WLBY/Ann Arbor dropping liberal talk

[LTR]

After a few nationwide format flips involving the all-sports format, WLBY (1290AM) in Ann Arbor, MI looks to be the latest to jettison it's liberal talk format and will begin stunting with what it's calling an "all-Victors, all the time" format concentrating on the University of Michigan.

The stunting format will consist of marching band tunes, "Michigan Memories" clips, and sports updates, coinciding with the Saturday's big game against Ohio State, one of the most famous rivalries in all of college football.

The format kicks off just after midnight on Friday, November 17. What format will follow is unknown, but is rumored to be sports.

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/

[Botany]

1. From Ohio

This is a national trend .... In Madison they are doing it and I see it coming in Columbus too.
Bowling Green Football?

Steph, Al, Randi, Ed, and others really helped the dems in 2006. The big money and
the right wing wants it stopped.

[LTR]

2. Not a format flip, just airing BG games

No need to worry about the Columbus station. Sports play-by-play is a pretty common arrangement with talk stations. And just about every conservotalk station out there carries some sports programming, so libtalk stations aren't being singled out here.

In fact, while they may be an occasional irritance, they do help the format by bringing in extra revenue in dayparts (nights and weekends) when overall listenership (and sponsorship) of liberal talk programming is way down.

In addition, sportscasts may also be helpful in bringing in additional listeners who may not usually tune in to the station's general fare.

Granted, many fans of the regular programming are a bit irritated with the game broadcasts, but it is not mutually exclusive to the liberal talk format.

There is no tinfoil hattery evident here.

[SharonRB]

3. Our local talk station also does sports sometimes

mostly at night.


It's a Clear Channel, so it will be interesting if the purchase will help or hurt them. From what I've read, the major partner in the group who bought Clear Channel is liberal-leaning, so it may be a plus.

[Botany]

4. BG games don't bring in money

Reds games yes ... Cavs good chance

I willing to bet you that with that many Radio
Stations will dump Air America & Jones very soon.

[LTR]

5. Sounds kinda strange to air BG games deep in OSU country

My guess is there is indeed money involved, and there's some kind of package deal somewhere.

The strange thing about sports play-by-play is that often they don't care if anyone at all is listening, because somwhere some sponsors are throwing money at it. Think of it as an infomercial of sorts.

Believe it or not, sports does make money. Hell, in my town there's a station airing minor league soccer games. Hard as I try, I just can't imagine anyone listening to that. But sponsors do like to play the part of 'civic booster', and this is a way to do it.

[LTR]

6. WLBY appears to be back

Just a weekend stunt.

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/11/it-was-stunt-wlby-is-back.html

[1gobluedem]

7. Clear Channel was just sold, though

So something still could happen. Hope not though.