A few weeks ago I wrote about the state of Sports Radio (as I saw it) in 2009. As part of that blog/column, I wrote about a trend that was starting in the industry - internet sports radio stations.
There are a number of them around the country. One of the more high profile ones is Chicagosportswebio.com. The idea for this was the brainchild of former WSCR/Chicago host Mike North, who was let go by The Score after a contract dispute about one year ago.. North hooked up with his old partner - former NFL player Dan Jiggets - to re-create their old radio show on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
The television show led to the birth of the radio station on the internet. North proceeded to pretty much raid The Score and ESPN 1000 of personalities and behind the scenes workers. Among those he brought over to his internet venture included:
* Fred Huebner - formerly of The Score
* Matt Weber - formerly of The Score
* Jonathan Hood - formerly of ESPN 1000
* Chet Coppock - formerly of ESPN 1000
* George Offman - formerly of The Score
* Jesse Rogers - formerly of The Score (the PD at the new station)
* Tim Bock - formerly of The Score
To be totally upfront with you, I have worked with every person on this list with the exception of Weber. I worked with Hood, Huebner, Offman, Rogers, and Bock while I filled in at The Score a few years back. I worked with Chet in a number of different capacities when he and I were both at Sporting News Radio.
Each of these talents were either being under used where they were at, or in a similar position that I'm in - looking for that next gig. I was happy at first when the news broke that these guys had moved on to the new venture, but I was also concerned about whether or not it would succeed.
You see, sports radio is (for the most part) something that people listen to in their cars on their way to or from work. The technology that would bring internet radio stations into your car is only partially here (you have to have the right phone, etc.). Most people cannot listen for eight hours a day while they are at their jobs.
The people at Chicagosportswebio.com quickly realized that and were trying to make a deal with one of the local stations in Chicago to bring their programming to a wider audience. Had they been able to do that, they had enough talent and recognizable names to make an impact on the Chicago sports radio scene. They might not have beaten The Score or ESPN, but they would have made an impact.
That's probably not going to happen now. Reports in Chicago late last night indicated that North, his wife, and the venture's General Sales Manager - Jeff Schwartz - had been fired. According to the report, the firings took place after North questioned his business partner's finances. Apparently checks were being bounced.
If the reported financial problems are true, then I just cannot see this venture lasting too much longer. I understand North - who personally recruited a lot of the people that joined him - is trying to take it over, but he needs a financial backer. The economy is still not in good shape, and that might be easier said than done.
This is only speculation on my part, but I think this new venture's days are numbered. It's a shame.
A lot of good people - specifically the ones I mentioned before - are going to be out of work. This is not the time to be looking for a job (trust me on this).
These people left good radio jobs - ones they were in no danger of losing - to join North as he tried to shake up the Chicago radio scene. It seems as if North put his trust in a business partner that didn't have the cash to keep this thing going.
I doubt that North will be affected a lot by this. Even if his business partner pulls out of the television show (which you have to assume he will), CSN in Chicago will find someone else to pony up the advertising dollars. North's ratings weren't great at The Score, but the guy brought a lot of business to the table. He goes all out for his clients. Chicago businesses love the guy. So I don't worry about him.
I worry about the other people I told you about, who went to bed last night not knowing what their futures looked like. In this day and age, that's a scary proposition.
Trust me - I know.
3 comments:
Great article Cliff. I first caught wind that something had happened this morning on facebook.
These are all people that have been a part of my "sports radio" world over the years. I didn't work with them as you did, put you get to where you feel like you know them.
Thanks again for this enlightening piece.
Mike North is a bum. If he didn't fill his morning show with regurgitated political propaganda, he'd probably still have his morning show on WSCR. Meanwhile WSCR, particularly their morning show, is doing a great job. Its far more listen-able than what's on in the Milwaukee market.
Hal (or whoever you are):
North isn't a bum. Don't get me wrong. I was never a big fan, but the guy worked his way up and found success. He didn't get handed anything. He worked his ass off, especially when he was breaking in during the early 1990's.
As far as his old morning show goes, a year before they pulled the plug, North was asked to stay away from politics (which he did).
North was let go because of money. Yes, ratings weren't good. That is a fact. But had North accepted the pay cut CBS put on the table, he'd still be there. He - as I mentioned - goes to the wall for his clients, and they back him in return.
North overvalued himself and was let go just a couple of months before the economy went downhill. Had the economy made its downward spiral before North and WSCR parted ways, he would probably have accepted a pay cut. People are accepting less money for jobs in the industry. Dan McNeil made over $500K at ESPN 1000. He will be making FAR LESS than that in his new gig at The Score.
The Score's new lineup has some heavyweights - particularly in middays and afternoons. But, like both sports stations here, The Score has its strong and weak points.
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