Sporting News Radio 'changes'

[natureboy88]

Any idea what change is coming August 1?

This is a reposting from the Cleveland board (there appears to be a CBS FM station flipping to sports in the immediate future):

Tim Brando is slated to begin a TV simulcast of his Sporting News Radio show on CBS Sports Network in August.
Sporting News Radio is promoting "changes in sports radio" on August 1.

Is there a possibility that CBS is beginning a roll-out of a multi-platform run ESPN?
I'm wondering if Sporting News Radio may become CBS Sports Radio?  It could compliment the syndication of the NFL via WW1.
Are there other markets that CBS may be looking to add a sports station? They are already in Detroit, Pittsburg, NYC, Atlanta & Chicago (maybe others--I haven't looked that closely).
This covers radio & TV. There is also CBS's ownership of over 200 official college athletic websites via collegesports.com

I imagine the sports media marketplace is due for a shift, considering CBS rebranding CBS College Sports to CBS Sports Network and the Comcast NBC merger bringing Golf Channel, versus and NBC Sports under a single umbrella.

[the golden boy]

I was wondering about this too.

[LAUROJRM]

I can't wait to see what happens either

[ShawnHill1]

CBS has other sports radio stations in Houston (KILT), Baltimore (WJZ-AM), Boston (WBZ-FM), Philadelphia (WIP), Pittsburgh (KDKA-FM), and Sacramento (KHTK)...just off the top of my head; there's probably at least few others that we failed to mention.

It would be certainly a good as time as any for CBS to launch a full sports radio network...they already have well-established sports talkers in major markets and have the play-by-play properties (NFL and NCAA basketball via Westwood One), and it'll absolutely give ESPN and Fox Sports a run for their money.  However, another thing to think about is maybe CBS doesn't mess up their established programming in places like New York (WFAN), Philly or Chicago, for example...unless they want to simulcast those programs to a national audience, under the "CBS Sports Radio" banner.

[brian6969]

it is probably safe to say that CBS Sports Radio isn't happening. Sporting News Radio is owned by David Gow, who also owns KGOW 1560 The Game here in Houston, which is a competeing station with CBS Radio's KILT Sports Radio 610. Since CBS already owns Westwood One and has their hand in the NFL cookie jar, they are probably fine not launching their own sports radio network.

[zrl]

Well a SNR/CBS Sports Radio union may not be happening- but I think there will be a national overnight Sports show produced by CBS Radio.  They are approaching critical mass with their Sports Talkers & it would make great sense to the bean counters.

Their M.O. has been to be all local, in most cases 24 hours a day, so I don't know if they bother to poach Tim Brando from SNR to a day shift, and I don't think Brando would want to move to the overnight GIG. 

As far as the rest of SNR's current line-up, what is there that CBS would really want?  No PBP, (like ESPN with MLB & NBA). No "name" talent; they've got to believe they could match anything SNR has with the talent they currently employ at their local stations, not to mention anyone from the TV side.

If they wanted to, CBS could just start their own sports network & quickly push SNR to #4. 

[Nathan Obral]

it is probably safe to say that CBS Sports Radio isn't happening. Sporting News Radio is owned by David Gow, who also owns KGOW 1560 The Game here in Houston, which is a competeing station with CBS Radio's KILT Sports Radio 610. Since CBS already owns Westwood One and has their hand in the NFL cookie jar, they are probably fine not launching their own sports radio network.

That isn't to say CBS buys SNR, and leases KGOW as a all-syndicated "flanker" to KILT, which has a most-established local lineup plus Romey. Actually it makes perfect sense.

[LAUROJRM]

Here in Boston (98.5 The Sports Hub) is CBSRadio. On overnights and Weekend Overnights they have "Fox Sports Radio" on. They also have it on different times off and on during the weekend.
When they first started, they had "Sporting News Radio" But then they got Fox Sports Radio
Before 98.5 Sports Hub came on about two years ago, (WEEI 850am) had Fox Sports Radio on during overnights, weekend overnights and different times on the weekend. Now they have ESPN Radio on
I think Fox Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio is much better than ESPN. Both sound more alive
I hope CBS buys Sporting News like some of us are guessing, and 98.5 put that on their station, and give Fox Sports Radio back to WEEI.

[ShawnHill1]

If they wanted to, CBS could just start their own sports network & quickly push SNR to #4. 

That was more or less my point in my earlier point...CBS already has the tools in place to do so, if they want to (of course, if the price is right--no pun intended).  Again, I don't think they'll do it at the expense of their local shows, unless they want to take several of their local shows (for example, WFAN's Mike Francesa) to a national audience.  They don't need poach talent from Sporting News, or anywhere else for that matter; Brando's a CBS guy, and can be a building block to help launch a potential "CBS Sports Radio" network.  Hell, Sporting News Radio is a sinking ship anyways, and has been a few years now.

[BRice16]

Fox Sports Radio has made some changes in the ad demands that they have for affiliates, in some cases demanding that they run the national ads from the PMS Show and others, even if they're running local or play-by-play during that timeslot. It's coming as deals come up for renewal. A couple of affiliates have dumped them for SNR and I've heard of several other thru the grapevine that are looking to make a move. Anything that strengthens SNR could swing some affiliates over or at least the threat of it could bring FSR/Premier off some of their new demands.