JD10367

The few times I've flipped to 98.5 (it's actually not 98.7) I've heard amateur-sounding hosts, a lot of references to each other, and bad comedy pieces. So it's pretty much like 'EEI with a little less patting-themselves-on-the-back, a little less yelling, and a little less blowhardery.

I'll give them time since they're young, but on a 1-10 scale here I think we're talking a 2 (WEEI) vs. a 3 ("Sports Hub").

Bottom line: if I happen to catch either station interviewing a player or coach, it's good radio. Otherwise, I only listen for sports ticker updates and home-team games.

MoLewisrocks

DA is a Giants and Yankees fan. Fresh off a couple of years in Miami. Competing not just with Mikey but with dinner and TV... Mike has a niche audience that probably barely makes it worth WEEI's while to program in that slot.

If the AM guys did great numbers with BCN it would still exist. Most of their listener base are transients often sleeping in or attending class when they're on. D&C's demographic lives here and has a lot more disposable income...as well as issues...of which sports are only the tip of the iceberg.

If you don't appeal to one or another of the fellowship of the miserable demographic's in this region you won't be around long because they are what fuels sports talk radio ratings.

MoLewisrocks

WEEI has most of the choice interview talent locked up between Patriots Monday and Friday. Those deal are generally exclusives. I know 98.5 was touting a BB call in last Friday but it apparently never materialized. Their leg up access wise seems to be limited to the pre game show, which on Sunday's won't get much play because of the TV network pre game shows it competes against, not to mention because it subjects listeners to Gresh...

E Belichick Unum

The real problem is that EEI refuses to talk football, so any football talk attracts listeners from this board. I can't stand baseball talk, it is almost as boring as watching the game on TV.

The real competition will start when football season opens, then the stations will be going head to head. Maz and Felger do nothing for me. Zo is a good football guy, but he is kind of odd. The morning show on both stations are only white noise. By this time in the season, everybody is sick of talking about the Sox, the only time people want to talk about them is when they lose, then we get the get a lifers spouting about subjects they don't have a clue about.

In a month we willfind out how good the "Sports Hub" really is. If they can compete with EEI during football season, something nobody else has been able to do so far, there will be cause for hope.

Rob0729

I agree the night time slot is not a big maker for any radio station, but if DA proves himself and someone leaves by their own or other accord, he could get the spot. DA may be a Giants and Yankees fan, but you would never know it listening to him. He seems very knowledgable about both the Pats and Sox and plays it pretty unbiased. It isn't unusual for a fan of other teams to come to a market as a radio or TV host and become a fan of the teams he/she is covering at least for the air.

As for Toucher and Rich, in Spring book 2007 they were #1 in the Demo for the 18-44 men and #3 overall for all 18-34 year olds for afternoon drive (those are the only hard numbers I could find). They were big in afternoon drive. They were only on morning drive since December 2, 2008. So their morning numbers are hard to gage. WBCN died because Howard Stern left, David Lee Roth and then Opie and Anthony couldn't get a sliver of his ratings, and the modern rock format is dying all over the country because there is no good modern rock. Toucher and Rich were the only bright spot in the WBCN line up, but by the time they moved them to mornings the station was already a goner and the format couldn't substain an audience on any other day part. Toucher and Rich came with the new station when they moved because they have a following.

As for fellowship of the miserable radio, it fuels the callers to WEEI. I don't know if it actually fuels the listenership of WEEI. Only time will tell, but callers usually only represent less than 3% of most radio stations audiences and doesn't always represent the general listeners' interests or beliefs. That is why you hear the same callers calling into WEEI (and any other radio station) week after week and becoming "celebrities" in their own right.

Again, I don't care if 98.5 beats WEEI. I just want them there as an alternative to WEEI. I have been satisfied with the programming so far. It could be better at times, but it has been a good alternative to WEEI. The general reaction of people who have actually listened to the station and not just written it off because of names like Felger, Masoratti, and Gresh have had a similiar reaction.

Dirk3601215

You make not like him, but Felger does bring in good ratings. I don't like Mas a lot, wouldn't mind seeing him replaced. Zo and Tanguay is pretty good too.

jefmblrd

I've listened to The Sports Hub-can't say I'm too impressed as of yet. I realize they need some time to get going, but I'm not overly optimistic given the talent they've amassed.

__________________
Pats Fan since the Sixties

Rob0729

98.5 has the games. They will get guests. Only about a 6-8 players are tied up to appearances on Patriots Mondays and Fridays. They won't get Brady. But they will get Belichick at times since Belichick did appear on ESPN 890 at times prior to the creation of Patriots Sunday. Guys like Mayo, Welker, Meriweather, Fred Taylor, AD, Burgess, etc. do not have any affiliation with either station. Also, WEEI lost Harrison and may lose Bruschi if Dale Arnold's prediction comes true from today that Bruschi may not make it on the final 53 man roster.

Personally, other than Brady and Belichick, I find player/coaches interviews to be kinda boring. Most of the Pats players are taught to say nothing anyway. Only Brady and Belichick give any real insight on a regular basis. I don't care if there are players on either channel to be perfectly honest with you.

cupofjoe1962

I like to bounce around the dial. I spend 90% on sports radio trying to avoid
steroid talk. When I hear the Steriod talk, All I hear is Charlie Browns teachers
voice. (Bwaaa Blaah... Bwaaa Blaah). I cannot believe people stay on hold
for 45 minutes to talk steroids.

I am no fan of D&C, but I also am no fan of the 98.5 early Show "Turner & Hooch - or whatever there name is".

WBCN is history - Stick a fork in Turner & Hooch.

Tangway/Zolack & Felger/Mazerotti are worth listening to.

BradyManny

I'll agree Lobel's next cogent thought will be his first one in a while, but he hardly chimes in at all. Winter & Valley carry the show, and they are much more into football than the folks on EEI. They know a lot more about sports and the playing of those sports than the folks on EEI, aside from those specifically brought on to talk football. Talk about unlistenable, there are times when EEI sounds like 4 Lobels yelling at each other at the same time.