Nothing huge...Just a FYI. Vivlamore touched on a couple media contracts in the works in his blog:
Quote:
I’m hearing that SportSouth has re-upped to do Thrashers television for three more seasons. Not sure if that has been out there or not. My understanding is the new deal also includes an increase in the number of games aired each season with up to 75 in the third year. I will let you know if I find out something more.
Also the radio deal with 680 The Fan expired after this recently completed season. My understanding that a deal there is being worked on and may well get done, but nothing official yet so stay tuned.
IMO...It may do the Thrash good to try 790 for a couple seasons. They get lower ratings, buy I think they would get more coverage. 680 has college football rammed so far up their *****, they barely touch any other sport, and when it's time to spend their 2 mins on the team, they trash them.
They need to court WSB. The blowtorch of the south that can be heard just about everywhere east of the Mississip'. 750 could use some sports programming and the Thrashers could use the exposure
They need to court WSB. The blowtorch of the south that can be heard just about everywhere east of the Mississip'. 750 could use some sports programming and the Thrashers could use the exposure
Unfortunately, the 7p-10p slot is taken up by "The New Herman Cain Show." From 10p-1a, it's Michael Savage. "Hot air radio" tends to pull in a lot of listeners, as well as business advertising dollars. It'd have to be a pretty sweet deal for AM750 to bite on the Thrashers.
Regardless, I'd love to see it happen. 680 and 790 reception sucks pretty hardcore, but 750 is as clear as a bell, pretty much everywhere.
I'm a big proponent for staying with 680 the fan. I live ITP and I remember when the Thrash had 790 I couldn't even pick it up at my house off Briarcliff Rd.
Glad to see SS re-upping with the Thrash; However I would like for them to explore the possibility of expanding coverage to Peachtree TV. I think the Thrashers need to have a basic cable affiliate as well (ala UPN in the early years). Plus Peachtree TV is beamed to Canada for some strange reason, so its not like ratings would suck...
I'm a big proponent for staying with 680 the fan. I live ITP and I remember when the Thrash had 790 I couldn't even pick it up at my house off Briarcliff Rd.
Glad to see SS re-upping with the Thrash; However I would like for them to explore the possibility of expanding coverage to Peachtree TV. I think the Thrashers need to have a basic cable affiliate as well (ala UPN in the early years). Plus Peachtree TV is beamed to Canada for some strange reason, so its not like ratings would suck...
it would be nice to get in on some form, even small, of national coverage like the braves had with TBS. that combined with winning at the same time is what made the braves a nationally liked team. if it worked for them it could work for us. but of course that's not happening.
as for radio, it all sucks pretty much on AM. maybe project 96.1 might want to replace the lost braves coverage and the thrashers might make a better fit to their audience. might explore that option.
it would be nice to get in on some form, even small, of national coverage like the braves had with TBS. that combined with winning at the same time is what made the braves a nationally liked team. if it worked for them it could work for us. but of course that's not happening.
as for radio, it all sucks pretty much on AM. maybe project 96.1 might want to replace the lost braves coverage and the thrashers might make a better fit to their audience. might explore that option.
NHL TV contract with Versus precludes Thrashers games being on a Superstation like TBS or TNT.
it would be nice to get in on some form, even small, of national coverage like the braves had with TBS. that combined with winning at the same time is what made the braves a nationally liked team. if it worked for them it could work for us. but of course that's not happening.
as for radio, it all sucks pretty much on AM. maybe project 96.1 might want to replace the lost braves coverage and the thrashers might make a better fit to their audience. might explore that option.
I'm a big proponent for staying with 680 the fan. I live ITP and I remember when the Thrash had 790 I couldn't even pick it up at my house off Briarcliff Rd.
I live OTP and can't get 680 OR 790 at my house. My best bet is hitting up the online stream on the 680 website.
I agree that moving the team to an FM signal would be great. I think keeping it on an AM signal that can not reach a great number of fans at night during broadcasts is a hindrance and not a help to the team.
Besides if Kincade talking about the team is all the extra exposure the team is going to get, thanks but no thanks. He was talking the other day about the team and was not very flattering. Apparently when HiBob was the coach, he used to get to ride on the charter to away games and get inside info from the locker room. Anderson put an end to that and he was more than happy to see him go. His choice for a replacement, Mike Keenan. That tole me all I need to know to sum up his hockey insight. He does talk about the team, but it is usually to bash the team.
As far as the Peachtree TV thing, yup it is true. I have seen posters on the playoff board talking about it.
It goes back to when the CRTC approved "Superstation" WTBS to be carried on Canadian cable TV as a premium channel. When the WTBS feed and the TBS feed became two separate feeds back in 1990s, the WTBS feed was the approved feed in Canada while the TBS national feed was carried by some operators in Canada without CRTC approval. So when WTBS rebranded as WPCH/Peachtree TV, the feed was also carried by the cable companies in Canada as well.
I definitely think that they should consider Peachtree TV as a potential local broadcaster. The Thrashers have not had an over-the-air since WUPA showed games prior to the Lockout.
I also agree that they need to find an FM radio partner for games. I remember when they would broadcast most Saturday night games on Z-93. When you consider that Project 9-6-1 does do some ticket deals at Thrashers games, they would be a good fit as an FM partner.
Having games on an AM station that has to power down at night it not very conducive to broaden the teams' fan base. I don't think WSB would be interested in picking up the Thrashers. They've previously been the flagship station for the Braves, the Hawks and the Falcons and have over time dropped them when the contracts were up to focus on more bloviators and less sports (UGA football and basketball).
WSB doesn't have to power down at night because they are designated a "clear channel" station and are allowed to broadcast at the same power 24/7. As a result of the clear channel rules, many radio stations on the AM dial are forced to either power down or go off the air until daybreak (For example, 680 The Fan broadcasts at 50,000 watts during the day [the same as WSB AM] but powers down to 10,000 watts at night. 790 broadcasts at 28,000 watts during the day and powers down to 1000 watts at night.) so not to cause interference to those stations nationwide (as well as some stations outside of the US).
If the Thrashers went to Peachtree TV, that would be a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. SportSouth is a regional network. I don't get peachtree TV over here!
Last summer I went to an Indycar Race in Toronto and I remember watching Peachtree TV from my hotel TV....don't recall watching any Bravos games...anyone know if they air beamed to Canada?
