Farewell to The FAN

[bmfc1]

The Yankees and CBS Radio are close to a deal that would put the Yankees on WFAN starting in 2014, a person familiar with the negotiations told Newsday. The arrangement would bump the Mets off the station that has carried their games since WFAN's inception in 1987. Lonn Trost, the Yankees' chief operating officer, said Tuesday a deal for the team's radio rights is "close," but he would not confirm or deny that WFAN is the likely landing place. "Right now we're in negotiations and everything is confidential," Trost said. "Part of the agreement we're drafting has a confidentiality agreement. I can't even get into it. I am close with some entity for next year." Still, he cautioned, "Things have gone in so many directions with this negotiation . . . I can't tell you today if it will be the same thing tomorrow." It is not clear where the Mets would land, but options include ESPN Radio and one or more of the New York stations -- including WOR -- owned by Clear Channel Communications, which earlier in the process made a serious bid for the Yankees' rights. All indications are that John Sterling would remain the team's play-by-play man. Less certain is the status of his partner, Suzyn Waldman, but if the team gives its blessing they will continue the on-air partnership that began in 2005. The Yankees currently are carried by WCBS Radio, which like WFAN, is owned by CBS. The current one-year contract is believed to pay the team $13 to $14 million. The Mets are believed to earn about half what the Yankees do in rights fees but have been a money-loser for WFAN, which inherited the team when it took over WHN's 1050-AM signal in 1987. The Mets then moved down the dial with WFAN to 660-AM in 1988.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/source-yankees-close-to-deal-to-move-to-wfan-in-2014-1.6044600

Will the Mets prefer to stay on AM, and possibly be on WOR, or go to ESPN-NY which means FM?

I removed the question mark in the title as Rubin tweeted: "Jeff Wilpon confirms #Mets leaving WFAN. Says team negotiating with several parties."

Edited September 10, 2013 by Guest

[Ceetar]

*yawn* Isn't WFAN going FM-Only sooner or later anyway?

[Benjamin Grimm]

It may make you yawn, but it matters to me. I like having the Mets on AM radio because I can't get New York City FM signals where I live.

I don't spend a whole lot of time listening to the Mets on the radio, but I do like having it as an option.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That'd be a shame if the Mets left WFAN. And probably a dumb deal for everyone considering the inevitable forthcoming crossing of fortunes/fans/buzz/energy/wins/attendance/revenues.

It just took the stupid Mets way too long to get into a position where a such a point is even imaginable.

[Edgy MD]

i just like the notion of Lonn F. Trost saying "I am close with some entity."

[Theoldmole]

I do spend a lot of time listening to the Mets on the radio, but I have XM for my car abd AtBat at home, so I'm covered. No cable or dish at home (Roku only) so I need radio.

The worst part of the Yankees moving to WFAN is how much Mike Francesa will like it.

[Gwreck]

The Mets being on anything less than a 50,000 clear channel AM station is catastrophic

[bmfc1]

My guess is that they end up on ESPN-NY with a simulcast on AM. Kay, the MFY announcer, would be the lead-in to Mets weeknight games.

[Guest sharpie]

If the Mets leave WFAN and end up on FM then that will end any AM listening that I ever do as I would certainly not listen to Yankee-centric WFAN.

[bmfc1]

sharpie wrote: If the Mets leave WFAN and end up on FM then that will end any AM listening that I ever do as I would certainly not listen to Yankee-centric WFAN.

No traffic on the :8's or :1's for you?

[dgwphotography]

This means I wouldn't listen to WFAN at all. The only reason my radio is pointed to that station from the times I'm listening to Mets games. I find it to be unlistenable most of the time...

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: The Mets being on anything less than a 50,000 clear channel AM station is catastrophic

That seems inevitable regardless of if the Yankees take over WFAN or not. I thought the plan was always to sell off 660 and remain on FM 101.9. Of course, the bigger issue could be the Howie/Josh angle, who as I follow it are WFAN employees right?

It seems to me like WFAN is sticking hard to an outdated model. throwing money at things like Mike Francesa and Yankees broadcasts which aren't going to stop radio from fading into uselessness. It'd be nice for the Mets to capitalize on that, but perhaps this frees them to do something innovative *ha* like stream the games for free over the internet. Or sign with Google Play or something.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure what good innovation would look like, but that would sure be great.

I get the idea that MLB does their best to control teams' experiments into nu media initiatives.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It may make you yawn, but it matters to me. I like having the Mets on AM radio because I can't get New York City FM signals where I live. I don't spend a whole lot of time listening to the Mets on the radio, but I do like having it as an option.

Get the MLB At Bat app. it's amazing, giving you all the Mets games -- and any other game you want. I listen in the car and at home all the time.

[metirish]

I'd hate this move....something about the Mets and the 'Fan......

[Benjamin Grimm]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: It may make you yawn, but it matters to me. I like having the Mets on AM radio because I can't get New York City FM signals where I live. I don't spend a whole lot of time listening to the Mets on the radio, but I do like having it as an option. Get the MLB At Bat app. it's amazing, giving you all the Mets games -- and any other game you want. I listen in the car and at home all the time.

That would involve getting a smart phone, and I have no intention of doing that any time soon.

I guess if I decide to not keep up with the times, I can expect to be left behind. Not having the Mets on the radio would have been a much bigger problem for me 25 years ago than it would be in 2014.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Jeffy has confirmed the Mets will leave FAN, according to twatters.

Yet another tragedy under his watch.

Fuck him.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Jeffy has confirmed the Mets will leave FAN, according to twatters. Yet another tragedy under his watch. Fuck him.

Wilpon: Mets expect to leave WFAN

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/77477/wilpon-mets-expect-to-leave-wfan

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: It may make you yawn, but it matters to me. I like having the Mets on AM radio because I can't get New York City FM signals where I live. I don't spend a whole lot of time listening to the Mets on the radio, but I do like having it as an option. Get the MLB At Bat app. it's amazing, giving you all the Mets games -- and any other game you want. I listen in the car and at home all the time. That would involve getting a smart phone, and I have no intention of doing that any time soon. I guess if I decide to not keep up with the times, I can expect to be left behind. Not having the Mets on the radio would have been a much bigger problem for me 25 years ago than it would be in 2014.

Listening through your computer while posting at the Crane Pool --- GOOD TIMES.

[HahnSolo]

There was something nice about being a few hundred miles outside NY and still being able to pick up the Mets in the car that I will miss. Little Solo will be unhappy as well...he often listens to games on a radio after lights-out, and FAN is the easiest station to pick up.
(I live 50 miles north of the city, FYI, and reception on 98.7 FM is touch and go).

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure what good innovation would look like, but that would sure be great. I get the idea that MLB does their best to control teams' experiments into nu media initiatives.

Yeah, but radio seems to fall by the wayside a little bit. no blackouts or anything like that. Included in the At-Bat app with no add-on price. thrown in on Club Mets purchases. Maybe that opens the door for clubs to have a little freedom.

Regardless, if the Mets start winning and you're 50ish miles outside the city and can't get the local signal, might be time to start petitioning local stations to pick it up on the Mets Radio Network. Wonder how much that affiliation costs. I assume just buying the At-Bat app and streaming it over the air on a college radio station for $15 is in violation.

[Vic Sage]

I assume just buying the At-Bat app and streaming it over the air on a college radio station for $15 is in violation.

ya THINK?

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: It may make you yawn, but it matters to me. I like having the Mets on AM radio because I can't get New York City FM signals where I live. I don't spend a whole lot of time listening to the Mets on the radio, but I do like having it as an option. Get the MLB At Bat app. it's amazing, giving you all the Mets games -- and any other game you want. I listen in the car and at home all the time. That would involve getting a smart phone, and I have no intention of doing that any time soon. I guess if I decide to not keep up with the times, I can expect to be left behind. Not having the Mets on the radio would have been a much bigger problem for me 25 years ago than it would be in 2014.

It might be time to try a smart phone. They're magical, like Dwight Gooden in 1985. And they can take photos, too.

[Zvon]

This sucks. I hate change. I'm still reeling over the TV move.


What year was that, when we went from WOR to WPIX? To me, this was blasphemy. Thats was the Skanks channel my whole life!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

To me this is another signal of the steady deterioration of the franchise under the Wilpons that has also manifested itself in stuff like carelessly neglecting to build CitiField with any regard for personality; becoming the least desirable team in baseball for a minor-league city to align with; the team whose illegally earned money was wasted on making a show of competitiveness rather than invested in the effort competitiveness actually required etc etc etc down the line. I hate them.

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: To me this is another signal of the steady deterioration of the franchise under the Wilpons that has also manifested itself in stuff like carelessly neglecting to build CitiField with any regard for personality; becoming the least desirable team in baseball for a minor-league city to align with; the team whose illegally earned money was wasted on making a show of competitiveness rather than invested in the effort competitiveness actually required etc etc etc down the line. I hate them.

You are far from alone on that.

[metirish]

Yeah, I fucking despise them ....and auld Sal fucking Katz too....wanker

[batmagadanleadoff]

Wait'll ol' man eff Wilpon retires. Oh brother.

[Guest themetfairy]

I hope that we'll be able to pick up the new station down here; we've been relying on the WFAN signal, and we don't always get all of the NYC stations.

[Lefty Specialist]

This has been rumored for years. Face it- the Yankees are a lot more desirable than the Mets from a business perspective.

The FAN and WCBS are both owned by the same company. WCBS is a news station, and it's awkward to put the news on hold for four hours while you broadcast the Yanks playing the Houston Astros or some such. So for CBS, it's maximizing value.

Remember, the Mets were wandering nomads on the AM dial until the FAN came along. I remember being very little and listening them to WJRZ, a crappy country music station where the signal would fade in and out after dark. Sometimes I'd wake up to Hank Williams or Conway Twitty in the morning. This may explain my life-long aversion to country music.