No Phillies Radio Network for the World Series

[aindik]

Affiliates of the Phillies Radio Network (other than the flagship) are not allowed to broadcast the local call of the World Series.  Per ESPN Radio's contract with MLB, only the team's flagship station is allowed to air coverage of the World Series with local announcers.  That means only 1210 WPHT can have the local guys.  The other Phillies affiliates are not permitted to broadcast local play by play. 

I do believe the affiliates are given first dibs in their markets for the ESPN coverage.

[bub]

That is correct.  Any Phillies Radio Network affiliate planning to carry the World Series on their local station MUST pick up the ESPN Radio feed.  Whether they get first dibs market-wise, that, I'm not entirely sure.

[fmradio1]

This is standard operating procedure for MLB.  It came down that way in Boston two years ago.  In the nearby Providence, RI market, the Red Sox affiliate ran the ESPN feed of the game, as well as the regular ESPN station there.  In the case of the Red Sox, affiliates ran the local pre-game and postgame shows, then switched to ESPN for the actual game play. 

It's possible that 97.5 will carry the ESPN feed while 1210 will go with the local guys.  I'm sure WPHT would want the market exclusivity, but they may not get it since ESPN has the rights. 

[aindik]

97.5 has been carrying the ESPN feed of every Phillies game in the postseason until now.  I don't know why that would change for the Series.

And I did not mean my post to suggest that this was anything other than standard procedure.

In fact, it used to be that even the flagship wasn't allowed to produce a separate broadcast.  Which is why there are no Harry Kalas calls from the 1980 World Series.

This changed some time between 1981 and 1986.  There are legendary Bob Murphy/Gary Thorne calls from the 1986 Series on WHN New York.  "And the pitch by Stanley...And a ground ball trickling...It's a fair ball. It gets by Buckner! Rounding third is Knight...The Mets will win the ballgame...The Mets win! They win!"

"And the Red Sox are in stunned disbelief."

[Nick]

It's OK. 1210 WPHT has a huge signal and the games are at night so it can be heard far and wide. The MLB can't control skywave propagation.

[DToTheJ]

This changed some time between 1981 and 1986.  There are legendary Bob Murphy/Gary Thorne calls from the 1986 Series on WHN New York.  "And the pitch by Stanley...And a ground ball trickling...It's a fair ball. It gets by Buckner! Rounding third is Knight...The Mets will win the ballgame...The Mets win! They win!"

I'm partial to Vin Scully's call: "Little roller up along first... behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight, and the Mets win it!"

[Seltzer]

97.5 will have the World Series. ESPN's #1 team John Miller & Joe Morgan will do the broadcast.

I can live w/o the Phils broadcast. The guys are ok. But it's not the same without Harry.

I'm sure in time they'll grow on me.

[JaMa]

Seltzer, you're right.  There will never be another Harry Kalas.  But having said that, I like Scott Franzke a lot.  He's really good.  And he and L.A. make a great team.

[Rick B.]

97.5 has been carrying the ESPN feed of every Phillies game in the postseason until now.  I don't know why that would change for the Series.

And I did not mean my post to suggest that this was anything other than standard procedure.

In fact, it used to be that even the flagship wasn't allowed to produce a separate broadcast.  Which is why there are no Harry Kalas calls from the 1980 World Series.

This changed some time between 1981 and 1986.  There are legendary Bob Murphy/Gary Thorne calls from the 1986 Series on WHN New York.  "And the pitch by Stanley...And a ground ball trickling...It's a fair ball. It gets by Buckner! Rounding third is Knight...The Mets will win the ballgame...The Mets win! They win!"

"And the Red Sox are in stunned disbelief."

The Phillies were able to produce their own radio broadcasts of the 1983 Series so the rule was changed by then (or waived).

[bub]

This is standard operating procedure for MLB.  It came down that way in Boston two years ago.  In the nearby Providence, RI market, the Red Sox affiliate ran the ESPN feed of the game, as well as the regular ESPN station there.  In the case of the Red Sox, affiliates ran the local pre-game and postgame shows, then switched to ESPN for the actual game play. 

That's correct.  It's been that way for quite some time.  At a station I worked we were on the team's network up to the WS.  Then we had to go to the ESPN feed for the WS.  Some time later, we had the same situation only we didn't carry the WS afterward.  We only went up to the LCS, then that was it.  It's my understanding that depending on the market, the rights fees for ESPN's coverage can be pretty high.