Mets to WOR 710 in 2014...

[Edgy MD]

Terry Collins is ruining the team by night! Susan Collins is ruining the party by day! At your Clear Channel listening home, WOR!

Shutting down the Wasthington Nationals in the evening! Shutting down the Washington Bureaucrats in the morning! Stay tuned on 710!

[bmfc1]

Nice job JCL and Edgy. Next up, Howie during a rain delay: "let's send it back to the studio for 'Best of Rush''.

[Guest d'Kong76]

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[Edgy MD]

I'm no indulger of right wing talk, but I've found WFAN sports talk as unlistenable as the Rush format.

Back in the early nineties when Rush went national on telebision and I had a period of unemployed uselessness, I'd occasionally stumble upon him late at night, and while I found him disagreeable, I thought he was much more reasoned and researched and restrained than those complaining about him portrayed him as. Henry Winkler starred in a brief-running sitcom called Monty, parodying Rush and portraying him as a mentally diseased hatemonger, treating Hillary Clinton as a vampire that must be chased by the sign of the cross back to the kitchen. "Have they even heard or seen his show?" I thought.

But now, if anything, Rush, bouyed and emboldened by the wave of imitators in that have arisen in the generation since his rise, is now more off the hook than Winkler's character ever was, and to hear him now is to wonder how he is allowed out of the house to wander without restriction, how he could ever be invited to a polite party without a nodding, silent understanding going around that Uncle isn't quite well, and please forgive beforehand any mortifying behavior that is sure to come.

I heard the real Rush, on the other hand, do "Xanadu" yesterday on the satellite radio. My word. Meandering and plodding, but wouldn't that be a heckuva format? Your home of extended progressive metal tracks by day, the New York Mets by night!

[Frayed Knot]

When WABC 770 was in the midst of shifting their talk format into a nationally syndicated line-up, WOR was the place for local talk and it was there where Bob Grant, with his growling, angry, confrontational style, was the afternoon drive-time star. So when Rush first became syndicated and came to NY w/WABC as his home station (he had been doing a local show in Sacramento) many simply transplanted Grant's act onto Rush as the assumed way all conservatives acted whether it was actually the case or not.

Not sure what's going on at ABC now to cause the big right-wing draws of Hannity & Limbaugh to jump ship, but it appears the Clear Channel strategy is to now go the national route in place of the long-time WOR tradition of local programming. Clean Channel stations also hold the rights to several other baseball contracts.

The current WOR lineup (acc to Wikipedia so you know it's true):
5AM - early news
6AM - John Gambling (either the 3rd generation JG or the 4th, I can't keep it straight)
10AM - Mark Simone
Noon - Joan Hamburg (to be replaced by Limbaugh)
2PM - Dave Ramsey
4PM - Rita Cosby (presumably Ramsey & Cosby get bumped by Hannity)
6PM - 'America Now with Andy Dean' (I have no idea with Andy Dean is but I suppose he's a step up from 'America Now with Andy Dick')
9PM - (the above mentioned) John and Ken
11PM - 'Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis' (not sure I want to know what this is)
1AM - George Noory

[Guest d'Kong76]

Trippy tune ... makes me want to break my fast on honeydew ...

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[Guest d'Kong76]

2PM - Steve Somers (him here, you there)

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: I heard the real Rush, on the other hand, do "Xanadu" yesterday on the satellite radio. My word. Meandering and plodding, but wouldn't that be a heckuva format? Your home of extended progressive metal tracks by day, the New York Mets by night!

A radio station devoted to nothing but Rush (the band) and the Mets ... my brother could simply weld his radio dial in place.

[Edgy MD]

I love that your brother's twin musical passions are Rush and KISS --- one being the epitome of stupid smart, and the other the epitome of smart stupid.

They're like the Gene Mauch and Tommy LaSorda of rock bands.

[ashie62]

WOR does Rutgers Sports...

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Kong76 wrote: I'd like to see Somers' contract! He pops up out of nowhere during extended rain delays. Maybe he has a mobile set up in his apartment. Also, he doesn't work on Sundays, must be in the fine print. Y'know, he always did that 20 minutes or so between the end of M&MD and the beginning of the pre-game show. After that, I think he just got paid to sit around the studio in case of a rain delay or, if not, wait until after the post-game was done. Nice work if you can get it. I just can't see Schmoozer with a whole set-up of high-tech equipment in what I picture as some hole in the wall apt with not much more in it other than a TV set, mini-fridge, and a bunch of empty chinese food containers.

I never understood that. I guess they work 'shifts' whether they're on the air or not, but Francesa/Maddog ran that station so much that they didn't even have to cover up to the pregame? What's the logic in having a fresh host on for that. Hell, just extend the pregame and make Coleman do it and talk about BP or something. Air the Terry press conference.

I guess it was probably just an excuse to overload us with ads and have Steve say one or two things and then more ads, and ads. and ads for all the people tuning in early for the Mets game?

Anyway, I guess we're not going to get sports talk during rain delays then?

[Frayed Knot]

I love that your brothers twin musical passions are Rush and KISS --- one being the epitome of stupid smart, and the other the epitome of smart stupid. They're like the Gene Mauch and Tommy LaSorda of rock bands.

Well, those eras of fandom weren't exactly concurrent.
I was going to mention this in the R&R HoF thread, but whenever someone, some adult anyway, tells me about how much they like KISS, my reply often is: "on yeah, my brother was a big fan of KISS too ... and then he turned 14".

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Anyway, I guess we're not going to get sports talk during rain delays then?

Synthesis: severely-right-leaning sports talk during rain delays.

While the storm that's totally-not-the-government's-weather-weapons-at-work passes us by, let's go to 'Lefty No-Out Guys' with Alex and Todd Jones.

[metirish]

Anyway, I guess we're not going to get sports talk during rain delays then? Synthesis: severely-right-leaning sports talk during rain delays. While the storm that's totally-not-the-government's-weather-weapons-at-work passes us by, let's go to 'Lefty No-Out Guys' with Alex and Todd Jones.

lol

"and that catch in right field brought to you by Americans for Prosperity, hey folks, make sure you grab a koch to quench the thirst"

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

"...that was the second batter of the game, and National Rifle Association would like to remind you that the second Amendment can save you and your family when Obama comes to take your guns! Call 1-800-FIREARM ..."

[metirish]

Gold

"and that call to the bullpen is really a call to arms folks, rise up people here's your chance to get freedom fries with that koch"

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Coming to you from the Peerless Burden On Small Business And Working Families Broadcast Booth, I don't even recognize the direction this country is headed in.

[Frayed Knot]

Phil Mushnick says (via NY radio historian David Halberstam - no relation to the late author) that Mets games broadcast over WOR next year will be the first baseball on WOR since Game 7 of the 1956 Yankees-Dodgers World Series.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: MFS62 wrote: I hope they're going to simulcast on one of the WOR sister FM stations -- I doubt it. ... because I just tried to get 710 AM up here and got a festival of static. -- So you're in an area where you can't get AM NYC stations but you can get FM? That doesn't make much sense.

Radio reception up here is weird. less than 60 miles NE of NYC, I sometimes get radio stations from as far away as Maine and Cape Cod overpowering the signals of some NY stations, both AM and FM. I get WCBS-AM loud and clear.
I think I read (heard?) its because many NY stations beam their signals toward upstate NY and New Jersey because they figure Connecticut has its own stations.
Not sure the reason, but it really pisses me off.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Under the right conditions, I've picked up the various clear-channel 50K watt NYC stations from Maine to N Carolina. Indeed the whole purpose of clear channel stations is that there should be no interference from other locations on the same frequency and AM signals, being pretty much omni-directional and NOT line of sight (they bounce off certain atmospheric layers rather than go through them like FM), tend to travel much better. Generally if you can get the other NYC AM 50K stations (660, 770, 880, 1010) you should get this one. Maybe there's some odd sort of local interference screwing up 710 although I can't imagine what that would be.
But the larger point is that if there are local conditions preventing you from getting the AM signal then the FM, which IS line of sight and therefore subject to hills, man-made barriers, or just plain curvature of the earth, would probably be worse, although FM reception can be made better if attached to a rooftop antenna.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like they're going to simulcast on FM as they probably see it as robbing from one of their other audiences in order to double-cast the baseball.

[Edgy MD]

Jeff Wilpon affects the curvature of the Earth!! SELL THE TEAM NOW!!!!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

here's the official release.

No news on radio hosts, but hope that postgame concerts get a push from the awesomeballs that is Klassik Rawk 104.3.

Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment launch landmark multimedia marketing partnership 50,000-Watt AM Powerhouse 710 WOR to Become New Radio Home of the Mets Mets-Related Programming and Promotion to be Featured on Clear Channel's Leading FM Stations in New York Market Including Z100, KTU, LITE FM, Q104.3 and Power 105.1 Strategic Alliance Also includes Promotional Support for Mets on Clear Channel Outdoor and Digital Media Assets Clear Channel to Enhance In-Game Entertainment and Music Events at Citi Field The New York Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any radio or television outlet, today announced the launch of a five-year landmark multimedia marketing partnership. Clear Channel Media and Entertainment's 50,000-watt AM powerhouse 710 WOR will become the flagship radio station of the Mets, broadcasting Spring Training, regular season, and post season games as well as the team's pre- and post-game shows. Beyond broadcasting the games on WOR, the multifaceted strategic alliance includes Mets-related programming and promotion through all of Clear Channel's multi-platform media assets, including radio, digital, outdoor and music/entertainment events. Following are the other key elements of the landmark five-year agreement between the Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment: Radio: The Mets will be marketed across all six top-rated Clear Channel New York radio stations and will work with each station on custom promotional opportunities on air and during Mets home games at Citi Field. Clear Channel and affiliate stations reach 93% of the New York DMA population of 12+ each month. Clear Channel New York radio stations include Z100 (100.3 WHTZ-FM), KTU (103.5 WKTU-FM), LITE FM (106.7 WLTW-FM), Q104.3 (104.3 WAXQ-FM), Power 105.1 (105.1 WWPR-FM) and WOR 710 AM. Digital: In addition to promotion on the stations, each station website and iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's industry-leading, all-in-one digital service, will promote the Mets and Mets-related programming. Outdoor: Clear Channel Outdoor's strategically located media inventory will also market the Mets and WOR relationship throughout the New York Metropolitan Area. Music and Entertainment: The Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment will work together to enhance in-game entertainment at Citi Field and jointly explore the production and promotion of top name concerts, festivals and large-scale entertainment events at Citi Field. Community Outreach and Grass Roots: The Mets and Clear Channel Communities �, the charitable arm of Clear Channel, will also jointly develop a number of outreach and grass roots programs to meet the needs of the communities they serve. "This breakthrough partnership provides us with the ability to serve our loyal fans and attract a new generation of fans through Clear Channel's massive reach and ability to target key demographics across the New York market," said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. "Our agreement delivers more promotion of the club to a broader audience than this franchise ever has had before with additional opportunities to advance our efforts to make Citi Field one of the leading sports and entertainment destinations in the country." "WOR is a powerful, high potential complement to our existing New York brands, and it's an incredible opportunity for us to be able to bring the Mets programming to WOR's lineup and the rest of our New York cluster," said John Hogan, Chairman and CEO, Clear Channel and Entertainment. "We look at this investment not only as an opportunity to establish WOR as a destination to a broader audience, but to also to drive further awareness and growth of the Mets through our unique multiplatform capabilities and programming -- radio, digital, outdoor and live events."

[MFS62]

Radio: The Mets will be marketed across all six top-rated Clear Channel New York radio stations and will work with each station on custom promotional opportunities on air and during Mets home games at Citi Field. Clear Channel and affiliate stations reach 93% of the New York DMA population of 12+ each month. Clear Channel New York radio stations include Z100 (100.3 WHTZ-FM), KTU (103.5 WKTU-FM), LITE FM (106.7 WLTW-FM), Q104.3 (104.3 WAXQ-FM), Power 105.1 (105.1 WWPR-FM) and WOR 710 AM.

The Mets will be "marketed" on all those stations, but it still sounds like the games themselves will only be on WOR-AM.

Later

[seawolf17]

Came through my email this morning shortened to "Mets and Cle" as the subject line. Was sure it was a trade announcement with the Indians.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

seawolf17 wrote: Came through my email this morning shortened to "Mets and Cle" as the subject line. Was sure it was a trade announcement with the Indians.

Or Cleon Jones returning to the Mets.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Doesn't matter so much now that I can stream the games on MLB.com, but I remember I used to get 660 AM in Virginia, but couldn't pick it up in Massachusetts. Of course, I have trouble picking up Boston-based radio stations at my current residence, so I'm not really sure what's going on here.

[G-Fafif]

A voice made for radio?

[Lefty Specialist]

"I won't shake your hand until you tell me where The Schmooze is."

[Guest d'Kong76]

710 AM works in computer room, garage and car.
I approve.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Reports leaking out that WOR wanted to fire Howie Rose but the Mets intervened.