Erik Huey and Triad Media Watch calling out ESPN Radio

ESPN Radio is planning to charge some non-ESPN owned and operated sports radio stations fees to carry its radio network programming.

E.C. “Erik” Huey from the Triad Media Watch blog:

“I’m not a big sports junkie, but headlines like this raise a major eyebrow.”

National sports celebrity blog Sports by Brooks is reporting that ESPN Radio is “planning to charge some non-ESPN owned and operated sports radio stations fees to carry its radio network programming. For big markets (Top 30), the annual charge to stations is as high as $100,000.”

Excerpt:

Most, if not all of those stations make their money on local sports talk shows and play-by-play ad sales. Revenue from ESPN’s national properties is usually negligible – as most of its shows have struggled in the ratings against large market, local shows. (I know, not in every case.) Perhaps local stations could make money on ESPN Radio’s play-by-play properties, but not enough to make up that $100K rights fee in any scenario.

What does this mean for local ESPN radio affiliate 980AM-WTIX? Its sister station is 790-AM The Ball, which is a FOX Sports Radio affiliate.

TMW(Triad Media Watch) will keep an eye out on this one.

One thought on “Erik Huey and Triad Media Watch calling out ESPN Radio

  1. Let ’em. maybe it will give Sporting News Radio’s TWO LIVE STEWS a spot in the Triad market

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