Third sports talk radio station a strong possibility for Chicago
Posted by Ed Sherman at 6/8/2009 5:46 AM CDT on Chicago Business

Is there room for a third sports talk radio station in town?

Chicagosportswebio.com, the new sports talk Internet outlet, is on the verge of also being heard on an AM station in town, and possibly an FM station too.

David Hernandez, the CEO of Spectrum Entertainment Group, said he is talking with three representatives accounting for 10 AM and FM stations about placing programming on a Chicago-area radio outlet.

"I can next to guarantee within one month we will be on an AM station," Mr. Hernandez said. "We could be announcing programming (this week). The foundation is there."

Mr. Hernandez said local radio stations recently have contacted him about picking up a portion or all of the outlet's programming schedule. Webio, which made its debut in April, currently broadcasts from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Depending the nature of the deal, Mr. Hernandez said Webio could expand its programming into evenings and weekends.

"I've found the AM dial to be a lot like cable TV," Mr. Hernandez said. "There are a lot of stations, but not enough content to fill it. Everyone is looking for content."

Mr. Hernandez said the AM signals are between 670 (the one belonging to sports-talker WSCR-AM) and 1000 (WMVP-AM, the other sports talker). One likely candidate would appear to be WCPT-AM 820, the progressive talk station based in Crystal Lake. The station also has three sister FM stations.

The deal probably would feature some type of revenue-sharing component between Webio and the prospective station or stations.

Mr. Hernandez said the potential AM signal could be weak downtown.

"But that's OK," Mr. Hernandez said. "Because you're at work, and you're listening to us on the Internet."

Indeed, Mr. Hernandez said broadcasting on the Internet remains the prime focus of Webio. It has allowed him to operate an outlet without the upfront cost of purchasing a radio signal.

However, placing Webio programming on a radio station obviously expands its reach. I think if Webio got on an AM or FM station, many sports talk listeners would have it as a preset on their car radios.

"We want to be on as many media outlets as possible," Mr. Hernandez said. "It's the four legs of the table philosophy. We're going to hit smart phones, radio, the Internet. We're doing research on a possible satellite radio deal. We're supposed to talk to representatives from (XM-Sirius) in a few weeks."

Mr. Hernandez said Webio currently gets 7,000-10,000 hits per day, with the user staying on the site for an average of 27.8 minutes. He said it has had more than 100,000 unique visitors since the site launched.

Mr. Hernandez said the goal is for the site to generate 15,000-20,000 hits per day.

"There are a lot of (radio) stations that would love to have that," Mr. Hernandez said.

Mr. Hernandez has spent considerable money marketing Webio with TV commercials and billboards. He think the effort has paid off in bringing awareness to the site.

Mr. Hernandez said Webio already is generating a profit. Major advertisers include the Rohrman Auto Group, Hooter's and the White Sox.

I told Mr. Hernandez many people would doubt his claim of profitability, knowing that he has been bold in spending money to sign talent along with the high costs for marketing.

However, Mr. Hernandez said, "I know what my overhead expenses vs. revenues are. We're absolutely in a profit."

You can say this for Webio: It certainly is working hard to make an impact. Let's see what happens next.

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sugatsune. boricuabutch.

Will they have to change their name?

"Mr. Hernandez said Webio already is generating a profit. Major advertisers include the Rohrman Auto Group, Hooter's and the White Sox.

I told Mr. Hernandez many people would doubt his claim of profitability, knowing that he has been bold in spending money to sign talent along with the high costs for marketing.

However, Mr. Hernandez said, "I know what my overhead expenses vs. revenues are. We're absolutely in a profit."


Something doesn't add up with this, especially when he talks about 7 to 10,000 listeners.
this guy is full of shit.

This comes across like Mr. Hernandez is trying to convince himself just as much as Sherman's readers.

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I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. -Susan B. Anthony

I think the Mac hiring has created a lot of attention and distracts from his limited product, he's trying to stay relevant and create some talk about his venture. Never forget that north craves being the center of attention and he is nowhere near that now. Heck, he's hardly even talked about.

But . . . but . . . I thought webio was the wave of the future and North compared himself to the Wright Brothers and Thomas Edison. So now they're going back to that stone-age technology, conventional radio?

The question is one of who's paying: the radio station has the airwaves - and most of these stations get paid for clearance - and the program supplier gets the revenue of the ads they sell. It would surprise me if any of these small stations will pay for the webbio.

Having said that, multiple touchpoints provide a greater audience potential reach - and advertisers will look at that potential and may take the leap.

May is the operative word, however.

Mr Hernandez Who Ya Crappin?

That sounds suspiciously like North's claim that he had offers from 8 stations on the table when he got launched by WSCR...before he fulfilled his lifelong dream of having a sports betting website.

Hernandez is an idiot. Claiming public profits means someone is expecting to see taxes paid. he should have shut the hell up about revenues.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I have listened to zero webio, and watched about 5 minutes total of MITM.....but if they landed on an AM station, I would have it as ONE of my presets & then listen in from time to time.

That said...

North Sucks!

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

This article also reminds me that Sherman is little more than a PR flack. The "news" content of this article is greatly outweighed by Hernandez's pitch to advertisers. I don't blame Hernandez for wanting to get on terrestrial radio. Can't find the source, but internet ad revenue is down 5% while usage is up 30%. Not a good environment for established sites, much less a fledgling site dependent on that revenue stream.

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I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. -Susan B. Anthony

I would imagine that they might change to "Chicago Sports Radio 820".

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Didn't I tell you non-believers that there was a bigger strategic plan for CSW that included simulcasting on AM? That there was no way North could recruit the proven talent that he has without a bigger grand plan that included an AM simulcast? This is why WSCR made a huge mistake when they let North go. I cant wait to have another sports radio station on AM820. And when I compare the lineups, I will listen to more CSW than WSCR.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Didn't I tell you non-believers that there was a bigger strategic plan for CSW that included simulcasting on AM? That there was no way North could recruit the proven talent that he has without a bigger grand plan that included an AM simulcast? This is why WSCR made a huge mistake when they let North go. I cant wait to have another sports radio station on AM820. And when I compare the lineups, I will listen to more CSW than WSCR.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Didn't I tell you non-believers that there was a bigger strategic plan for CSW that included simulcasting on AM? That there was no way North could recruit the proven talent that he has without a bigger grand plan that included an AM simulcast? This is why WSCR made a huge mistake when they let North go. I cant wait to have another sports radio station on AM820. And when I compare the lineups, I will listen to more CSW than WSCR.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Didn't I tell you non-believers that there was a bigger strategic plan for CSW that included simulcasting on AM? That there was no way North could recruit the proven talent that he has without a bigger grand plan that included an AM simulcast? This is why WSCR made a huge mistake when they let North go. I cant wait to have another sports radio station on AM820. Imagine the promos..."The return of Chicago Sports Radio 820...with Mike North, Dan Jiggetts, George Offman, Jesse Rogers, Jonathan Hood, Chet Coppack, Fred Huebner, Doug Buffone, Ed O'Bradovich, and possibly Mike Murphy.
Regardless of how you feel about Mike North, this would be very exciting for sports radio junkies.
And when I compare the lineups, I will listen to more CSW than WSCR.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Sorry about the multiple posts. I had connection problems!

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Mike North is the least of cswebio problems. Since I wouldn't listen while he's on anyway, it becomes a question of do I like Webby, Fred & Hood? As for Chet, well, that'd be a swell place/time for Murph, if he were looking for a gig.

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Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

Hello JohnKirk,
I did mention this as a plan to "spaceball" in an email weeks before their venture took off,
I hope this works out for that whole crew! A lot of those guys are
a good listen & I will be looking forward to their 820 debut,again!

The new catch phrase: "We ain't dead yet-SKEWER820 Sports"
They can have the guys in zombie make-up and put those posters all over town.
I can see it now.
Long live MEATBALL NATION!

(Skewer as in "Rickles skewered him at the last Dean Martin's Roast.")

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I have to disagree about being a PR flack. He is reporting what is being told to him by a player in the market. It is the same as someone going on a talk show Letterman, Leno etc to talk about the new movie or book.

If this were truly a news item, he'd have at least one more POV other than using the "many people..." trope, which is the epitome of hack reporting. There is very little difference between this piece and a press release.

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I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. -Susan B. Anthony

Whatever. Either way, this is big news of interest to "many".

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Yeah. I thought radio was in the passed for the webio.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Well if it was said, it was said by North. The article referenced Hernandez, he is the one with the money so he can do what he wants with the product.

hey captain kirk, got a message for ya, you are wanted in park ridge, someone needs to walk lucky and pick up his shit and then mikey needs a reach-around, jen must be out of town. hop to it

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Frank Coztansa wrote:
Please die in a fire.

He's a flack. Just wait for the promo for Mac's book, the one Sherman co-wrote. Another failed venture for both.

To whom? The so-called 7000 listeners?

Hernandez and North are lying if they say people are paying BIG money to advertise for 7000 listeners. Only a fool believes that, I guess I mean you johnkirk.

Yeah, Like BeBe, Pappy, Jen Jen, Jesse..... does 4 count as "many"

So are you telling me...and be honest now...that you wont listen to CSW when it begins broadcasting on AM820 at the end of June??? Really???

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan