LancasterSteve Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article693970.ece Just give it to a Toronto station, the Bills will be there soon enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Did the team's lousy play hurt listenership and prompt Cumulus to pull out? Osadchey downplayed the impact of another losing season, calling it "the new norm." Ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article693970.ece Just give it to a Toronto station, the Bills will be there soon enough. I predict Rogers' "The Fan 590" in Toronto will be the new Bills flagship. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heitz Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Bummer - I loved streaming the pre-game the past few years, it was a little bit of Buffalo before watching the show on Sunday Ticket... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhg Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 (edited) Now I have zero reason to listen to that cr*p station. Edited January 3, 2012 by dhg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ (not THAT RJ) Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 I predict Rogers' "The Fan 590" in Toronto will be the new Bills flagship. PTR Well, I hope they pick up a network station that has an iPhone app.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McD Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Well, I hope they pick up a network station that has an iPhone app.... Use the tunein app. You should be able to get the station from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 The more important question - Will they continue to sponsor the Jills??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ (not THAT RJ) Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Use the tunein app. You should be able to get the station from there. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurlyBurly51 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) Wow - strange bedfellows. Going to WGR! Maybe Schopp starts talking Bills. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article694869.ece Edited January 4, 2012 by HurlyBurly51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Wow - strange bedfellows. Going to WGR! Maybe Schopp starts talking Bills. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article694869.ece I was wrong. I was pretty confident Rogers would step into the bidding. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir andrew Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Will they actually have to be positive? Never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Number 76 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Will they actually have to be positive? Never! Are people really critical that GR isn't positive about the Bills? Has there been much to be positive about? During just two short stretches since I moved back here seven years ago, the team has been worth talking about in a positive manner: FIrst five weeks of 2008 and first five weeks of 2011. Do you really want the radio opinion folks to talk up a crappy team? Is that useful? If so, to what end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) Are people really critical that GR isn't positive about the Bills? Has there been much to be positive about? During just two short stretches since I moved back here seven years ago, the team has been worth talking about in a positive manner: FIrst five weeks of 2008 and first five weeks of 2011. Do you really want the radio opinion folks to talk up a crappy team? Is that useful? If so, to what end? My understanding of the criticism of GR (I don't listen to them) is that they are dismissive, lazy, and not serious about their coverage of the Bills. They were apparently dismissive because they carry the Sabres and not the Bills so there is a strong rationale for not drumming up Bills conversation… it's bad for their business. That will now change. Their hosts, Schopp and Bulldog made short, dismissive, snarky, simple-minded remarks and analysis about the Bills. I hate this personally… and it happens on this board quite a bit. I don't give a damn really if someone is "negative" as long as they're not just shytting out flip statements. If a professional sports broadcaster thinks something, then by all means explain it intelligently because as we all know, Buffalo is a serious sports town. We don't like dismissive and flip sports commentary. If Gailey sucks, approach the subject with the same seriousness, analysis, and passion that your listenership approaches it with. From what I gather, this is where GR has failed for many years. Edited January 4, 2012 by San Jose Bills Fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 That's how I followed most games this year streaming 97 Rock. For some reason I prefer it on the radio. That was I can have it as background as I do more entertaining things like cooking, shaving my back hair or jerking off. Those of you that have spent any kind of money to watch this team every week the past 10 is nothing but a sucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'64 Bills Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Really, how much money can a local radio station make off an NFL football game especially if they aren't a sports directed station? Anybody that knows what they are doing can watch the games on their PC's or cell phones - blacked out or not - - radio advertising income is falling off the chart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 That's how I followed most games this year streaming 97 Rock. For some reason I prefer it on the radio. That was I can have it as background as I do more entertaining things like cooking, shaving my back hair or jerking off. Those of you that have spent any kind of money to watch this team every week the past 10 is nothing but a sucker. It's not like shaving my back while listening to Van Miller on WBEN back in the glory days… that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Number 76 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 My understanding of the criticism of GR (I don't listen to them) is that they are dismissive, lazy, and not serious about their coverage of the Bills. They were apparently dismissive because they carry the Sabres and not the Bills so there is a strong rationale for not drumming up Bills conversation… it's bad for their business. That will now change. Their hosts, Schopp and Bulldog made short, dismissive, snarky, simple-minded remarks and analysis about the Bills. I hate this personally… and it happens on this board quite a bit. I don't give a damn really if someone is "negative" as long as they're not just shytting out flip statements. If a professional sports broadcaster thinks something, then by all means explain it intelligently because as we all know, Buffalo is a serious sports town. We don't like dismissive and flip sports commentary. If Gailey sucks, approach the subject with the same seriousness, analysis, and passion that your listenership approaches it with. From what I gather, this is where GR has failed for many years. They talk about the Bills ALL THE TIME. People get pissy when the folks at the station talk hockey. I can't imagine what they'd do in a market with four--or seven!--pro sports teams plus major college sports. People also get pissy when they do things like a country draft or Thanksgiving dinner Survivor (you'd have to listen to understand; you wrote that you don't). I can understand a little more about the frustration with that, even if I think it's entertaining. It certainly isn't sports talk. But they do treat the Bills very seriously. Negatively, which is deserved, but seriously. They had a great ten-minute interview with SJ the day after the benching. 97 Rock didn't. Schopp and the Bulldog make snarky remarks about drunk callers, not so much about the Bills. Frankly, listening to the drunk caller beat-down is usually more entertaining than listening to the coack explain a loss, but I'll certainly admit that Sunday, I was tuned in to 97 to hear Gailey explain the SJ situation. That lasted a minute, and then I was back to GR to hear a decent dialogue instead of just an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 They talk about the Bills ALL THE TIME. People get pissy when the folks at the station talk hockey. I can't imagine what they'd do in a market with four--or seven!--pro sports teams plus major college sports. People also get pissy when they do things like a country draft or Thanksgiving dinner Survivor (you'd have to listen to understand; you wrote that you don't). I can understand a little more about the frustration with that, even if I think it's entertaining. It certainly isn't sports talk. But they do treat the Bills very seriously. Negatively, which is deserved, but seriously. They had a great ten-minute interview with SJ the day after the benching. 97 Rock didn't. Schopp and the Bulldog make snarky remarks about drunk callers, not so much about the Bills. Frankly, listening to the drunk caller beat-down is usually more entertaining than listening to the coack explain a loss, but I'll certainly admit that Sunday, I was tuned in to 97 to hear Gailey explain the SJ situation. That lasted a minute, and then I was back to GR to hear a decent dialogue instead of just an interview. Thanks for the perspective of a regular listener. You do hear tons of criticism of the station hereabouts and not much in the way of compliments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Guess I won't be listening to any Bills games, unless I can find somehow tune in the opposing team's broadcast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Since GR started getting more access to the Bills and their players they toned down the petty BS, though Jerry Sunshine still cranks it out in spades. Of course that's his act so he's not about to change it. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icymonsters Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 that stinks it was the only way i could hear the game when its not on tv here in connecticut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Number 76 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Since GR started getting more access to the Bills and their players they toned down the petty BS, though Jerry Sunshine still cranks it out in spades. Of course that's his act so he's not about to change it. PTR Thanks for adding this. I had forgotten that there was a point several years ago where the station and the team were at odds with each other. But for a number of years now, it's been pretty straight reporting and commentary, IMO. I think people will like the change. Unlike 97 Rock, WGR is able to handle a lot of weekly Bills-related programming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 WGR makes it super easy to listen. Go to the website. Click on the listen live tab on the upper corner and a Radio player will appear on your screen click play. Not to hard. They have a smartphone app as well. Making listening on the go easy as well.IMO WGR is better suited to handle the Bills coverage. Many of you forget thats where they were in "the glory days" Now i'm not a GR hack but the station provides good content. Its how I get my Bill/Sabres news in Pittsburgh. Of course i am sure I will get flamed for putting out my honest opinion out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Since GR started getting more access to the Bills and their players they toned down the petty BS, though Jerry Sunshine still cranks it out in spades. Of course that's his act so he's not about to change it. PTR This is exactly it. I hated them, too, back when they were doing the petty BS during the Donahoe era - they hated him for some sort of snub he supposedly did to them. I wanted to punch Mike S. back then. I also hated Dickerson before that, who had a vendetta against the Bills. But, since then, they have covered the Bills fairly, despite what you hear on this board. If you notice, and I did, there were no GR Hate threads here in September and October, despite the fact there was one just about weekly before that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I predict Rogers' "The Fan 590" in Toronto will be the new Bills flagship. PTR I think that would invite a bunch of league & FCC questions to have a foreign broadcaster be the flagship, never mind the issues with local advertisers as you know how Arbitron counts the listeners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I think that would invite a bunch of league & FCC questions to have a foreign broadcaster be the flagship, never mind the issues with local advertisers as you know how Arbitron counts the listeners. There is no FCC jurisdiction involved in broadcast rights. Can't imagine what issues there would be with advertisers. In fact they might sell more ads in Canada. No Arbitron issues since you would have local affiliate stations. Of course that's all moot now. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Now that the games are on WGR, look for their talking heads to do an about face on the radio shows, which will cause the non-talking heads in Buffalo to think the team is great now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Now that the games are on WGR, look for their talking heads to do an about face on the radio shows, which will cause the non-talking heads in Buffalo to think the team is great now.... When's the last time you listened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 When's the last time you listened? 2006, I would guess. My iQ has shot straight up since not listening to that garbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sds7973 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 that stinks it was the only way i could hear the game when its not on tv here in connecticut Go to the App store or Andriod market and get the WGR mobile app. Then stream away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 2006, I would guess. My iQ has shot straight up since not listening to that garbage. That's actually about the time that they stopped their petty agenda against the Bills (esp. Mike S). I hated them, too, then. They're very fair now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 That's actually about the time that they stopped their petty agenda against the Bills (esp. Mike S). I hated them, too, then. They're very fair now. My guess is that they will go the opposite way, now that they have a contract with the Bills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 My guess is that they will go the opposite way, now that they have a contract with the Bills I don't think so. They are very critical of the Sabres now. Unlike back when you were listening. They claim it's because there wasn't much to be critical of back then, and they are mostly right....But, their petty stuff with the Bills then was more than just the on field product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I don't think so. They are very critical of the Sabres now. Unlike back when you were listening. They claim it's because there wasn't much to be critical of back then, and they are mostly right....But, their petty stuff with the Bills then was more than just the on field product. agreed on all counts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 There is no FCC jurisdiction involved in broadcast rights. Can't imagine what issues there would be with advertisers. In fact they might sell more ads in Canada. No Arbitron issues since you would have local affiliate stations. Of course that's all moot now. PTR Local stations would raise a stink with the FCC and advertising would be a big issue if WNY locals start placing ads on 590, and how would you manage the "local" affiliate issue in Buffalo if a lot more people start listening to the 590 feed dropping the local affiliate ratings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I don't think so. They are very critical of the Sabres now. Unlike back when you were listening. They claim it's because there wasn't much to be critical of back then, and they are mostly right....But, their petty stuff with the Bills then was more than just the on field product. Yeah, I agree with all of this. Bills fans who blast GR55 for giving too much air time to the Sabres, while showing no consideration of the Bills are pretty off base. They talk about the Bills plenty...now, people may not appeciate all the personalities they have, but I suspect there will be some changes in that area. They will almost certainly add more Bills programming. What I like about this, we will most likely have more local programming, as they will be covering both pro sports teams...if they can figure out any way to cut Colin Cowherd, or at leas cut down on him, it will be a positive. I wouldn't be surprised if they add Chris Brown for a Bills specific show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Yeah, I agree with all of this. Bills fans who blast GR55 for giving too much air time to the Sabres, while showing no consideration of the Bills are pretty off base. They talk about the Bills plenty...now, people may not appeciate all the personalities they have, but I suspect there will be some changes in that area. They will almost certainly add more Bills programming. What I like about this, we will most likely have more local programming, as they will be covering both pro sports teams...if they can figure out any way to cut Colin Cowherd, or at leas cut down on him, it will be a positive. I wouldn't be surprised if they add Chris Brown for a Bills specific show. I'd really like Brad Riter to take over Cowherd's spot. I wonder if the Bills will get a beat reporter other than Paul Hamilton? You can tell that the Sabres are what he really cares about. As for the notion on this board that GR kisses Sabres butt, this was in today's Buffalo News: There are critics of the station who believe that their hosts occasionally go easy on the Sabres and their management due to their broadcast partnership, but anyone who listens to a steady diet of Schopp, in particular, or the frequent on-air appearances by News Senior Sports Columnist Jerry Sullivan, would not be likely to invest much in those conspiracy theories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Local stations would raise a stink with the FCC and advertising would be a big issue if WNY locals start placing ads on 590, and how would you manage the "local" affiliate issue in Buffalo if a lot more people start listening to the 590 feed dropping the local affiliate ratings? As a person who has applied for and built two FM stations from scratch, and has some knowledge of FCC regs, this would be not something the FCC would involve itself in. Buffalo stations could raise all the stink they want. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) I'd really like Brad Riter to take over Cowherd's spot. I wonder if the Bills will get a beat reporter other than Paul Hamilton? You can tell that the Sabres are what he really cares about. As for the notion on this board that GR kisses Sabres butt, this was in today's Buffalo News: There are critics of the station who believe that their hosts occasionally go easy on the Sabres and their management due to their broadcast partnership, but anyone who listens to a steady diet of Schopp, in particular, or the frequent on-air appearances by News Senior Sports Columnist Jerry Sullivan, would not be likely to invest much in those conspiracy theories. Yes. I used to normally just listen to the archived stuff on GR, interviews and such, so you didn't get too much editorializing. But, starting with this football season, work situation changing, I have listened to more real time stuff on GR, and I never get the feeling that they are "too soft" on the Sabres. Schoop and Bulldog are pretty harsh at times... Agree, too, abotu Hamilton. I think he is great as a Sabres reporter, because hockey is, obviously, his passion, and I never get the feeling that he knows as much about football, he is just doing the job, as he is instructed. He offers, IMO, more insight than any local person, on the Sabres "behind the scenes", but doesn't seem as well connected with the Bills. I don't fault him, but, I suspect GR will get somebody else on the Bills beat, maybe Joe Buscaligia? I also wouldn't be surprised to see much of 97Rocks' programming and Bills people moved to GR. Honestly, and I hate to say this, because I know he lurks here, but I guess I am missing the "alternative appeal" that Brad Riter seems to have. I don't dislike him, mind you, he is fine...but, to me, has many of the same strengths and weaknesses as Mike Schoop, who most (not me) seem to have the biggest issues with. Either way, it seems like he (Riter) may have said/written enough to have irreparably damaged his realtionship with GR. I can't see him going back there. To me, this is a great move. It is far better to have one comprehensive channel for WNY sports talk, than two that are sort of only half-way there. Edited January 6, 2012 by Buftex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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