"Take that Calgary Puck!" — SN960 and Calgary sports media discussion

[Number 39]

He's not everyone's cup of team but Bob McCown seems to have a successful free podcast supported by advertising. Unlike our local guys he's very well known nationally and has deep roots in the largest media market in the country. The result is he is able to bring in A list guests. I think he's one of very few who could pull this off as a full time job in this country but even he isn't changing to listen.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The subscriber number is what had value. They were able to stay afloat thanks to investors regularly pumping money in, but they were a money loser.

The ability to bring 1.2 million people into your ecosystem, one where you have the experience and resources to streamline the product, is worth quite a bit. The NYT also bought Wordle for millions of dollars, an app that wasn’t making any money at the time.

How is a Calgary sports podcast going to attract a million subscribers?

I’m not sure the goal of a Calgary sports podcast started in a basement with 0 overhead is to get bought out by the NYT for a billion dollars.

[saillias]

Podcasts have very low overhead and can work through crowdfunding. All you need is a dedicated enough fanbase to give you some money, it doesn't have to be a huge audience, which I think qualifies our local former Fan 960 hosts.

Your biggest expense is your mic, maybe office equipment in your home. You set up a patreon and set a premium tier at 3-5 dollars a month with bonus episodes that have interviews. You get 500 subs in your first month and you're already making 1.5k a month. Then you set up a youtube channel and maybe the subs pile up enough that you get ad revenue. If you're Boomer and Pinder you can absolutely get sponsors as well. Manscaped Hello Fresh etc. Without Rogers breathing down your neck. Just my thoughts.

[Delgar]

The constant baseball talk has tuned me out. I don't follow the Blue Jays, don't care if they win or lose or trade a player, but its what snet960 is promoting much of the time.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by saillias

Podcasts have very low overhead and can work through crowdfunding. All you need is a dedicated enough fanbase to give you some money, it doesn't have to be a huge audience, which I think qualifies our local former Fan 960 hosts.

Your biggest expense is your mic, maybe office equipment in your home. You set up a patreon and set a premium tier at 3-5 dollars a month with bonus episodes that have interviews. You get 500 subs in your first month and you're already making 1.5k a month. Then you set up a youtube channel and maybe the subs pile up enough that you get ad revenue. If you're Boomer and Pinder you can absolutely get sponsors as well. Manscaped Hello Fresh etc. Without Rogers breathing down your neck. Just my thoughts.

The expense is indeed minimal. The time commitment is the real expense and how one balances that against work/family. It is difficult to make real money at it. As a paid hobby it can be something. But if someone has to also have a "real job" then it becomes more about creating the time to do it than any out of pocket expense.

And yes you can potentially recruit sponsors but that in and of itself is MORE work. You need someone out there selling, creating the packages, creating the promotions, potentially doing audio work, collecting the money. More time. More work.

Podcasts often fail because the content isn't delivered consistent enough. The successful ones have a very consistent delivery of new pods. Many start and stop because at the beginning there is a predictable stream of content but then over time it wanes.

Bingo and I did a good job of sustaining CP Radio I think consistently for about 2-3 years, then my career change and I started a family and we stopped, except for the occasional episode (we should do one now actually).

I don't mean to be pessimistic. I think we could see something from Boomer, Rhett, Pinder actually. But for the most if you are doing it, you do it because you love it, not to make money.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Number 39

He's not everyone's cup of team but Bob McCown seems to have a successful free podcast supported by advertising. Unlike our local guys he's very well known nationally and has deep roots in the largest media market in the country. The result is he is able to bring in A list guests. I think he's one of very few who could pull this off as a full time job in this country but even he isn't changing to listen.

The Bob McCown podcast has been a really nice find for me. Brings me back to the prime time sports days.

Great guests and I appreciate his dour sense of humor more now than in my younger days. This is definitely a podcast that has helped fill my void created by the struggles of Fan 960.

Also, it really highlights how the interviewer/host has the ability to make a lot of topics interesting. He covers a pretty wide range of stuff. Typically I didnt care for Baseball/Golf and other topics when they would come on the radio, but with him hosting it, it makes it a bit more interesting and doesnt usually lose my interest.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by saillias

Podcasts have very low overhead and can work through crowdfunding. All you need is a dedicated enough fanbase to give you some money, it doesn't have to be a huge audience, which I think qualifies our local former Fan 960 hosts.

Your biggest expense is your mic, maybe office equipment in your home. You set up a patreon and set a premium tier at 3-5 dollars a month with bonus episodes that have interviews. You get 500 subs in your first month and you're already making 1.5k a month. Then you set up a youtube channel and maybe the subs pile up enough that you get ad revenue. If you're Boomer and Pinder you can absolutely get sponsors as well. Manscaped Hello Fresh etc. Without Rogers breathing down your neck. Just my thoughts.

I don't know, but when I read that and thought about how many hours and just how much work would go into something like that, the payoff seems paltry. Those guys are professionals. Sure, radio has a reputation for not paying great, but that's below poverty level living.

[PuckSlap]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know, but when I read that and thought about how many hours and just how much work would go into something like that, the payoff seems paltry. Those guys are professionals. Sure, radio has a reputation for not paying great, but that's below poverty level living.

I think that they all have secondary jobs. Most of them probably write for sports sites or maybe just have work elsewhere.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by greyshep

The Bob McCown podcast has been a really nice find for me. Brings me back to the prime time sports days.

Great guests and I appreciate his dour sense of humor more now than in my younger days. This is definitely a podcast that has helped fill my void created by the struggles of Fan 960.

Also, it really highlights how the interviewer/host has the ability to make a lot of topics interesting. He covers a pretty wide range of stuff. Typically I didnt care for Baseball/Golf and other topics when they would come on the radio, but with him hosting it, it makes it a bit more interesting and doesnt usually lose my interest.

NBC Executive: What’s the show about?

George: Nothing!

Executive: Nothing?

George: Nothing!

Executive: …then why am I watching it?

George: Because it’s on TV!

Executive: Not yet.

Except for the “not yet”, this explains everything wrong with broadcasting executives - they’re all George.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know, but when I read that and thought about how many hours and just how much work would go into something like that, the payoff seems paltry. Those guys are professionals. Sure, radio has a reputation for not paying great, but that's below poverty level living.

It's a side gig, it doesn't replace a pro salary but it's just an easy work done to pay ratio.

One episode per week is standard (plus maybe one bonus) of an hour each. Maybe more during regular season. It's a couple hours of work per week. booking guests, recording, editing + uploading the episodes.

From there if you get enough support & growth you can cover the entire league like the Rod Pedersen show or whatever. 1000 subs on youtube gets ad revenue. If you look at who's making podcasts in the overall NHL space right now there is room for content like this I think. There is Barstool network, 32 Thoughts, and then mostly a bunch of amateurs and fans in their basement.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by greyshep

The Bob McCown podcast has been a really nice find for me. Brings me back to the prime time sports days.

Great guests and I appreciate his dour sense of humor more now than in my younger days. This is definitely a podcast that has helped fill my void created by the struggles of Fan 960.

Also, it really highlights how the interviewer/host has the ability to make a lot of topics interesting. He covers a pretty wide range of stuff. Typically I didnt care for Baseball/Golf and other topics when they would come on the radio, but with him hosting it, it makes it a bit more interesting and doesnt usually lose my interest.

Bob McCown has been around a long time, Sportsnet were fools to drop him over money but I doubt he cares with a net worth of $3.5 million.

[GreenLantern2814]

^^^most fan podcasts read like an HF poster come to life.

Analytics make for boring conversations.

The romance has gone out of sports. We barely even acknowledge the incredible stuff we see anymore, we just look at the numbers.

Numbers don’t explain the rush you get watching Gaudreau turn into fog in front of a defenseman, or Iggy screaming down the wing and unloading a clapper from 50 feet out that nearly rips a hole in the mesh.

Sports are about watching people do cool #### at an elite level.

Or at least, they used to be. And still ought to be.

I hate when people #### on the CFL for just that reason - it’s obviously not the NFL, but that’s not the point.

The point is, do you want to watch a live football played at the professional level on a warm summer evening in the city you live? Then the CFL is for you. You’ll see some big hits, some nice catches, some deep completions, and you won’t have to leave the country.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

^^^most fan podcasts read like an HF poster come to life.

Analytics make for boring conversations.

The romance has gone out of sports. We barely even acknowledge the incredible stuff we see anymore, we just look at the numbers.

Numbers don’t explain the rush you get watching Gaudreau turn into fog in front of a defenseman, or Iggy screaming down the wing and unloading a clapper from 50 feet out that nearly rips a hole in the mesh.

Sports are about watching people do cool #### at an elite level.

Or at least, they used to be. And still ought to be.

I hate when people #### on the CFL for just that reason - it’s obviously not the NFL, but that’s not the point.

The point is, do you want to watch a live football played at the professional level on a warm summer evening in the city you live? Then the CFL is for you. You’ll see some big hits, some nice catches, some deep completions, and you won’t have to leave the country.

I mostly agree with this, and to me that's why a guest on 960 like Stephen Brunt was so good. He's a good storyteller and would tell good stories about the players and events as opposed to talking about gambling or statistics the whole time. Talking about advanced stats and or whatever is just mind-numbing. I even scroll past most of that on here, because it's just not interesting to me.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The romance has gone out of sports. We barely even acknowledge the incredible stuff we see anymore, we just look at the numbers.

Numbers don’t explain the rush you get watching Gaudreau turn into fog in front of a defenseman, or Iggy screaming down the wing and unloading a clapper from 50 feet out that nearly rips a hole in the mesh.

Sports are about watching people do cool #### at an elite level.

Or at least, they used to be. And still ought to be.

It sounds like you're not looking very hard for this content. Plays and Misplays of the month are still incredibly popular. Tkachuk's goal against Nashville (last season? The season before? I can't remember) was all over highlight reels for a long time. The Athletic writes special interest stories on players all the time. I suppose if you're reading news from people who focus on stats, then yeah, you're going to get that.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

^^^most fan podcasts read like an HF poster come to life.

Analytics make for boring conversations.

The romance has gone out of sports. We barely even acknowledge the incredible stuff we see anymore, we just look at the numbers.

Numbers don’t explain the rush you get watching Gaudreau turn into fog in front of a defenseman, or Iggy screaming down the wing and unloading a clapper from 50 feet out that nearly rips a hole in the mesh.

Sports are about watching people do cool #### at an elite level.

Or at least, they used to be. And still ought to be.

I hate when people #### on the CFL for just that reason - it’s obviously not the NFL, but that’s not the point.

The point is, do you want to watch a live football played at the professional level on a warm summer evening in the city you live? Then the CFL is for you. You’ll see some big hits, some nice catches, some deep completions, and you won’t have to leave the country.

Spoiler!

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Bob McCown has been around a long time, Sportsnet were fools to drop him over money but I doubt he cares with a net worth of $3.5 million.

That net worth basically means he owns a single-family house in Toronto.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

I think that they all have secondary jobs. Most of them probably write for sports sites or maybe just have work elsewhere.

Speaking of which, this morning I just read a random article promoted on my phone's Google home page, and didn't even notice until after I finished it that it was written by Peter Klein. I miss that guy..

[getbak]

Originally Posted by saillias

Podcasts have very low overhead and can work through crowdfunding. All you need is a dedicated enough fanbase to give you some money, it doesn't have to be a huge audience, which I think qualifies our local former Fan 960 hosts.

Your biggest expense is your mic, maybe office equipment in your home. You set up a patreon and set a premium tier at 3-5 dollars a month with bonus episodes that have interviews. You get 500 subs in your first month and you're already making 1.5k a month. Then you set up a youtube channel and maybe the subs pile up enough that you get ad revenue. If you're Boomer and Pinder you can absolutely get sponsors as well. Manscaped Hello Fresh etc. Without Rogers breathing down your neck. Just my thoughts.

$1,500 a month isn't sustaining anyone, let alone 2 people plus any technical people they might have working for them.

Based on everything I've read, about 2% of your audience will actually subscribe to your Patreon. 500 Patreon subscribers would mean about 25,000 regular listeners.

In the last radio ratings, Sportsnet 960 had just under 45,000 unique listeners per day on average. Keep in mind that's anyone who was within earshot of a radio tuned to 960 for at least a minute, so the number of people who actively chose to listen to the station would be a fraction of that. The number of people who would listen to a podcast from the same people they used to listen to on the radio is going to be a fraction of those who listened on the radio.

25,000 regular listeners for a Calgary-centric sports podcast is likely heavily optimistic.


The typical podcast ads pay about $20 per thousand listeners. At 25,000 listeners, that's $500 per episode. You're not going to be able to get those kinds of deals until you've established your regular release schedule and your regular audience numbers, meaning you're likely doing it for free for a couple of months at least.

Those listener counts and ad rates can likely be increased, but it will take a lot of leg work to get it.



Doing it as a hobby to make some beer money is fine, but trying to turn it into a full-time source of income is a full-time job. The question is, is it worth it for them to do it for beer money?

[tkflames]

Every time I see this thread bumped now....I think I am going to read about SN960 going off the air entirely.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Slava

I mostly agree with this, and to me that's why a guest on 960 like Stephen Brunt was so good. He's a good storyteller and would tell good stories about the players and events as opposed to talking about gambling or statistics the whole time. Talking about advanced stats and or whatever is just mind-numbing. I even scroll past most of that on here, because it's just not interesting to me.

Yes, IMO, podcasts are pretty much all about who they can interview.

Originally Posted by kermitology

That net worth basically means he owns a single-family house in Toronto.

Yup, was gonna say, in Toronto, if you own a house, you have a nice looking net worth, but not necessarily a lot of cash on hand. That said, I doubt any reporting sites really know the net worth of a guy like him anyway. They don’t know his investments or savings.