs. Oh and I never said he was disrespectful to listeners. He was just annoying. And wasn't very good at talking sports. He was awesome at talking about movies though!! He would be a GREAT entertainment talk-host!! Oh, and to the guy who said "how about getting behind the mic yourself and see how much you know..."
Heck... I probably know less about some sports than Tony D. I would never claim that I know more. However, this is why I am not on the radio. I'd probably sound as bad as Tony D. :)
Come visit me. I will predict your future as well. For I am, The One and Only, "O Great Psychic."
Hey Guys,
I am sorry you didnt like my show...it was not for everyone. Normally I dont care about what people think of me or my work. In radio if you have a thin skin, you will not make it. Every host, regardless of topics needs to upset some people. That's part of the job.
Just an insight on that. If you hate a show, DO NOT EVER call the Program Director if you think it will get the show off the air. It really gets PDs excited when their hosts make people so upset they call radio stations. They love it.
If you really hate a host, just turn off the radio. Get more to do the same and you'll finally win the battle.
Look, I'll admit I drank the Kool-aid on Cutler but really, are you that upset that I took a stand and stood by it? You could call and just disagree? It really ate you alive that I thought he would be a great QB? I mean, c'mon, its just sport radio man. It's not like he was going to be the ruler of the free world.
As for Hooters. I havent done a Hooter's remote in two years. Our last one was in 2006! As for my wife, she understood one thing about me. When I am paid to sell something, I sell it. She knew that our financial well-being depended on those remotes.
I didnt get paid a ton of money from Citadel and I have two kids. Those remotes really helped out a ton. I pride myself on selling those remotes to the public as best I could. That included Hooters. I'm not going to say my wife loved every minute of it, but find me a sports talk host in the country that doesnt try to sell his sponsors?
One other thing. I never said on the air, EVER, that I was an sports encyclopedia. I research as best I can for hours every day and I drum up conversation and debate. The fact that you disagreed with me meant I did my job.
My job was NEVER to know as much about sports as possible. In fact, I didnt take a sports trivia quiz when I applied for the job. My job was to generate converstaion and entertain.My ratings growth showed we did a good job of that. The fact that I am talking to people in other markets meant I did a good job.
Again, I am sorry you didnt like me. I am sorry that I wasnt entertaining to you. I am sorry that we never connected but I am not sorry for my body of work.
TD
well said Tony D--never apologize to those who didn't get it..wasted time my friend..you did the best you could..( and that Hooters complaint sounded like someone who has an axe to grind with Hooters ) and in the end , if you can walk away knowingf you rankled a few and made others nod in agreement..you did your job! best of luck..
Wow... I just came across this site. I loved TONY D!!! He'll have no problem getting another gig!! Heck, he should be on TV!! The TV sports guys only have to pretend to know sports for a couple minutes, sandwiched somewhere between weather and the closing credits. This would be perfect for Tony D.!!!
i just wonder why you would listen to music on am when fm is so much better
i listen to the sports animal every day. and guess what i went top there sponsers. i bought there services.
tony d was greathe made my drive home from denver everyday bareable lol good luck tony.
weas sports fans need to fig out wht we can do to bring back sports tlak in colo springs
i thought tony d was great i sure miss not being able to listen to sports talk
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