Whitecaps baseball back on the airwaves

[Feature/writer]

The minor league baseball West Michigan Whitecaps squad is back on WJRW-AM 1340 (Grand Rapids) once again.
After a year (or two?) offering online only play-by-play, announcer Dan Hasty is back on the terrestrial airwaves.
It seemed to happen suddenly - I didn't hear a big ramp-up of promotion for this before the season started.
I'm wondering why the change? A lack of visibility/availability when only online? Is it still some kind of barter arrangement? And have they cobbled together a regional network of stations that carry the games?

[edj]

It has to be brokered. I can't think of a minor league team that isn't, unless maybe if it airs on a non-com.

[Trophyhead]

The Ticket is also on 106.1 LPFM. Faygo is usually a supportive broadcast partner of minor league baseball. I think I found the Caps on 1340 when I was hoping for Final Four coverage, in the first series of West Michigan's season. I don't look over Mlive or local news to have found out any other way.

[Graham Wellington]

It has to be brokered. I can't think of a minor league team that isn't, unless maybe if it airs on a non-com.

Agreed, they have to be buying the time. Only a deviant would listen to minor league baseball on the radio.

[Feature/writer]

So, two questions remain: why the move back to terrestrial radio, and any other stations carrying the games? (leading into commercial breaks between innings, the announcers still refer to it as the "Whitecaps Baseball Network").

[Graham Wellington]

So, two questions remain: why the move back to terrestrial radio, and any other stations carrying the games? (leading into commercial breaks between innings, the announcers still refer to it as the "Whitecaps Baseball Network").

Probably because it's still easier to convince local businesses to advertise on radio broadcasts than an online stream. I'm sure they pitch all the excitement and popularity of Whitecaps baseball and all the potential audience that could tune in, glossing over the fact that a total of 8 people will actually be listening.

[Graham Wellington]

So, that means the audience draw will be consistent with 1340's other programming.

Well hold on, if they normally have 4 listeners, and Whitecaps brings in 4 more - you've doubled the audience!

"Mr Advertiser, we double our listeners during Whitecaps broadcasts. Hurry up and sign up while spots remain!"

[MasterB]

I'm surprise that the Whitecaps don't try and put a handful of home games on WXSP or ARCWMI as the Griffins for the past few years been on WXSP a handful of times. Not that I have watched any of those games I wonder if the Griffins are paying Nexstar or barter time.