How WEEI beats the Sports Hub and gets back on top.

[JSD]

Not a D and C guy but don't those guys dominate the morning? I thought they were well ahead of Toucher and Rich on ratings.

However, I don't think it would be a terrible idea to bring those guys in for the midday show, and let them build a fanbase to eventually take over one of the drive-time shows down the road...and I wouldn't be surprised if that is something WEEI is considering, since they have had El Prez in studio.

But for all its inherent controversies, Barstool’s popularity is unarguable. Over the first four months of 2011, Portnoy’s blogs averaged just over 962,000 unique visitors each month, according to ComScore, which measures Web traffic. “Viva la Stool’’ signs can be seen in the background of television shots everywhere from the Final Four to outside Buckingham Palace at the royal wedding to outside the White House the night Osama bin Laden’s death was announced...

Now Portnoy is taking that slash-and-burn sense of humor that has played so well locally — “I’d go toe-to-toe with anybody in the Boston media over our group, 18-35 year-old guys,’’ he says — and expanding aggressively into other markets.

You might find this article interesting, Chris. I'm not sure you have a full grasp on Barstool's popularity. Pres is one of the funniest bastahds alive, and I think he and Thorton would at least go halves with T&R if they had an FM station.

http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-03/news/29685140_1_royal-wedding-boston-media-stoolie

[Chris]

I don't deny Barstool's popularity.  But I think you are ignoring D&C's popularity, and the size of the demographic they dominate (which will not stick around for barstool sports guys).

I also think going from being a blogger to a radio personality is a leap...and not necessarily a seemless transition.  Add into it the fact that they would be going from basically being their own bosses on the internet, where pretty much anything goes, to being on one of the largest radio networks in the country(not WEEI, Westwood one), where they are going to be expected to really toe the line.

They will not have the complete control that they want (or perhaps need) to be able to thrive. 

Also, there is the simple question of how many of their readers listen to the radio.  I would argue that you have a much safer radio audience with the 35 and up demographic that D&C dominate, than the younger demographic, who are moving further and further away from traditional forms of media every day.

However, if you bring them in on the midday show, let them build up an audience where they would have no real competition, then in a couple of years, they could be ready to take over for D&C when their contracts come up in a couple years.  And by that time you wouldn't be taking as big a risk, because you will have some numbers to show they can handle drive time (and you have those numbers to sell to advertisers).

[StartOrien]

Not a D and C guy but don't those guys dominate the morning? I thought they were well ahead of Toucher and Rich on ratings.

Its debatable.  I think Toucher and Rich have been winning in Boston, but D and C have been winning if you include the larger network, which technically includes several other markets. 

I'll try to dig up the article, but in markets they both can be heard I think they're fairly neck and neck, but in the moneymaking demographics (18-35, 18-49) Toucher & Rich are destroying them by a wide margin.

[MBz]

I don't deny Barstool's popularity.  But I think you are ignoring D&C's popularity, and the size of the demographic they dominate (which will not stick around for barstool sports guys).

I also think going from being a blogger to a radio personality is a leap...and not necessarily a seemless transition.  Add into it the fact that they would be going from basically being their own bosses on the internet, where pretty much anything goes, to being on one of the largest radio networks in the country(not WEEI, Westwood one), where they are going to be expected to really toe the line.

They will not have the complete control that they want (or perhaps need) to be able to thrive. 

Also, there is the simple question of how many of their readers listen to the radio.  I would argue that you have a much safer radio audience with the 35 and up demographic that D&C dominate, than the younger demographic, who are moving further and further away from traditional forms of media every day.

However, if you bring them in on the midday show, let them build up an audience where they would have no real competition, then in a couple of years, they could be ready to take over for D&C when their contracts come up in a couple years.  And by that time you wouldn't be taking as big a risk, because you will have some numbers to show they can handle drive time (and you have those numbers to sell to advertisers).

The issue with el pres, is he isn't a great sports mind.  I'm sure there are guys on the radio less intelligent on the subject matter, but I don't think he'd be able to get by on the radio.  Also, I don't think I've seen him write a PG blog ever.  I don't think he knows how to be funny without being rated R.  Pres would fit in on something like Matty in the morning, but he wouldn't fit in on sports radio.

[StartOrien]

I don't know if it would make that much sense to compete with Toucher & Rich in the 18-35 market.

It does with the proposes combination.

I don't know, I like Barstool Sports a lot but I couldn't see myself even thinking to give them a shot. I almost always like what I'm getting out of T&R - even despite the fact that I rarely watch hockey - and couldn't see myself switching channels.

Hardcore T&R fans will probably continue to to listen to the Hub in the morning. Not everyone in our demo listening to the Hub feel like you. Many would consider switching and listening to equally (if not more) popular personalities.

The Stoolies are HUGE and growing.

I wonder if I'm that far off though.

It's a little weird - by the traditional sense I wouldn't call myself a hardcore fan. I don't feel any particular allegiance to them, I haven't thought of buying any merchandise (I do own a Barstool hat) or thought to go to any of their functions, and I'm fairly certain that if the show were to go downhill I'd jump off the ship pretty quickly.

But I really enjoy their program. Day in and day out I think they deliver a really quality program, and I don't feel like I'd give another show a chance cuz I don't really feel the need to.

[StartOrien]

The issue with el pres, is he isn't a great sports mind.  I'm sure there are guys on the radio less intelligent on the subject matter, but I don't think he'd be able to get by on the radio.  Also, I don't think I've seen him write a PG blog ever.  I don't think he knows how to be funny without being rated R.  Pres would fit in on something like Matty in the morning, but he wouldn't fit in on sports radio.

His sports mind would still probably be stronger than Toucher & Rich's though who've had a great deal of success.

[Chris]

I don't deny Barstool's popularity.  But I think you are ignoring D&C's popularity, and the size of the demographic they dominate (which will not stick around for barstool sports guys).

I also think going from being a blogger to a radio personality is a leap...and not necessarily a seemless transition.  Add into it the fact that they would be going from basically being their own bosses on the internet, where pretty much anything goes, to being on one of the largest radio networks in the country(not WEEI, Westwood one), where they are going to be expected to really toe the line.

They will not have the complete control that they want (or perhaps need) to be able to thrive. 

Also, there is the simple question of how many of their readers listen to the radio.  I would argue that you have a much safer radio audience with the 35 and up demographic that D&C dominate, than the younger demographic, who are moving further and further away from traditional forms of media every day.

However, if you bring them in on the midday show, let them build up an audience where they would have no real competition, then in a couple of years, they could be ready to take over for D&C when their contracts come up in a couple years.  And by that time you wouldn't be taking as big a risk, because you will have some numbers to show they can handle drive time (and you have those numbers to sell to advertisers).

The issue with el pres, is he isn't a great sports mind.  I'm sure there are guys on the radio less intelligent on the subject matter, but I don't think he'd be able to get by on the radio.  Also, I don't think I've seen him write a PG blog ever.  I don't think he knows how to be funny without being rated R.  Pres would fit in on something like Matty in the morning, but he wouldn't fit in on sports radio.

Yeah, that was the impression I was getting.  I really think these guys market may be either in podcasts or satelite radio.  I think they could struggle on terrestrial radio, where they would be neutered by the program director and FCC, and at that point, the lack of depth will show up.

I just can't imagine they would be good enough to be able to come from a completely different medium, and actually steal the market from T&R. 

This isn't like when the Sports Hub started up and everyone was clambering for something new.  Right now, I think most people are happy with T&R, and they aren't leaving them for something similar.

[Chris]

Well, it sounds like the short lived "El Prez" radio career might be coming to a quick end. 

After posting naked pictures of Tom Brady's son, along with distasteful comments, and then when people complained essentially just telling everyone they have no sense of humor, he has lost his weekly gig on the Dennis and Callahan show. 

Unless he reverses course quickly (and it might be too late), this also might just be the beginning of the end of this guys foray into mainstream media.

Without getting too much into whether people are overreacting, I think this was just a matter of time.  This guy is just too edgy for the mainstream.  The only way he would be able to succeed on terrestrial radio is if he dramatically tones down his schtick, and unfortunately, I don't think he has enough substance to still be interesting if he does that.

[Donoghus]

Well, it sounds like the short lived "El Prez" radio career might be coming to a quick end. 

After posting naked pictures of Tom Brady's son, along with distasteful comments, and then when people complained essentially just telling everyone they have no sense of humor, he has lost his weekly gig on the Dennis and Callahan show. 

Unless he reverses course quickly (and it might be too late), this also might just be the beginning of the end of this guys foray into mainstream media.

Without getting too much into whether people are overreacting, I think this was just a matter of time.  This guy is just too edgy for the mainstream.   The only way he would be able to succeed on terrestrial radio is if he dramatically tones down his schtick, and unfortunately, I don't think he has enough substance to still be interesting if he does that.

Yup.  I like most of his stuff and am a daily visitor to his site but his stuff is just way too edgy to translate to commercial radio like Sportshub or WEEI.  Like Chris mentioned, it was only a matter of time. 

[Rondo2287]

I don't know if I would call what he did yesterday edgy.  I'd more go with creepy and disturbing

[Chris]

I don't know if I would call what he did yesterday edgy.  I'd more go with creepy and disturbing

Haha, yes, that is probably more accurate.  Although I think this particular situation is a bit extreme, and in all honesty not the kind of thing I was referring to when discussing why he won't make it in the mainstream media.  I don't think he would ever get the chance to do something that over the top on the radio...but this is just an example of why he can't make that jump.

The fact that he made that post, and then defended it the way he did just shows that he just does not have the filter that is necessary to make it in an industry that is based completely on corporate sponsorship.  He does not have that filter to say "whether this is funny or not, it is going to lose us sponsors", or maybe more importantly, the ability to step back and apologize when it becomes clear he crossed the line. When it comes down to it, no matter how many listeners a personality brings in, no programing director would risk their own job on a guy who can't seem to figure that part out. 

[Rondo2287]

I don't know if I would call what he did yesterday edgy.  I'd more go with creepy and disturbing

Haha, yes, that is probably more accurate.  Although I think this particular situation is a bit extreme, and in all honesty not the kind of thing I was referring to when discussing why he won't make it in the mainstream media.  I don't think he would ever get the chance to do something that over the top on the radio...but this is just an example of why he can't make that jump.

The fact that he made that post, and then defended it the way he did just shows that he just does not have the filter that is necessary to make it in an industry that is based completely on corporate sponsorship.  He does not have that filter to say "whether this is funny or not, it is going to lose us sponsors", or maybe more importantly, the ability to step back and apologize when it becomes clear he crossed the line. When it comes down to it, no matter how many listeners a personality brings in, no programing director would risk their own job on a guy who can't seem to figure that part out. 

agree 100%

[JSD]

I didn't think it was funny, and he definitely should have known ultra sensitive people out there would get all upset about it. I don't know, Nirvana's Nevermind album didn't offend me either.

To the larger point that you made with the benefit of hindsight though, yes, Pres is now too edgy for mainstream radio.

[Chris]

I didn't think it was funny, and he definitely should have known ultra sensitive people out there would get all upset about it. I don't know, Nirvana's Nevermind album didn't offend me either.

Well, the difference between the Nevermind album cover and El Prez' post was the lewd comments. 

In general I don't think too many people find naked babies offensive.  However, the context is everything.

[JSD]

I didn't think it was funny, and he definitely should have known ultra sensitive people out there would get all upset about it. I don't know, Nirvana's Nevermind album didn't offend me either.

Well, the difference between the Nevermind album cover and El Prez' post was the lewd comments.  

In general I don't think too many people find naked babies offensive.  However, the context is everything.

The comments are the unfunny edgy part. if he posted those pictures without the comments this is a non-story.