Sunday, August 20, 2000
SPORTS ON TV-RADIO
HOMER lineup could be better with Amazon
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The new lineup for HOMER, excuse me, 1360 HOMER The Sports Animal, is pretty strong.
But there's no question it would be stronger with Marc Amazon in it. I would have put Amazon in Wild Man Walker's slot and used Wild Man for updates. Wild Man has improved as a talk show host, and having a local show leading into his will help, but he's much better in short doses.
Apparently, the reason Amazon wasn't kept is financial. Walker's salary is picked up by WEBN. Amazon skewed to younger listeners than me, but I thought he did a decent show.
The lineup, which begins Aug. 28, will be the Two Angry Guys (Tom Gamble and Richard Skinner) from 6-9 a.m., Walker from 9 a.m. to noon; Jim Rome from noon to 3 p.m.; and Lance McAlister from 3-6 p.m.
The Angry Guys and McAlister, hired away from WBOB-AM (1160), are in the drive-time shifts that draw the most listeners.
Amazon had been doing the 3-6 gig. He was offered fill-in shifts, but he decided to pursue other things.
“I'm looking into other business opportunities. I also may have a chance to stay in broadcasting,” Amazon said. “My wife has a job she loves, and we're trying to find a location that works out for both of us.”
The other thing the signing of the Two Angry Guys and McAlister does is give Clear Channel some strong backups for WLW-AM (700).
HOMER will switch to Fox Sports Radio after McAlister signs off at 6 p.m.
Chris Myers and Steve Lyons will host from 6-7 p.m. Then Bob Page, an ABC radio veteran, takes over from 7-10 p.m.
Phil Hendrie, a non-Fox syndicated show, will air for 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
RATINGS GAME: Fox Sports Net is pleased with the early ratings of the Regional Sports Report.
“We're hoping to do a 1.0 household rating in each market,” said Steve Liverani, the general manager for FSN Ohio. “We're doing better than that so far. We're sitting at 1.65 in Cincinnati. We're about the same in Cleveland and at 1.5 in Columbus.”
Fox Sports Net has added a 7 p.m. version of the Regional call Ohio Sports Tonight.
“It's more feature oriented,” Liverani said.
Next baseball season, Ohio Sports Tonight may replace the pregame shows for the Reds and Indians.
Liverani said the feedback he has gotten on the regional show has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I've been very satisfied with the content,” he said.
The next big challenge comes in two weeks when high school and college football cranks up.
Liverani said FSN is still trying to decide how to cover high schools.
“I know we will devote a significant portion of the show,” he said. “But we're looking at the best way to serve the audience.”
RATINGS GAME II: The Reds ratings have held up on Fox Sports Net, despite the team's disappointing play.
Reds games are averaging a 7.2 rating for the season. That's up from 4.0 last year.
PRIME TIME PIXIES: You can tell where NBC's emphasis will be for the Olympics by watching Channel 5 tonight. NBC is putting the conclusion of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials live in prime time from 7-9 p.m.
NBS has virtually ignored the other trials. The swimming trial, for instance, will air from 4-6 p.m. today, even though it concluded last week.
John Fay covers radio/TV sports for The Enquirer. He can be reached at 768-8445.
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