ESPN radio FM 96.5 seeks Bradley radio broadcasts

[Da Coach]

Dave Eminian has this article in todays Peoria Journal Star about the Rivermen's new radio deal with WZTN-FM (FM 96.5), the new all-sports, ESPN Network station in Peoria.
But note in the 2nd to last paragraph he briefly mentions that FM 96.5 is also in talks with Bradley for the rights to broadcast Bradley basketball games.

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/071807/DAV_BDQI4COQ.081.php

(WZTN vice-president and general manager Mike) Rea elaborated on that hint, saying he is in preliminary talks with Bradley University for its men's basketball broadcasts. The Braves contract at WMBD-AM (1470) is said to be expiring this year.

[MacabreMob]

Would that mean no more Snell/Stowell?

[romar]

Would that mean no more Snell/Stowell?

As I view the BU basketball program as bigger than any one person, the radio broadcast has become the Stowell/Snell program IMO. So if this ESPN radio program is truly "in talks" with BU and hasn't just left a couple of messages for KK, they better hope they have Snell/Stowell in pocket first.

[Braveman]

I would imagine that Snell and Stowell are "independent contractors" and free to do games with whomever would hire them.

BU has the right of approval of broadcasters....

[Chucky T's]

Dave Snell is one of the best in the business. Coach Stowell is very knowledgable about hoops and Bradley University. His "uniqueness" makes every broadcast interesting and entertaining. If 96.5 wants the contract, they better lock these guys up first. I can't imagine a BU broadcast without these two behind the mic.

[OrangeandBlack74]

Dave Snell is one of the best in the business. Coach Stowell is very knowledgable about hoops and Bradley University. His "uniqueness" makes every broadcast interesting and entertaining. If 96.5 wants the contract, they better lock these guys up first. I can't imagine a BU broadcast without these two behind the mic.

I thought the same thing about Mort Cantor when he was broadcasting the BU games on WIRL.

[Scouter]

I would assume Snell and Stowell would still be the radio team if the broadcasts shift to ESPN just because they're a fixture with BU basketball.

Would ESPN be in charge of the hiring anyway? They would have the rights to broadcast the games, but would they have the rights to do the hiring? Are Dave and Coach employed by the university or WMBD as part of the broadcasts? I think when the Cardinals' games moved from KMOX to KTRS, Mike Shannon stayed on because he's employed by the Cardinals, not the radio station.

[Da Coach]

I would assume Snell and Stowell would still be the radio team if the broadcasts shift to ESPN just because they're a fixture with BU basketball.

Would ESPN be in charge of the hiring anyway? They would have the rights to broadcast the games, but would they have the rights to do the hiring? Are Dave and Coach employed by the university or WMBD as part of the broadcasts? I think when the Cardinals' games moved from KMOX to KTRS, Mike Shannon stayed on because he's employed by the Cardinals, not the radio station.

The university, as is almost always the case when broadcasting contracts are signed, will have the rights to choose or approve the broadcasters whenever the next deal is made. I would be shocked if WMBD isn't able to outbid, or work out an agreement to remain the home of Bradley basketball.

Dave is a full time employee of Bradley, and it's my guess that his contract includes agreed upon duties as BU basketball broadcaster. So I think it's certain Dave would be the lead voice. And as long as Coach Stowell is willing and able to do the color, he'll be there. But he is 80 y/o and we have to realize there will come a day whe he won't be able to continue.

[ph]

Which station has more potential listening area?

96.5 is not the most powerful FM station around (twice in the last few years it has been part of a simulcast with 98.5 as it really took both stations to fully cover the Peoria area market)

Although I'm not impressed with 1470's coverage area on a typical day, I did get to take advantage of a dx'ing event last year. I was driving back through Indy during the Rutgers game. I kept trying to pickup AM1000 (Chicago) or any other sports station to get at least a score update. I got too fustrated with the lack of reception and finally hit my 1470 preset. Low and behold, perfect reception of the Peoria 1470 frequency! I got to listen to the halftime show and the 2nd half of the game (If only I tried 1470 during the record setting 1st half) FM doesn't DX like that.

[romar]

Which station has more potential listening area?

96.5 is not the most powerful FM station around (twice in the last few years it has been part of a simulcast with 98.5 as it really took both stations to fully cover the Peoria area market)

Although I'm not impressed with 1470's coverage area on a typical day, I did get to take advantage of a dx'ing event last year. I was driving back through Indy during the Rutgers game. I kept trying to pickup AM1000 (Chicago) or any other sports station to get at least a score update. I got too fustrated with the lack of reception and finally hit my 1470 preset. Low and behold, perfect reception of the Peoria 1470 frequency! I got to listen to the halftime show and the 2nd half of the game (If only I tried 1470 during the record setting 1st half) FM doesn't DX like that.

Yeah, but with AM that can change drastically depending on the weather conditions. Even though, it seems that AM stations generally have a larger broadcast area than most FM stations. A prime example is that most days the Score can be heard clearly throughout the state. I've picked it up as far south as Collinsville, IL.

[Da Coach]

That's happened to me a few times. WMBD's signal fades out when you get more than 30 miles away, but sometimes an unusual weather situation will allow you to pick it up from more than 100 miles away. I have listened to it from Chicago, Des Moines, Indianapolis and Cedar Falls. But most nights that's not going to happen.

[mike radigan]

Back in the day, WLS radio could be heard as far away as Texas at night.

[Da Coach]

I remember hearing nightime DJ Dick Biondi brag about being heard in 38 states on WLS!
But WLS is a clear-channel(no other radio stations allowed to use that frequency), 50,000 watt station, and there are only a handful of them in the entire country.

[ph]

Now "clear-channel" AM stations with 50,000 watts are another category. (FCC designation that reserves your frequency on your half of the Mississippi)
I am certain that Chicago ESPN Radio (AM1000) can be clearly heard throughout Ohio+ more clearly than Peoria on most nights (It seems their antenna is "Tuned" to the east) Growing up in PA, my dad used to regularly pickup Chicago AM1000 with a decent antenna.

Now if the 96.5 deal could at least include 1 or 2 simulcasts on the Chicago AM1000...

[Chucky T's]

Dave Snell is one of the best in the business. Coach Stowell is very knowledgable about hoops and Bradley University. His "uniqueness" makes every broadcast interesting and entertaining. If 96.5 wants the contract, they better lock these guys up first. I can't imagine a BU broadcast without these two behind the mic.

I thought the same thing about Mort Cantor when he was broadcasting the BU games on WIRL.

Mort Cantor and Ken Brown...I loved those guys too. Mort was the biggest "homer" I have ever heard. I think he was more of a fan than an announcer. Someday we will not have Dave and the coach ..... I hope that day is a long way off...