WBZ and the Red Sox

[David Tomm]

If the Sox landed on WBZ from the beginning, like the Cubs did with WGN 
or the Cardinals did with KMOX, the large radio network would have 
never been built.  Back in the 80's the Mets put their games on 660 and 
essentially dismantled their network, since most of their fan base can 
get a clean signal from WFAN.  I don't think the Sox want to do that.  
The network is a revenue stream, and is key to the value of the radio 
rights.  Nowadays, more and more areas are getting the Sox games on FM, 
like with 103.7 in SE MA, RI and eastern CT, and North Shore with 
104.9.  While WBZ does have that big signal, I'd rather have the 
opportunity to listen on FM.  In the coming years, expect more markets 
in the region to put the games on FM signals.

Dave Tomm
"Mike Thomas"


On Jul 11, 2007, at 11:04 AM, Howard Glazer wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark Laurence <marklaurence@mac.com>
> To: Kevin Vahey <kvahey@gmail.com>
> Cc: BostonRadio Mailing List 
> <boston-radio-interest@rolinin.bostonradio.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:18 AM
> Subject: Re: WBZ and the Red Sox
>
>
>> On Jul 10, 2007, at 10:48 PM, Kevin Vahey wrote:
>>
>>> I consider this one of the great mysteries of Boston radio history.
>>> The Red Sox and WBZ have never joined forces. WBZ certainly coveted
>>> sports as they have been the home of the Pats, Celtics and today the
>>> Bruins. WTIC became a Sox  station 50 years ago in part so Tom Yawkey
>>> could hear the games in South Carolina. Why WNAC, WAAB, WHDH, WMEX,
>>> WITS, WPLM, WRKO, WEEI but never WBZ?
>>
>> Maybe because their strong signal would lower the value of network
>> affiliations in many markets.  I'm guessing that was more of a
>> consideration 20-40 years ago than it is now, but I think the network
>> was probably a large part of the financial package.  As a network
>> flagship, WBZ would be competing against many of its affiliates.
>>
>
> For some reason this has never seemed to matter to the Cubs and WGN. 
> OTOH,
> many other teams have migrated away from their old 50 kw flagships in 
> recent
> years (WJR, KMOX, WSB, WBAL), but I thought those moves were done to 
> get the
> teams on all-sports stations or younger-demographic FM, not to please 
> the
> affiliates in the sticks. Right?
>
> Howard
>
>