A home for those who love almost everything about The Ticket (1310 AM, 96.7 FM, Dallas-Fort Worth), and who would like to discuss -- respectfully and fondly -- their thoughts on how (and whether) to eliminate the "almost."
I don't understand this post, Plainsman. So I'll respond in kind:
There's a time for love and a time for living. You take a chance and face the wind. An open road and a road that's hidden A brand new life around the bend. There were times when I lost a dream or two. Found the trail, and at the end was you. There's a path you take and a path untaken The choice is up to you my friend. Nights are long but you're on your way To a brand new life, Brand new life, Brand new life around the bend.
Just WHO is the boss, Plainsman? I knew Judith Light, and you sir, are no Judith Light.
Ah, yes, I can see why today's post would prompt bafflement on your part. It is unusually opaque, even for me. Thank you for your illuminating response.
"Ratings are in for June, which really translates into May 24 to June 20. There was Rangers talk, the Mavericks draft talk and very little Cowboys.
Among all listeners all the time, “The Ticket” KTCK-AM (1310) scored a 2.8 average share of the tuned-in audience. ESPN KESN-FM (103.3) was at 1.9 and “The Fan” KRLD-FM (105.3) finished at 1.0.
In the all-important “men 25-54” target demographic on weekdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. when the stations’ top talent works, it was The Ticket at 7.7, followed by ESPN at 2.6 and The Fan at 1.7. For all stations across the radio dials on AM and FM, The Ticket was No. 1 in the demo. ESPN was No. 13, and The Fan was No. 25.
The Ticket finished first every hour, ESPN was No. 2 for 10 hours and The Fan was No. 2 at 10 a.m. and noon. ESPN and The Fan were tied at 6 p.m.
Here’s a show-by-show rundown by station:
The Ticket: Dunham & Miller (7.6); Norm Hitzges (6.6); BaD Radio (7.1); Hardline (8.7).
ESPN: Mike & Mike (2.9); Ben & Skin (1.9); The Herd (1.8); Coop & Nate (2.8); Galloway and Co. (3.2).
Talk about a thrashing of the highest order. To me, and I could and probably am way off base, the continual, year after, now, year of pummeling and the CBS/Cumulus rumors of some sort of merger point toward the end of The Fan as it's now constituted. I'll bet by this time next year The Ticket has the 105.3 fm signal, while The Fan has the 1310 am signal. The former carrying on as always, the latter carrying game broadcasts, regional/national programming with some of the now Ticket B-Teamers and a few Fan hosts filling in certain time slots. What say any of you?
4:29 Anon, that's an interesting thought. If The Ticket were to absorb The Fan and Greggo was included in the deal in any way, shape or form, that might be just the thing to push Mike into retirement. And possibly insanity.
I don't think it'll happen, though. Other than the signal, there's nothing to salvage from The Fan. And Cumulus (along with Susquehanna before it) has shown that the signal is the least important thing as far as they're concerned.
I think that if the scenario I offered plays out, Greggo, Whitt, and many others are definitely out. I can see Elf, maybe Chris Arnold, and perhaps a few others hanging on as either part timers on the am side of things or some such. But no, I'd say there's no way Greggo is involved. Unless he and Mike R mend their relationship on some level. And even then, I'd bet Greggo to be relegated to the am side of things, if that.
Ironically there IS a new post up @ The Ticket Tribute, although I received an email (because I've posted there before) stating as much after I saw the new post here at MTC. I haven't had a chance to read it, but it's a pretty lengthly post.
Either way, there's new Ticket info to read if anyone's interested
I just read the Ticket Tribute article. Great stuff. Evidently this person is or was in the industry in some capacity. Also, two nice mentions of and links to MTC. Recommended reading, I say.
Calling it 105.3 the ticket would be weird. I dont think theyd fuck with the brand name that much. It always has been 1310 the ticket and id be shocked if that changes. Think of the island of abandoned t shirts.:(
Off track comment about the Fan. Think what you want about female sportscasters but I entered my name for a date. (Will have to bring the wife, though.)
http://www.slaterthedater.com/janes-bio/
And I will throw in some extra for Mary Lou Retton. (Be sure to read the article.)
Went to the "date" link, and man oh man is that just plain asinine. Who does that? What sort of company/management comes up with that idea? And what sort of person agrees to do it? Maybe it was her idea, which is even creepier. Such a gross, bad touch station. Everything about it.
Ticket Tribute Guy's got the goods. Obviously very knowledgeable about the radio industry and technical aspects, and, as a result, probably has some decent first/second/third-hand Ticket sources.
Filling in many dismal gaps in Your Plainsman's knowledge.
I have zero good ideas about what's going to happen in the next year or so, but I agree with those who feel that there's something in the offing.
I'd be surprised (but pleased) if there were a signal switch. I cannot cannot imagine that there will be any meaningful cross-pollination in talent. I think Greg Williams burned all of his bridges, not just those to Mike R. I'm thinking Mark Elfenbein still has some goodwill at the channel, but what the heck would you do with him?
I was fascinated by Ticket Tribute Guy's report on the "Talkers" list of the Top 100. There is an obvious coastal bias, but even more obvious is the higher ratings for those talkers with national exposure.
Which raises the issue, raised here in a long-ago post and repeated from time to time since then (http://myticketconfession.blogspot.com/2010/05/time-has-come-to-speak-of-syndication.html), of whether Cumulus is missing a bet by not attempting to syndicate any Ticket programming (Top candidate: The Musers, followed by Norm and BaD [the link is discouraging re BaD, but I now think it might be retoolable for regional/national exposure]; wonderful as The Hardline is, it would lose too much of its character if it stretched its content to include non-DFW material). I will admit that it is probably easier to syndicate a New York- or Los Angeles-based show that (I'm guessing) samples the national sports scene more intensively than does The Little DFW One.
In any event, I commend today's Ticket Tribute Guy's post to The Nation. (www.tickettribute.com)
Thanks to TTG for the links. Keep up the good work, delighted to have a fansite companion.
I don't think the CBS/Cumulus thing means anything at all. CBS and Cumulus are national companies. The Fan and The Ticket are local radio stations. I could see a change in the overnight programming from sporting news to something else but I don't think anything else will change.
I too was enamored with Mike Rhyner's niece. I did rewind the old DVR a time or two, hoping to catch other Ticket personalities... I did not even see "B" types there, did anyone else.
That is the one thing that has changed over the years. Even 5 or 6 years into the thing, on-air personalities would sporadically show up at events. I get why they don't, but it was still cool back then.
I tried to post at the time, but the captcha is bad enough on a PC, iPhone is horrible.
Because whether the Cowboys are on an am or fm signal, the ratings are unaffected. This has been proven out through both The Ticket am and KRLD am, KVIL fm, KLUV fm, and KRLD fm. Same can be said with the Rangers.
Game broadcasts are a different animal than an everyday talk show.
If they're basically merged through a merger, the Cowboys could probably choose which station they would go on, I'm assuming. I'll probably be shot down by an Anon, but that's my best guess.
All I really care about is how all this affects the Sunday MaSS show. Isn't getting this show the most airtime possible, with the clearest signal and the widest audience all that we should be really hoping for?
It really doesn't matter which signal would air, say, the Cowboy games, smart ***. I threw out a possible scenario; if games are aired on Sundays on the fm side of things, that has little, if any, bearing on my "what if." And that's all it is, a "what if." You're not half as clever as you think you are, sir or madam.
Don't worry Plainsman.... us JV-ers, especially JV B Teamers like we (us?) Sunday MaSS boys are used to it. Just consider us the last defense against 5 hours of Joe Morgan every Sunday....that's worth something isn't it? Thanks for reaching over to grab the brake nonetheless - you're very sweet to do that. Besides, Anon 2:34 is probably Mike or Cash - those Cirque boys really have it out for Sunday MaSS!
Any thoughts thus far on Corby as the main host? I've been pleasantly surprised. He hasn't been too far over the top or superlative. In fact, he's been pretty even keeled. He seems at home driving the bus. Maybe there is a Hardline or some such after Rhynes retires, after all.
On BaD today, Bob was alluding to a technical issue that he had that prevented him from bringing in some audio. He said it was completely his issue and had nothing to do with the station. Someone (I think it was Sea Bass) asked if he had another Brett living at his house now. I was very amused.
@ alvinintexas: If Corbles were to headline a show, I would totally tune out the entire show. It would be entire Gen X all of the time, a mutation of Chris Chris meets Pearl Jam.
I also thought the Corby/Followill shows were just fine, what I heard of them.
I've long thought that Corby is more than capable of dialing back the smarmier elements of his presentation. I'm not at all certain that The Hardline would completely crater if Mike were to retire. Not sure Followill is the answer -- I'm on record suggesting Scot Harrison as a sleeper pick to anchor with Corby, with Danny continued in an enhanced role -- but you might be surprised at how good the show could be. Obviously not everyone agrees, but I think Corby is a lot more than an aging fratboy.
And let's not forget what it's up against -- some not-so-good competition.
Listening to what I guess is a new ESPN show, JJT and Nate Newton. I thought Coop was with Nate, but that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not this week. If this comes off as racist to some of you, I'm sorry. It isn't. It's just the way I hear it. But I'm missing a lot of what they're saying due to not being able to understand what they're saying. So many slurred together words, slurred together entire sentences, and unfinished thoughts that I guess the listener is supposed to either know what they mean or finish the thought themselves. I don't have this problem with Chris Arnold or David Robinson Also or way back with Kevin Blankenship. I can follow along with Michael Irvin's train wreck logic, too. But these two guys, man oh man I'm having a hard time with it.
Demond Lemont Wilson from Sanford and Sons is a self-important jackass. Donnie was nothing but respectful and accommodating, but that asswagon was nothing more than a self-promoting, self-aggrandizing, ego-trip. You'd think the man had cured cancer, procured peace in the MIddle East, and halted climate change (man made or not). So yeah, everyone go out and buy "Second Banana." Remember it's in print in 60+ countries and Lemont has received thank you e-mails about it. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Interesting you say that you had no problem understanding Kevin Blanford (I'm pretty sure that's who you meant) because a quick search on his name reveals that he's voiceover-for-hire.
Man, did everyone catch the 7 or so N Bombs that Demond Wilson dropped? I was cringing big time. He was on with the Ticket a couple of years ago and didn't appear the jerk that he was today. Not sure if he was hurried, but the last time he was on, he also promoted his book too.
Just seeing this now...and let me be clear...the only thing less appealing than more time for the MASS show would be a similar schedule for the Cirque show...as brothers in Ticket Listening, I feel we can all gather around the campfire and agree upon that, no?
1310 audio quality was pretty poor during my morning timeframe of listenership (730-830)
ReplyDeleteI don't understand this post, Plainsman. So I'll respond in kind:
ReplyDeleteThere's a time for love and a time for living.
You take a chance and face the wind.
An open road and a road that's hidden
A brand new life around the bend.
There were times when I lost a dream or two.
Found the trail, and at the end was you.
There's a path you take and a path untaken
The choice is up to you my friend.
Nights are long but you're on your way
To a brand new life,
Brand new life,
Brand new life around the bend.
Just WHO is the boss, Plainsman? I knew Judith Light, and you sir, are no Judith Light.
Bob and Rich. Could be interesting. Though I'd like to hear an entire show of solo Bob. Could be a foretaste of things to come...
ReplyDelete11:24 Anon:
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, I can see why today's post would prompt bafflement on your part. It is unusually opaque, even for me. Thank you for your illuminating response.
No prob Plainsman. Keep the peace, baby.
ReplyDeleteCorby and Followell. This could be an interesting mix.
ReplyDeleteWas this ever posted?
ReplyDelete"Ratings are in for June, which really translates into May 24 to June 20. There was Rangers talk, the Mavericks draft talk and very little Cowboys.
Among all listeners all the time, “The Ticket” KTCK-AM (1310) scored a 2.8 average share of the tuned-in audience. ESPN KESN-FM (103.3) was at 1.9 and “The Fan” KRLD-FM (105.3) finished at 1.0.
In the all-important “men 25-54” target demographic on weekdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. when the stations’ top talent works, it was The Ticket at 7.7, followed by ESPN at 2.6 and The Fan at 1.7. For all stations across the radio dials on AM and FM, The Ticket was No. 1 in the demo. ESPN was No. 13, and The Fan was No. 25.
The Ticket finished first every hour, ESPN was No. 2 for 10 hours and The Fan was No. 2 at 10 a.m. and noon. ESPN and The Fan were tied at 6 p.m.
Here’s a show-by-show rundown by station:
The Ticket: Dunham & Miller (7.6); Norm Hitzges (6.6); BaD Radio (7.1); Hardline (8.7).
ESPN: Mike & Mike (2.9); Ben & Skin (1.9); The Herd (1.8); Coop & Nate (2.8); Galloway and Co. (3.2).
The Fan: Shan & R.J. (1.4); Elf & Slater (1.9); Richie & Greggo (1.9)."
Talk about a thrashing of the highest order. To me, and I could and probably am way off base, the continual, year after, now, year of pummeling and the CBS/Cumulus rumors of some sort of merger point toward the end of The Fan as it's now constituted. I'll bet by this time next year The Ticket has the 105.3 fm signal, while The Fan has the 1310 am signal. The former carrying on as always, the latter carrying game broadcasts, regional/national programming with some of the now Ticket B-Teamers and a few Fan hosts filling in certain time slots. What say any of you?
ReplyDelete4:29 Anon, that's an interesting thought. If The Ticket were to absorb The Fan and Greggo was included in the deal in any way, shape or form, that might be just the thing to push Mike into retirement. And possibly insanity.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it'll happen, though. Other than the signal, there's nothing to salvage from The Fan. And Cumulus (along with Susquehanna before it) has shown that the signal is the least important thing as far as they're concerned.
I think that if the scenario I offered plays out, Greggo, Whitt, and many others are definitely out. I can see Elf, maybe Chris Arnold, and perhaps a few others hanging on as either part timers on the am side of things or some such. But no, I'd say there's no way Greggo is involved. Unless he and Mike R mend their relationship on some level. And even then, I'd bet Greggo to be relegated to the am side of things, if that.
ReplyDeleteIronically there IS a new post up @ The Ticket Tribute, although I received an email (because I've posted there before) stating as much after I saw the new post here at MTC. I haven't had a chance to read it, but it's a pretty lengthly post.
ReplyDeleteEither way, there's new Ticket info to read if anyone's interested
I just read the Ticket Tribute article. Great stuff. Evidently this person is or was in the industry in some capacity. Also, two nice mentions of and links to MTC. Recommended reading, I say.
ReplyDeleteCalling it 105.3 the ticket would be weird. I dont think theyd fuck with the brand name that much. It always has been 1310 the ticket and id be shocked if that changes. Think of the island of abandoned t shirts.:(
ReplyDeleteOff track comment about the Fan. Think what you want about female sportscasters but I entered my name for a date. (Will have to bring the wife, though.)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.slaterthedater.com/janes-bio/
And I will throw in some extra for Mary Lou Retton. (Be sure to read the article.)
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--in-120-seconds--mary-lou-retton-became-america-s-darling-and-changed-women-s-sports-forever.html
Went to the "date" link, and man oh man is that just plain asinine. Who does that? What sort of company/management comes up with that idea? And what sort of person agrees to do it? Maybe it was her idea, which is even creepier. Such a gross, bad touch station. Everything about it.
ReplyDeleteTicket Tribute Guy's got the goods. Obviously very knowledgeable about the radio industry and technical aspects, and, as a result, probably has some decent first/second/third-hand Ticket sources.
ReplyDeleteFilling in many dismal gaps in Your Plainsman's knowledge.
I have zero good ideas about what's going to happen in the next year or so, but I agree with those who feel that there's something in the offing.
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised (but pleased) if there were a signal switch. I cannot cannot imagine that there will be any meaningful cross-pollination in talent. I think Greg Williams burned all of his bridges, not just those to Mike R. I'm thinking Mark Elfenbein still has some goodwill at the channel, but what the heck would you do with him?
I was fascinated by Ticket Tribute Guy's report on the "Talkers" list of the Top 100. There is an obvious coastal bias, but even more obvious is the higher ratings for those talkers with national exposure.
ReplyDeleteWhich raises the issue, raised here in a long-ago post and repeated from time to time since then (http://myticketconfession.blogspot.com/2010/05/time-has-come-to-speak-of-syndication.html), of whether Cumulus is missing a bet by not attempting to syndicate any Ticket programming (Top candidate: The Musers, followed by Norm and BaD [the link is discouraging re BaD, but I now think it might be retoolable for regional/national exposure]; wonderful as The Hardline is, it would lose too much of its character if it stretched its content to include non-DFW material). I will admit that it is probably easier to syndicate a New York- or Los Angeles-based show that (I'm guessing) samples the national sports scene more intensively than does The Little DFW One.
In any event, I commend today's Ticket Tribute Guy's post to The Nation. (www.tickettribute.com)
Thanks to TTG for the links. Keep up the good work, delighted to have a fansite companion.
Hey, Ticket Tribute Guy: You know radio better than I do. What's your opinion regarding Ticket syndication?
ReplyDeleteI was typing with the Rangers game on in the background. Did I just hear Knoxie interview Mike R's niece?
ReplyDeleteNice niece.
I don't think the CBS/Cumulus thing means anything at all. CBS and Cumulus are national companies. The Fan and The Ticket are local radio stations. I could see a change in the overnight programming from sporting news to something else but I don't think anything else will change.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous July 23, 2012 4:29 PM
ReplyDeleteWhy would the Cowboys be willing to return to 1310's crappy signal instead of staying on 105.3?
I too was enamored with Mike Rhyner's niece. I did rewind the old DVR a time or two, hoping to catch other Ticket personalities... I did not even see "B" types there, did anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThat is the one thing that has changed over the years. Even 5 or 6 years into the thing, on-air personalities would sporadically show up at events. I get why they don't, but it was still cool back then.
I tried to post at the time, but the captcha is bad enough on a PC, iPhone is horrible.
Because whether the Cowboys are on an am or fm signal, the ratings are unaffected. This has been proven out through both The Ticket am and KRLD am, KVIL fm, KLUV fm, and KRLD fm. Same can be said with the Rangers.
ReplyDeleteGame broadcasts are a different animal than an everyday talk show.
I should add that it isn't the signal that matters in this regard, but rather how good the team is.
ReplyDeleteSo they would put the Cowboys game on the horrible signal in order to have Ticket Sports Sunday on crystal clear 105.3.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense.
If they're basically merged through a merger, the Cowboys could probably choose which station they would go on, I'm assuming. I'll probably be shot down by an Anon, but that's my best guess.
ReplyDeleteAll I really care about is how all this affects the Sunday MaSS show. Isn't getting this show the most airtime possible, with the clearest signal and the widest audience all that we should be really hoping for?
ReplyDeleteWhoa, why the MaSS sarcasm?
ReplyDeleteIt really doesn't matter which signal would air, say, the Cowboy games, smart ***. I threw out a possible scenario; if games are aired on Sundays on the fm side of things, that has little, if any, bearing on my "what if." And that's all it is, a "what if." You're not half as clever as you think you are, sir or madam.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Plainsman.... us JV-ers, especially JV B Teamers like we (us?) Sunday MaSS boys are used to it. Just consider us the last defense against 5 hours of Joe Morgan every Sunday....that's worth something isn't it? Thanks for reaching over to grab the brake nonetheless - you're very sweet to do that. Besides, Anon 2:34 is probably Mike or Cash - those Cirque boys really have it out for Sunday MaSS!
ReplyDeleteAnd by the by, the am signal used to be the home of the Cowboys. The Cowboys didn't leave because of the signal.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts thus far on Corby as the main host? I've been pleasantly surprised. He hasn't been too far over the top or superlative. In fact, he's been pretty even keeled. He seems at home driving the bus. Maybe there is a Hardline or some such after Rhynes retires, after all.
ReplyDeleteOn BaD today, Bob was alluding to a technical issue that he had that prevented him from bringing in some audio. He said it was completely his issue and had nothing to do with the station. Someone (I think it was Sea Bass) asked if he had another Brett living at his house now. I was very amused.
ReplyDelete@ alvinintexas: If Corbles were to headline a show, I would totally tune out the entire show. It would be entire Gen X all of the time, a mutation of Chris Chris meets Pearl Jam.
ReplyDeleteThe only way I would listen to a Corby-driven show is if Danny was a part of it.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the Corby/Followill shows were just fine, what I heard of them.
ReplyDeleteI've long thought that Corby is more than capable of dialing back the smarmier elements of his presentation. I'm not at all certain that The Hardline would completely crater if Mike were to retire. Not sure Followill is the answer -- I'm on record suggesting Scot Harrison as a sleeper pick to anchor with Corby, with Danny continued in an enhanced role -- but you might be surprised at how good the show could be. Obviously not everyone agrees, but I think Corby is a lot more than an aging fratboy.
And let's not forget what it's up against -- some not-so-good competition.
Pants Finnigan makes a return appearance.
ReplyDeleteListening to what I guess is a new ESPN show, JJT and Nate Newton. I thought Coop was with Nate, but that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not this week. If this comes off as racist to some of you, I'm sorry. It isn't. It's just the way I hear it. But I'm missing a lot of what they're saying due to not being able to understand what they're saying. So many slurred together words, slurred together entire sentences, and unfinished thoughts that I guess the listener is supposed to either know what they mean or finish the thought themselves. I don't have this problem with Chris Arnold or David Robinson Also or way back with Kevin Blankenship. I can follow along with Michael Irvin's train wreck logic, too. But these two guys, man oh man I'm having a hard time with it.
ReplyDeleteDemond Lemont Wilson from Sanford and Sons is a self-important jackass. Donnie was nothing but respectful and accommodating, but that asswagon was nothing more than a self-promoting, self-aggrandizing, ego-trip. You'd think the man had cured cancer, procured peace in the MIddle East, and halted climate change (man made or not). So yeah, everyone go out and buy "Second Banana." Remember it's in print in 60+ countries and Lemont has received thank you e-mails about it. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
ReplyDelete@LastAnon
ReplyDeleteInteresting you say that you had no problem understanding Kevin Blanford (I'm pretty sure that's who you meant) because a quick search on his name reveals that he's voiceover-for-hire.
http://voice123.com/kevinblanford
I kinda miss that guy...not DRA though.
@deezy
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I meant Kevin Blanford. Thanks for the correction.
Man, did everyone catch the 7 or so N Bombs that Demond Wilson dropped? I was cringing big time. He was on with the Ticket a couple of years ago and didn't appear the jerk that he was today. Not sure if he was hurried, but the last time he was on, he also promoted his book too.
ReplyDeleteLamont was despicable. What a sad, sad human being.
ReplyDeleteOn the Ticket Top 10 the N words were bleeped. The Musers addressed that in the 5:30 segment.
ReplyDeleteI thought Kevin Blanford had a great radio voice - not overtly ethnic, particularly compared to DRA. Made for a good on air mix, IMO.
When did George DeJean change his name to George DiGianni? So confused.
ReplyDeleteAlso I have not issues with the capcha on this site, seems to be the same or slightly better than most i have encountered.
@Dan's Beach Towel - It was recently, about a week or so ago.
ReplyDeleteLinky here:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/7/prweb9667867.htm
Just seeing this now...and let me be clear...the only thing less appealing than more time for the MASS show would be a similar schedule for the Cirque show...as brothers in Ticket Listening, I feel we can all gather around the campfire and agree upon that, no?
ReplyDelete