KTRB wants to add North Bay/Sac coverage

by vertig0 on Jan 8, 2009 11:45 AM PST Comment 28 comments

I received a note this morning from Jim Pappas, KTRB's VP and GM. The station has FCC and FAA approval to construct a new transmitter in Sonoma County. The 50,000-watt facility would seriously augment coverage in the North Bay and Sacramento. By now you've seen the existing coverage map:

The new Sonoma Daytime transmitter map (exclusive of existing transmitter) looks like this:

Much better, right? It is a Daytime transmitter, and Nighttime operation is in the works as well, though it would come later (application with the FCC already on file). For those who believe in miracles, don't expect the transmitter to be ready in time for Opening Day. It's not like building a skyscraper in terms of complexity, but it's still quite tall and requires proper preparation and testing. Maybe before the end of the season. The deal between the A's and KTRB is only for one season, but this gives you an indication of where both parties would like the relationship to go. Both want to be serious Bay Area radio players, and they want to do it together.

This is where you come in. Construction of the transmitter is wholly dependent on approval by Sonoma County's Board of Zoning Adjustments. KTRB is ready to build pending approval. The transmitter has not yet come up for review by the BZA. When it does, KTRB will draft a letter to request fan support. I'll post it here. The board usually meets twice a month, and like the EIR process in Fremont, it is open to public comment. You can go to the meeting at 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, or send written comments to that address.

I'll update this post when a hearing date is finalized.

1 recs | Comment 28 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Is it me?

Or is there a threat of planet alignment hanging over us poor A’s fans? SO many things just seem to be close to really happening after such a long time of frustration.

by jeffro on Jan 8, 2009 11:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thank God

Not having TV coverage in Sacramento is one of the most impressive feats of stupidity I have witnessed in MLB media coverage. Let’s keep the largest market within a 100 miles from viewing the product….good game.

"You Went Full Retard, Man - Never Go Full Retard." --Kirk Lazarus

by Ovale Fan on Jan 8, 2009 11:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

This is radio, not TV

by Englishmajor on Jan 8, 2009 12:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no, this is the internet

This is hardball! This is where we overreact! @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 8, 2009 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no, this is the internets

by jeffro on Jan 8, 2009 12:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn. I knew I should have pluralized that.

This is hardball! This is where we overreact! @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 8, 2009 12:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, I thought it was the intertubes.

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jan 8, 2009 2:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, the internets are a series of tubes.

by jeffro on Jan 8, 2009 3:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OMG

I was thinking and meant radio, said TV and it is the internet. Now I’m really lost….hold me.

"You Went Full Retard, Man - Never Go Full Retard." --Kirk Lazarus

by Ovale Fan on Jan 8, 2009 3:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If the A's do move to CSNCA, and get the channel on Extended Basic in the Bay Area

wouldn’t CSNCA (and thus the A’s) be on TV in Sacramento?

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jan 8, 2009 12:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

They're already on TV in Sacto

Most Central Valley Comcast systems carry both CSNCA and CSNBA on extended basic. Thing is that CSNCA is on fewer systems outside of Comcast. The A’s/Quakes and maybe the Sharks could be necessary pieces to get the non-Comcast systems to make a deal. That would in turn bump up revenue for all teams on CSNCA, including the Kings.

by vertig0 on Jan 8, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw a note yesterday

that in fact CSN California does hope to get the Sharks along with the A’s.

Relative to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Chang claims that RSN not only wants the increase, but that it plans on shifting Oakland A’s Major League Baseball games and San Jose Sharks National Hockey League contests to Comcast SportsNet California, the RSN home to the NBA Sacramento Kings.

"In New England, Comcast wants 25% more for the same product, and 40% in the Bay Area, where they’re planning to air more than 30% fewer pro team telecasts," said Chang.

(Link)

So the alignment for pro teams would be Giants and Warriors on CSN Bay Area and A’s, Kings and Sharks on CSN California, if this were to happen. I suppose college sports would then fill in wherever they could find space.

by Soaker on Jan 8, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So if this happens,

A’s games would only be on CSNCA and not CSNBA?

That sucks. My Dish package only includes CSNBA.

by Nate on Jan 9, 2009 1:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Deja Vu

I didn’t know the A’s were moving to CSNY. I’m sure it’d make the National Anthem memorable tho’.

by Stew's Crew on Jan 8, 2009 12:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

somehow i read that as CSI:NY

A) I was confused why we were moving to NY

B) If anyone asks, Garret Anderson dun’ it

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 8, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I prefer the CSN and the Y apart rather than together

by jeffro on Jan 8, 2009 1:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This could affect some small radio stations

I have to wonder what this means to stations that are a part of the Oakland A’s Radio Network. There are several within this new expanded coverage area. I worked at one of them from ‘92-94, working the board for every night and weekend game. I could see them dumping the A’s if the flagship station moves in to their area. People may not care much now as the overall coverage will be improved for 2009, but it could hurt in the future when the A’s move back to a smaller flagship station when this contract is up (because you know they will… they always do). When that time comes, they will be crawling back to these small stations asking for them back, but those stations may have moved on and may no longer have an appetite for the A’s.

by Titus on Jan 8, 2009 2:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the Post

Hopefully,all of the gerrymandering (sp.) between the professional athletic teams and the radio/television broadcast rights are going to be cleared up in the near future. The A’s fan base deserves better but deserves credit for the allegiance we have displayed to our team over the last few decades. I’m concerned that the cable television pachage won’t be available in Monterey County if it is Sacramento based but at least the radio signal stands to be an improvement.
In response to Titus comment that the A’ s will go smaller with their stations beyond this year, is highlyeahy doubtful. Wolf et al are thinking to expand the A’s base not shrink it. Media is the most effective way to do that at this point.

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Jan 8, 2009 4:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wouldn't that be "gerardmandering"?

a man has to have something to help the petite vanilla bean scones go down @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 8, 2009 4:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Monk-ball , I think that's the long form of the word

I use many words but try to keep them abbreviated as much as as possible…I can say “Monk-ball”, can I or should I use a title or surname in front?

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Jan 8, 2009 4:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

touche

a man has to have something to help the petite vanilla bean scones go down @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 8, 2009 5:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

t-che

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jan 8, 2009 6:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Expanding the Oakland A’s Radio Network will be a tough sell

Every year, the station I worked at debated dropping from the A’s network. It was simply way too expensive unless you could get advertisers to spend a lot more on an ad spot than they would for an ad that ran during any other part of the day. We relied on the ability to find advertisers that were big A’s fans and therefore took pride in “sponsoring” the broadcasts. Even with advertisers like that, we would loose money on the broadcast. In the end, the only reasons that they kept the A’s was that 1) the station management were fans, and 2) they saw value in being able to claim they were part of the A’s network. The farther away from Oakland you get, the harder it will be to find station management and local advertisers that are willing to spend the money needed to make it work.

by Titus on Jan 8, 2009 5:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the insight

My estimation is that by going with a station that has higher wattage such as 860, the number of smaller stations carrying the A’s in outlying areas would decrease due to overlapping coverage. Therefore, the advertising dollar cost for a station with a stronger signal would rise. However, how many small town advertisers will be willing to pay more to put their adds on a larger station is debatable. How much do advertisers pay KNBR for example is large amount compared with when the A’s were on KDIA, KSFO, …
Long term stability plays a large role as well. I get a sense that this is part of Wolf’s long term vision. The next piece of the puzzle, after television is the stadium.

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Jan 9, 2009 8:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It will be interesting. If things have not changed in the last 15 years, the model is basically that the A’s sell 75% of the ads (which run on all stations running the games) and the affiliate stations get to sell 25% of the ads that run on their station. This means that the ad rate the A’s charge for their 75% are based on the total number of listeners that are reached on all stations combined. In other words, they may not see an increase in revenue just because there is an increase in flagship listeners. You have to factor in affiliate loss and look at the total network listeners.

by Titus on Jan 9, 2009 12:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hope it comes through.

We don't really have that much pitching depth. We don't really have that much pitching depth. FOR GOD SAKE, VERUCA, DON'T GO FAKE TRADING JONATHAN SANCHEZ. We don't really have that much pitching depth

by oldjacket on Jan 8, 2009 4:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs