Changes coming to HNIC and Fan960?

[MRCboicgy]

Nice S-bomb live from Walker!

[GirlySports]

Do you guys think the issue with 960 is it's too limited to hockey? Yes, the majority of people in Calgary love hockey and talk Flames, but you can't do that 24/7 365.

Should they talk about local sports more, university sports, high school sports, Stampeders, or there's World Volleyball in town this week.

In the States, national sports radio talks about NFL year round for hours and hours but pivot to NBA and MLB and NCAA and other issues, sometimes political, throughout the year if there's big news. Local radio I believe talks about their local teams.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Do you guys think the issue with 960 is it's too limited to hockey? Yes, the majority of people in Calgary love hockey and talk Flames, but you can't do that 24/7 365.

Should they talk about local sports more, university sports, high school sports, Stampeders, or there's World Volleyball in town this week.

In the States, national sports radio talks about NFL year round for hours and hours but pivot to NBA and MLB and NCAA and other issues, sometimes political, throughout the year if there's big news. Local radio I believe talks about their local teams.

Absolutely they need to cover more than just Flames but I just don't know if they have enough guys there that have knowledge that covers the landscape of sports. Boomer was really a hockey guy only that would dabble in football on the side but he's not a MLB, NBA, tennis, golf guy at all.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Should they talk about local sports more, university sports, high school sports, Stampeders, or there's World Volleyball in town this week.
.

outside of the Stamps people don't care about that stuff. You start talking about that stuff you lose a ton of listeners.
In fact when the Fan is talking about anything not hockey/Flames they lose listeners.
It's all stuff measured.

But World Volleyball? That stuff will cause a massive decline in listeners.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Do you guys think the issue with 960 is it's too limited to hockey? Yes, the majority of people in Calgary love hockey and talk Flames, but you can't do that 24/7 365.

Should they talk about local sports more, university sports, high school sports, Stampeders, or there's World Volleyball in town this week.

In the States, national sports radio talks about NFL year round for hours and hours but pivot to NBA and MLB and NCAA and other issues, sometimes political, throughout the year if there's big news. Local radio I believe talks about their local teams.

Absolutely they should. But I've heard snarky remarks over the years from the panelists and hosts themselves about how no one cares about other sports. They aren't interested in covering anything else.

[Delgar]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Should they talk about local sports more, university sports, high school sports, Stampeders, or there's World Volleyball in town this week.

I don't know about World Volleyball (at all) but the concept of expanding into other sports is a good idea. There are many teams in Calgary, University and otherwise, that would love extra exposure which could lead to more fans coming out.

The resources issue is a big one, but the teams involved would be able to help the broadcasters understand and latch on to story lines that could become interesting to a casual listener. It doesn't mean the broadcasters need to go to the games, that would be very time consuming. But even just a few conversations with the teams' leadership would go a long way to help getting into interesting story lines.

Start it small, and see if it "takes".

Generally, I think you're onto something.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

outside of the Stamps people don't care about that stuff. You start talking about that stuff you lose a ton of listeners.
In fact when the Fan is talking about anything not hockey/Flames they lose listeners.
It's all stuff measured.

But World Volleyball? That stuff will cause a massive decline in listeners.

You are right that Calgary doesn't have enough diverse sports fans to be able to deviate far from NHL and to a lesser extent the NFL/CFL. Still I think you don't do your station favors from overly concentrating on what's already not bringing in great listening numbers. The station has gone as far as it can go overly focusing on the Flames. Mixing in other sports would be the way to do it as if you turn it into individual segments then people will just tune out the segments they aren't interesting. Sprinkle it in with Flames talk and it may broaden things for listeners that may have already had their fill of Flames talk.

[kobasew19]

Tears

[BigT112]

Oh boy! Who is cutting onions over here! Thanks for the memories Boomer!

[rogermexico]

Boomer, you are a goddamn wonderful human being. Thanks for everything all these years.

[Moneyhands23]

Good for Dean on leaving with Class!

And sneaking in the S-bomb!

[SportsJunky]

Great job today Boomer.

[GirlySports]

I mean not world volleyball normally but they are in town playing this weekend at The 7 Chiefs Sportsplex. It's a live event you can go see.
You could interview the coach or the captain. It would be 10 minutes.

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I mean not world volleyball normally but they are in town playing this weekend at The 7 Chiefs Sportsplex. It's a live event you can go see.

960 interviewed Canada's coach last week to preview the event.

[dustygoon]

Boomer. What a great dude. Hard not to get a little choked up with him. Hope we get to hear his voice again.

[tvp2003]

The end of an era.

For years he entertained us. And despite jokes about candy and his size and what he ate, he almost became a part of your family even though his talents were worthy to be on a bigger stage.

The chemistry he had with others was also unmistakable. They would come and go over the years, but he would always be the one to stir the drink.

Wait, what thread is this?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I mean not world volleyball normally but they are in town playing this weekend at The 7 Chiefs Sportsplex. It's a live event you can go see.
You could interview the coach or the captain. It would be 10 minutes.

And during those 10 minutes listeners switch the dials.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

And during those 10 minutes listeners switch the dials.

I for one would like a sports station to talk about sports in the city and the wider world.

I changed the dial when they were rambling about what Rhett ate the night before.

I guess most sports fans in this city only care about hockey and shooting the ####.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I for one would like a sports station to talk about sports in the city and the wider world.

I changed the dial when they were rambling about what Rhett ate the night before.

I guess most sports fans in this city only care about hockey and shooting the ####.

Remember all of this is measured. And the issue is listeners dip in and out depending on commute times and what not. So even though it may seem like they are talking Flames 8 hours a day, most listeners are tuning in for a small chunk of that. So if you want the Fan960 to be talking hockey during your 20 minute drive in, and when you tune its volleyball - you change.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I for one would like a sports station to talk about sports in the city and the wider world.

I changed the dial when they were rambling about what Rhett ate the night before.

I guess most sports fans in this city only care about hockey and shooting the ####.

Not gonna lie, I'm that person. Anything local other than the Flames, and I usually switch to another station. I only listen to the Fan960 for hockey and the morning show entertainment. I think they have a great blend of sports / non sports talk, and I agree with Rhett that the morning show really started getting bigger after they talked less about sports. I know I'm not helping grow interest in grass roots sports, but I can't help it. I like what I like, and local grass roots sports really doesn't appeal to me.