A few thoughts from a longtime listener and someone who's actively suggested in person to a number of the personalities on 960 some changes. One of them described me as the "prime target demographic they want to reach"
The morning show with Pinder, Boomer and Warrener was quite good, it took a while but they found their groove and sometimes by accident. Boomer and Pinder taking the job apparently more seriously because the salary paid their bills. Rhett and his $150k a year salary (I am guessing based on previous chatter on the station) provided some good humor, some decent insight, some good stories and some non hockey related stuff. He wasn't into this 100% full time, it showed sometimes but it shouldn't matter.
This was a gig to him that paid enough of the bills to make it worth it to roll out of bed and not go stir crazy with nothing to do.
For some who are complaining about the non hockey/sports talk when the station talks about food, travel, jokes etc. How much sports analysis do you need/want?? This isn't the 1980's anymore. The Battle of Alberta is watered down to nothing with very very few storylines to chat in depth about over the years. This isn't a situation where players are literally being beaten and hit to near death. Some of the NHL games in this era literally are games of passing and blocked shots. No big hits, low scores, no hate, no rivalry. What is there to discuss in depth 82 times + a year??
I do think 960 could benefit more from some in depth, behind the scenes look at sports. I am thinking more along radio version of "The Athletic"
Have a Gary Roberts talk about how he couldn't pass the fitness testing in the 80's and how that's evolved. He trains the best in the NHL and has a wealth of knowledge and can bring a lot to the conversation. Have him provide some fitness and nutrition tips for average Joe's. There is a market place for this type of stuff, Tom Brady is having a huge following with his TB12 Sports business for everything!
Have a regular sports agent talk about some of the business aspects of sports. TSN 1040 in Vancouver has a special hour weekly doing exactly that, teaching listeners things they didn't know. Have some Sportsnet Executive's talk about the media aspect of the business and how it translates to the sports we all love?? When you have cultural icon's on the payroll like Ron MacLean and Don Cherry, do a weekly piece on the history of HNIC, Coaches Corner and the associated conversations with that. Bloopers, travel, fan experiences etc. Broadcast it across all the Sportsnet radio properties!
What I am trying to say in a post too long is that people want a little different spice. The same old game analysis and quotes over and over and over. Sometimes that's all you will hear on a slow news day, morning show and afternoon show talking about D pairings just so a coach can mix it up 4 shifts in.
Mix it up! And PM me if you want any more ideas if anybody ever listens to their "prime target demographic"
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