790/The Zone now part of Lincoln Financial
As I wrote a few weeks back, Big League Broadcasting, the operator of sports talk station 790/The Zone, has been having ratings issues and lost a bundle on some St. Louis radio station properties.
Now, Lincoln Financial, which has had a local marketing agreement with Big League Broadcasting for years, is buying Big League’s assets and wrapping 790/The Zone into Lincoln, which also owns Star 94. (Big League never owned the 790 signal. Lincoln had given them a long-term lease for use of it.)
Stephen “Steak” Shapiro and Andrew Saltzman, who created the Zone in 1997, will become employees of Lincoln Financial. Rick Mack, general manager of Star 94, will become the Zone’s senior vice president and general manager. Saltzman’s title will be VP/GM. Neal Maziar will remain station manager, Matt Edgar will stay on as program director and morning host Shapiro gets the new title brand manager. (That’s a lot of managers!)
This will have no immediate impact on what you hear on air. “These guys run an incredibly successful operation,” Mack said in a phone interview today. “We’re proud to be a part of it. We don’t want to mess up a good thing.”
The station for years generated revenues far in excess of its ratings, a testament to management’s plucky ability to sell its loyal listeners to advertisers and inserting sponsored segments anywhere they could. Saltzman said as recently as 2007, the Zone was bringing in $14 million in revenue despite a relatively weak AM signal (especially at night). Obviously since the recession hit, the Zone is nowhere near that number anymore.
It has also nurtured plenty of talent, including the 2 Live Stews and two mid-day hosts now on rival 680/The Fan: Matt Chernoff and Chuck Oliver.
But more recently, 680/The Fan began pulling in stronger ratings, fueled partly by the Braves. In July, the Zone ranked 22nd among men 25 to 54 while the Fan ranked 17th. The Zone recently lost the Atlanta Hawks to Cumulus, which will air the games on 99X and make 680 partners. (Dickey Broadcasting owns 680 but the Dickey family also have a stake in Cumulus Media.)
Rumors of this transaction leaked out last week but both Saltzman last Tuesday and Mack himself last Friday denied it had happened. Mack said the papers were finalized over the weekend.
This was Saltzman and Shapiro’s baby from day one. But Shapiro denied the station is in financial duress.
“Owning your own company is extremely rewarding,” Shapiro said. “We decided to trade in the day-to-day stress for the security of a great job at a great company.”
Here’s Saltzman in the press release:
“We have accomplished a great deal as entrepreneurial broadcasters, and this acquisition allows 790 The Zone to compete at an even higher level,” said Saltzman. “I am pleased with the development of this strategic partnership.”
UPDATE: Shapiro was always about promoting the Zone to me when he was the owner. But when I called him after he became a Lincoln Financial employee, he said he had to refer me to Saltzman, the designated spokesman for the Zone. (Now all on-the-record interviews with Zone employees have to be pre-cleared through Saltzman — even poor Steak.)
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117 comments Add your comment
George G.
August 30th, 2010
3:27 pm
Not surprising. 790 is crumbling at the seams. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more major movement in the not-too-distant future.
True 790 fan
August 30th, 2010
3:37 pm
Keep Chris, Nick, and Mike all others can move one. (plus Dave Hubbard)
True 790 fan
August 30th, 2010
3:38 pm
KEEP DAVE Hubbard.
True 790 fan
August 30th, 2010
3:38 pm
STEAK SUCKS
Old School
August 30th, 2010
3:51 pm
Never listen to 790— always 680. They have better talent, and their affiliation with ESPN is a plus.
Blue Cross Mole
August 30th, 2010
3:53 pm
No wonder why I saw Steak driving a Kia. Not sure how Steakie will be as just an employee. I suspect a much different station come the end of Football season. Also, it must make Lincoln’s Atlanta property that much more attractive to Cumulus.
steakiefan
August 30th, 2010
3:58 pm
Big League Broadcasting has been an integral part of radio for the past 13 years, BLB has provided us with one of the leading sports stations in the southeast. Thank you to Salsa and Steak for giving Atlanta a new take on radio! 790 will remain at the top of my dial!
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
4:11 pm
Why all the Steak hating? I met the guy at a UGA basketball game years ago. He took time to talk with people and was very nice. He “plays radio” with his character on Mayhem. Why can’t some people figure this out? Matt Chernoff sounds like a complete jerk and has made a living riding The King’s coat tails.
790andbeyond!!!
August 30th, 2010
4:13 pm
Great times!!! If your a fan of the station, you’ve been treated to some truely great times, events, festivals, interviews, games, etc. 790 The Zone is as much a part of the Atlanta sports fabric as the Falcons, Braves and Hawks are. If this move means keeping the identity of the station intact, CONGRATULATIONS.
dillion
August 30th, 2010
4:18 pm
The radio dial in my car is on 790 about 90% of the time (and has been since I moved to Atlanta in ‘98). Steak and the crew have put together a great product and I just hope Lincoln won’t bring them down. Thanks Steak and company for what you have done for Atlanta radio!
Dan
August 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
So what exactly is Andrew Saltzman’s new job title as an employee – “former owner”?
If Lincoln wants to focus the station back to sports, Steak’s value as a morning drive host presumably is significantly diminished now that he does not call the shots as an owner.
.
Brennan Huff
August 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
Agree with Big Will’s comment above regarding Steak. I’ve crossed paths with him twice over the years and he was always very polite and took the time to talk to myself as well as the people I was with at the time. He’s not at all like his radio persona when he’s off the clock. Based on the two times I met him, he seems like a good guy.
George G.
August 30th, 2010
4:55 pm
Looks like the 790 staff got the memo to flood the AJC with positive blog comments!
The Coach
August 30th, 2010
5:18 pm
That means Lincoln loses out on $500k-$1mil a year just on rental. BLB was their biggest Customer. They’ll make it up by managing it better though I think. Keeping the leadership there is a plus.
educated listener
August 30th, 2010
5:18 pm
What had happened was…. BLB was hemorrhaging money like water in the Titanic. Just like with this article and the responses, they say it was just a small leak.
I think it’s plainly obvious by 790’s actions over the years or so, that people are just fed up with the BS. And when you don’t pay your talent and allow them to go away… and bring in “all new” unproven talent, which is code for CHEAP… it won’t be long until all at 790 will go bye-bye.
It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Jim N Buckhead
August 30th, 2010
5:33 pm
How the mighty have fallen
scott
August 30th, 2010
6:09 pm
I have been with the zone since day one. I was with Steakie, Chris and AJ when they were at 680. These guys are knowledgeable, funny and have better guests. Listneing to the Fan morning show is like having nails rubbed on a chalkboard. I have attended many live broadcasts and Steak, Chris and Nick could not be nicer and more down to earth to everyone. I left Matt Edgar a message a year ago asking abount something and he got right back to me that day. Listne to them instead of reading crappy emails from haters
Matt the Brave
August 30th, 2010
6:35 pm
I have to say that where I live, I can rarely pick up 790. Even when I am in town, I usually still keep in on 680 because I never particularly hear them talking about sports on the station, but that just might be my luck of the draw. That all said, I hope that 790 will continue to keep going. Competition makes 680 the Fan better.
As for Chuck and Chernoff starting there…they kind of ran themselves off the air because they were going up against ESPN broadcasting and didn’t really do a lot of sports it seemed. Their show now seems much more tight. They still will go off-sports from time to time, but they generally stay within the strata of what ESPN would do.
I wouldn’t be surprised that within in the next few years you see 2 Live Stews jump ship to a larger sports market (i.e.: NYC or LA) to take on morning radio or afternoon drive. If that does happen, then it’ll be a hard road for 790 after that.
Julian Mouton
August 30th, 2010
6:39 pm
Steak is obnoxious, pushy and arrogant – and that’s just on the basketball court. I choose Mayhem over Rude because of Dimino & Cellini.
hirsutedawg
August 30th, 2010
6:43 pm
Bring back The Bottom Line.
David
August 30th, 2010
6:44 pm
It was only a matter of time before the station went out of business. Steven burned a lot of bridges threw the years, and he thought he was the big radio star when he wasn’t. Instead running the station with good on-air talent, they ran it like a club house. You had to be in the “click” with management to get air time.
790 will be on for a few more months, then it will be replaced with the Sporting News Radio full time or the format will be changed.
Will
August 30th, 2010
6:54 pm
steak,,,nice? I’ve seen him out and about and he is arrogant and aloof, as has been reported millions of times over the past 20 years, the 790 PR team is working overtime on this blog. Forget how nice or not nice he is, he is easily the worst on air personality I have very heard. And no, dont give me that crap about it being “radio”. He’s unprepared, unprofessioanl, predictable and basically unaware or uncaring that there might be someone listening and out of respect for the process he might want to put in at least a mild effort. I couldnt figure out he kept his job. Now I know, he owned half of the station! If the new company has any clue, he will be a former employee in 90 days, and good riddance chc-cha.
Jon
August 30th, 2010
7:06 pm
Once Lincoln figures out that they need to make cuts to save that mess, they’ll start at the top. Methinks Steaks isn’t long for this one…
getbuzzed
August 30th, 2010
7:10 pm
680 sucks! I only listen to Chuck and Chernoff. The rest of the station is HORRIBLE! I’ve been with 790 from day one and still like it. They do need a midday upgrade and the Stews are unlistenable, they make everything in sports about race.
Dave
August 30th, 2010
7:14 pm
I listen to both 680 and 790, I gotta say I prefer Mayham over the Rude Awaking. I think Steak, Chris, and Nick do a great job. I enjoy Matt and Chuck in the afternoons because they stick to local sports however I do switch over and listen to the stews as well.
agt45
August 30th, 2010
7:29 pm
I listen to both stations. Mayhem is best when Steak is not there. Chuck and Chernoff are good when I can catch them and the afternoons for both statiosn are awful. I’ve switched to 640 and 750 for my drive home because both afternoon crews are just plain awful.
Lodney Ho
August 30th, 2010
7:35 pm
St. Louis = Fail, huh S&S? They were losing cash left and right and Lincoln threw them a lifering. That being said, I don’t see how they can be successful and not carry one of the major sports franchises in this town, and Tech’s not one of them. What you’ve got on air isn’t going to help you if your broadcast range is as pitiful as 790 is. Why do you think the Hawks were so quick to drop them?
bernard rolax
August 30th, 2010
7:43 pm
hey, most of the comments or just that the truth THE STEWS are really keeping the station a float you see them on that four letter station and hear them on SPORTYNEWS and also TJMS SHOW so if you take them off the station would have to close shop for real…. Also that morning show is really weak and that bald guy sorry all of them are bald NICK needs to go back to that tried town CLEV. GOOOOOOO STEWS will listening at 1:00 everyday.
Radio Hall of Shame
August 30th, 2010
7:52 pm
They were doomed when they started all of the left wing liberal hack talk. Look at the polls people, coincides with the ratings of 790 and the demise of the AJC. This isn’t rocket science. They chose to ride the Obama “Change” wagon, and people with any sense tuned out. That’s the only tie in to the recession. Smart people with money listened to stations that bellowed common sense rather than nonsense. I just wish they would have kept Chernoff since he’s such an annoying POS. i don’t mind Steak, can’t stand the condecsending Chris, or the turd with sibling envy NIck. Funny how I haven’t read any comments about afternoon drive…..Take a hint Lincoln, they suck even worse than the rest of the lineup. Won’t comment on the Stews, they aren’t worthy. Hope the whole thing changes. Atlanta radio is embarrassing.
Financial Terms not Disclosed
August 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
Rodney,
What are the terms of the deal? Report like a real reporter please…
dd
August 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
I didn’t know 790 & 680 are still on the air.
Don Imus
August 30th, 2010
8:23 pm
Steak, you can come work for me my son. Your life long dream. But Steak a few things
1) Enough with cheesey teases. At every break you tease some story like a one of the cheap advertising sales girls.
2) You broadcast more commercials than 680. Way more, and listeners turn the dial.
3) Things grew old, weak and played. You forgot what is to battle the Evil Empire with wqxi.
4) Morning Motivators! Morning Motivators! Morning Motivators! Loyal listeners year for that bygone carefree jingle.
Another Steak Shapiro Hater
August 30th, 2010
8:32 pm
One day, that pig Steak Shapiro will be chained on the end of Satan’s dogleash and forced to serve the “Horned One” in Lewinsky-like fashion with that irritating lisp he has.
XM Rocks!
790 The Zone? Eh, not so much.
BRW
August 30th, 2010
8:33 pm
They call “2 Live Stews” talent? I better look up the definition of that word again.
Bhahahahaha
August 30th, 2010
8:34 pm
As long as Shapiro is on the air, I will never listen to 790. Hopefully the folks at Lincoln will do what 680 had the foresight to do many years ago: Fire Stephen Shapiro.
Mitch
August 30th, 2010
9:00 pm
I hope this ownership change doesn’t mean 790 changes format or goes national syndication anytime soon. Signal is one thing and the profits generated off a stronger signal is another thing, but if you can hear both stations, there is no question that 790 has been a much better on air product than 680 over the years. At present, the only listen-able show on 680 is two radio personalities who cut their teeth at 790. Does anybody remember the days before 790 when 680 was the only game in town? For those of you that don’t remember, 680’s flagship show in those days was The Max & Morgan Show who talked more about Florida State Football than all the Atlanta – GA sports teams combined. I for one hope Atlanta Sports Talk doesn’t go back to those days. Atlanta is a big time sports city and deserves the full time attention that 790 has given Atlanta sports over the last 15 years.
Joe Q Public
August 30th, 2010
9:12 pm
I used to listen to 790 the zone but every 15 minutes they interupted all the commericials with 5 minutes of Sports Talk. (If you call Dinner Menus sports talk)
ATL Sports Fan..
August 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
The morning show on 790 kills 680…2 Lives Stews used to be funny but I cannot listen to them anymore. I understand what they try to do but it got old fast in my opinion..I do listen to Chuck and Matt on 680 mid day..and then bounce back between 790/680 in the afternoons…Yes, i am a loser in my car all day doing sales calls..
ATL Sports Fan..
August 30th, 2010
9:19 pm
Oh on another note…even my african american friends have gotten tired of the Stews….? Do the Stews get better local ratings than Chuck/Chernoff?
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
9:27 pm
I agree that the Bottom Line should be brought back. Nick and Chris still sounded great together when they filled in for Pollack and Bell last week. I also would prefer the old Mayhem with Beau, Steak, and Bell. HELL YEAH, I said it, BRING BACK THE DEAN!!!!!! And make the Tony Barnhart and Wes Durham show full time and maybe add Pollack to it when he desides to be in town.
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
9:29 pm
The stews should get their old time slot back. 8 pm that is.
Woodstock Woody
August 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
I still listen to Mayhem every morning and have for five years. I also listened to the Afternoon Saloon for the year or so it was on, and still catch Bell on occasion but wish he hadn’t been neutralized by teaming him with a holy-roller (and I’m a UGA grad and season ticket holder). I hope Lincoln doesn’t change things, but just writes the checks to possibly enhance things.
790 the Commercial Zone
August 30th, 2010
9:52 pm
The positive comments about Shapiro are a joke, he is a complete jackass in person and is unbearable on the air. Inside sources at 790 confirm that these were planted by employees and friends.
Drive your Kia out of town Cha Cha and don’t come back.
Dingo Charlie
August 30th, 2010
9:56 pm
Nick and Chris are MONEY, Chuck and Chernoff are MONEY. Everyone else is a wanna be!!
C
August 30th, 2010
9:57 pm
Bring Toucher and Rich home to Atlanta, Lincoln! Get Crash in there too!
Rodney Ho Moe
August 30th, 2010
10:14 pm
Fire Steaky and that OTHER obnoxious jew Saltzman.
Bring back the Kimmer !
InTheBiz
August 30th, 2010
10:17 pm
While I like The Stews, trust me, they are not making a lot of money for anybody. Their ratings are not great and Sporting News Network is the lowest rung of the sports syndicator ladder.
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
10:18 pm
I’m a 12 year listener and do not work at the Zone. Funny how idiots can’t grasp that people take on a persona on the radio to make it a great listen. How many other radio personalities last this long?
RogerT
August 30th, 2010
10:44 pm
Big Will when you own the station you can last as long as you want to.
Rich
August 30th, 2010
10:44 pm
Okay big Will, so it’s a “persona”. Well, the “persona” sucks! it’s arrogant, incapable and unlistenable. The “persona” has been fired from every job its had until the “persona” bought his own station. The “persona” is not a “great listen” if it was it wouldnt have tanked and needed a bail out. Now, the “persona’s” days are numbered and the “persona” has no one to blame but himself. Oh and how many other radio personalities have lasted that long? Rude, Baron, Southside, Vicky, Katy, Buck, Mckee, Boortz, Clark, Moby, Chuck, Dimino, Jordan, Frank, Wachs, Fram, Beau, Imus, Rush, Bert, Von Hoestler…..get the point cha cha?
Rich
August 30th, 2010
10:49 pm
Oh, and NOONE on that list owned half of their station.
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
10:59 pm
Hey Rich, listen to another station then you jack-wagon! You sound a little too upset about a show you don’t care about. Do you automatically jump to the show with the best ratings. If so I guess you’re listening to the Bert show Ya Hump.
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
11:06 pm
Woodstock Woody, I agree the Afternoon saloon was killed off to early.
Rich
August 30th, 2010
11:06 pm
hey, “big will”, it’s getting late and you guys go on the air at 6, might want to put down the vodka and get some sleep, just sayin.
Big Will
August 30th, 2010
11:09 pm
I can go all night long cha cha.
Atlanta Lovers "THE KIMMER"
August 30th, 2010
11:33 pm
Atlanta Radio N E E D S Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson back on the air as soon as humanly possible, especially in this sickening “Age of Obama” that is running our beloved nation straight to ruin.
Atlanta Radio has NEVER needed scum like Steak Shapiro.
Atlanta Lovers "THE KIMMER"
August 30th, 2010
11:34 pm
Yes, “running our beloved nation straight to ruin.”
There! I said it.
Not so easy ed
August 31st, 2010
12:39 am
Isn’t it interesting how these bullies have gotten theirs.
Think about all the trash they guys talked to advertisers, sports teams and anyone who would listen to their line of bologna. Steve Shapiro and Andy Salzman our big little men of Atlanta.
Reckless behavior toward anyone who didn’t play ball with them.
I’m sure your families are very proud of you.
Congratulations to the Big Gulps who run WGCL Television.
Just the goofuses’ I would want to represent my sports effort on Atlanta tv.
For you kids out there……..”bad guys do finish last.”
And for those of you scoring at home that’s no hits, no runs and 790 errors.
Anonymous bald jew broadcasting from the palm
August 31st, 2010
2:35 am
I swear by all the corn beef in brookline mass, that big league broadcasting will rise from the ashes!! I am the boss of you!
Ben Franklin B. 1980
August 31st, 2010
2:37 am
Gay steve sounds like a piney rooter.
american dream dusty rhodes
August 31st, 2010
2:48 am
Steak, you bald sum b*tch, you still owe me the money for those hookers at larry zybysko’s chanukah bash. You was buying more ass than a toilet seat, baby!
Get Real
August 31st, 2010
3:24 am
In October Wells Fargo will complete it’s takeover of Wachovia Bank N.A.. When Wells Fargo buys out Wachovia it means one thing…Wachovia is out of business!!
Slash and burn is coming for a lot of good people unfortunately… except for the guys at the top, as all of the manager kept their gigs…for now.
Now that an outsider will look at the books, I won’t be surprised if 790 is sold again.
It really is something that shouldn’t be cheered and truly is sad as a once really good station is finally brought to its knees in what looks like a foreclosure situation.
Steak and his cronies tried to big time their way into St Louis and blew all of their money. An honorable try, but they should’ve invested in Atlanta. Outside of that dummy Pollack, is anyone from Atlanta? Does anyone have any interest in the Atlanta teams? They never talk Braves and kill the Hawks. All they do is slam the Atlanta teams. No wonder they all have gone to 680.
The demise of 790……..The way the station and the Stews ran off the white listeners during the Mike Vick fiasco! It was the beginning of the end for the Zone’s impressive run. Rather than discuss the facts, the Black Hosts defended the guilty black guy, b/c he was black… the REALLY GUILTY black guy that tore down a franchise and still hasn’t recovered. Black and white people loved the Falcons before Mike Vick and the Stews anyone remember 1998 and the dirty birds?
The white hosts were accused of being racist when they differed. When the smoke cleared, 680 had become a better product, acquired new talent and gained new listeners. FOREVER.
I’m tired of hearing how the Stews are on ESPN and are syndicated and are the cash cows, they are cash cows for themselves, working for Sporting News Radio (which is bleeding money and about to go under too). Emmitt Smith was on ESPN,…it didn’t mean he was a good broadcaster.
They had a chance to be unique and great, and seemingly just became content, lazy and happy pandering to low ideas and pushing liquor…sad.
If you think for a minute this is not a not a blow for team Shapiro, you haven’t got a clue. The Dickey Brothers are laughing now as steak and the crew used to laugh at them. So much for Mike Bell’s constant blabbering about how they are the station that guys want and how they are more in tune with the listeners.
In 12 years the original listeners have gotten older…and wiser which has not been good for 790 and has been great for 680.
brave1
August 31st, 2010
6:27 am
Steak is just an employee now? Wow. Wonder how long till he gets canned.
I wonder when Dimino will finally speak the truth about the 2 Live Stews. If he doesn’t respect Rome, what does he think about guys that don’t do research and conduct interviews from reading (noticably) off a piece of paper?
Chris
August 31st, 2010
7:15 am
Any watching CSS? What is with Steak’s twitching on the air? Looks like he has something on his mind.
Papichulo
August 31st, 2010
7:45 am
Didn’t know 790 was still on the air. I stopped listening after all the Mike Vick race baiting shows a few years ago. Oh well
XM and Sirius FTW!!!
TommyJack
August 31st, 2010
9:01 am
Shapiro is the worst thing that ever happened to radio in the ATL.
Common
August 31st, 2010
9:17 am
Hey folks, I have to agree, most of the programming on 790 is weak and very amateurish, having worked in radio for a number of years I have to say that most of the stuff you tend to hear from radio personalities is all an act, however there are few personalities that are genuine. Evening drive is the second most lucrative slot in radio and they have Mike Bell running it, MISTAKE. Dave Polick (excuse my misspelling) is a breath of fresh air next to this 40+ adolescent, The “Stews” annoy me tremendously and I’m African American, so its not a “Black Thing”, the DONT know how to read copy, as another poster noted they are obviously reading questions during interviews, for God’s sake read your spots and questions BEFORE you crack your mic. When it comes to them defending Mike Vick, I do think the station chose to play along the Black/White card, and it angered some people. I have never lived in NY or LA where they have sports talk radio and have had it for awhile, I don’t know what GOOD ST radio should sound like/be, I just know what I like and what annoys me. 790 has a lot of potential but they need to grow, its not about womanizing, getting drunk and partying all the time. 680 the fan doesn’t do it for me either, even though I do like Matt and the “King”, IMHO the rest are bland and they have a couple of guys who can’t seem to help but to bring their political, conservative slant to every conversation that involves a person of color. It’s sports not brain surgery.
Doug
August 31st, 2010
9:42 am
Rocker is having a good laugh at Steak right now
About time
August 31st, 2010
10:00 am
I have yet to see anyone bring up the time Steak wanted to be on Imus in the Morning so bad that he wore a pig nose on the air during a fill-in for the Imus sports guy. He tried to run with the big boys in NYC and was sent back to ATL with his tail between his legs.
Fred Mott
August 31st, 2010
10:08 am
I agree with other posts here, 790 (aside from Steak) has/had the best talent, 680 the better signal. Reason the Braves, Hawks etc are at 680 is the signal and simulcast on their affiliated FM stations.
Chuck and Chernoff is the only “local” show on 680 that is worth listening to. Mix them, Pollack and Bell with the old Bottom Line and you would have a great sports station.
Bachelor Brett
August 31st, 2010
10:16 am
I like Steak Shapiro! Met him on the craps table a few months ago and he couldn’t have been a nicer guy! All of those folks that claims he’s obnoxious, have you listened to 680 in the mornings (perry) or drive home? Is Kincaid the most pompous guy on the radio right now? “Hey partner this is the 2,456 Buck and Kincaid show.” Can’t stand him. I would like 790 to hire David Archer for the drive home if Pollack were to leave.
levelhead
August 31st, 2010
10:20 am
JETS Fans come see your team get Slaughtered by The RAVENS at the Cheyenne grille (Peachtree Battle Shopping center) The Atlanta Home of the Ravens.
JSD
August 31st, 2010
10:26 am
I can remember when the only sports talk was Chuck Hussion for an hour on WSB and Munson on Sunday night. Now we’re spoiled rotten.
The truth is there is one great station in Atlanta but 75% of it is at 680 (Chuck & Matt, B&K, Colin) and 25% is at 790 (Chris, Bell & Nick). I wish they were all together but that’s how its laid out.
True 790 fan
August 31st, 2010
11:19 am
Chris, Nick, Bell and Hubbard keep. Make the bottom line in the morning and have Bell and D. Archer in the afternoons. My radio is on 790 all day except middays. Chuck and Kid douche-bag get me to switch over. I like it more when its the King by himself……
Trig
August 31st, 2010
11:43 am
Chris @ 7:15….I noticed that too dude!!!! I mean, Steak has always been kinda hyper like he has Restless Leg Syndrome, but this was different. It was almost like his whole body was shaking uncontrollably. But hey, I guess he is stressed out.
Steak isnt too bad a guy, but a lot of people on 790(notably Mike Bell and Nick Cellini) treated the listeners and callers like feces and even would be disparaging, or at the very least, condescending to them on the air.
Mario
August 31st, 2010
12:17 pm
I agree the Stews are turrrable. Speaking of which, after I heard Doug Stewart ask if Charles Barkley was in the Hall of Fame, I lost all respect. I would have thought he would issue a sincere apology for not doing basic homework on a big guest. I was embarrased.
I agree all the Stews do is provide silly Vick fans a place to be stupid. This morning I heard one call in and go at it with Steak. The guy was an idiot rambling about how Matt Ryan wasn’t as good as Vick. Steak just let him ramble as to not offend he “urban community” Of course he didn’t mention that he is not here because he’s a dog fighting thug, who threw away is opportunity. It was somebody’s fault. Typical Stews caller.
680 is boring but not annoying and have god banter witthout having supid Vick fans run the show. Go Maty Ice, Go Falcons and bye bye 7-Stew-Vick-90!.
Danny Del
August 31st, 2010
12:27 pm
What comes around goes around Steak. RIP chumps. Hopefully you’ll have more time to enjoy your favorite pastime… drilling glory holes for the ‘Young Guns’.
keith
August 31st, 2010
12:39 pm
I have been a 790 listener for years. I think that when Nick and Chris are at their best, it is great radio. The radio station as a whole, however, has not improved. It’s frustrating because I want them to win the battle against 680, but they haven’t done anything. They are getting beaten in the ratings and changed nothing for years. They didn’t get the Braves and are losing the Hawks. They still have their biggest issue, which is a TERRIBLE signal. In the winter, it will be hard for me to listen to them in the morning due to the signal.
They have to shake things up and go on the attack again. All they have done is sit back while 680 grows and with no counterpunch. What happened to their fight?
As far as 680, their folks are doing all the right things. You can tell they want to win. I don’t like their on-air talent. They rely too much on the good cop (Buck and Chris Rude) bad cop (Kincaide and Perry) formula. Even though I don’t like their programming, I will take their front office over 790’s any day. I don’t know any of the people at either of the stations, am not an insider…just a fan. But look at the results recently.
Wake up 790. Get back in the fight.
East Lake K
August 31st, 2010
12:48 pm
I don’t like everyone on 790, but I really don’t see how anyone could listen to 680. The whole Chuck and Chernoof dynamic has worn thin. It’s basically the same thing over and over. Bor-ing. The rest of their line-up is crap. Kinkaid is a serious tool. I hope he learns from Jay Mariotti because both are way too self rightous.
Roswell Ed
August 31st, 2010
1:15 pm
Listen here dogs and poodles.
God is great and all he does is show you luv all the time and so when you’re sleeping with a girl from the club make sure and praise him.
Hey Brisket what did you have for lunch?
All right all right all right.
And now to our man Chellini,
“What the hell is wrong with you people? If you give me another 10 months I guarantee you that I will be divorced and fat but for now I’m pumped and in luv!!!!”
Hey you’re in the dooooooooooooog house!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
And now back to you Mike Bell
“I have the intellect of a third grader on steroids. Yes I am funny now and then and I do know something about the circle jerk known as racing but that’s about it. Hey how are my football picks doing? Oh never mind! Better yet hand me a Scotch and put on those ‘87 reruns of Full House. Those Olsen twins are h-o-o-o-o-t.”
RUFF! RUFF! RUFF! RUFF!
Hey Dimino what have you got for us today?
“Well guys did you realize that Oil Can Boyd was 3 and five on odd days of the month that were in Daylight Savings Time.”
Well Chris that’s what happens when y-o-o-u-u-r-r-r-r-r-r in the d-o-o-o-g house!!!!
Ruff Ruff Ruff.
“Hey Ryan I heard that Mike Bell took an IQ test yesterday and everyone was hopeing that his score would equal today’s high!!”
Doug- “Even with global warming it doesn’t look good for Mike!!!!”
atlanta appraiser
August 31st, 2010
1:28 pm
I used to listen to 790, but after Chernoff and Kang went to 680 I switched. Also, didn’t like the way 790 got rid of Hometeam. Other than that, both stations to me have mediocre morning shows. Both stations have morning shows with guys who love to hear themselves talk or want to appear they’re smarter than they really are. 680 has too many classless sexual innuendos in the morning and 790 has 3 bald guys who always cut each other off. I do enjoy ChuckNChernoff, they’re just entertaining to me and they also embrace their fans very well. Who ever thinks 2 live stews is a talented show must not know what talent means. I had to stop listening to them because everything was about race and they always love to gloat about themselves. Other than that it’s WSB for me. Not surprising to me that 790 was sold, it just looked like poorly managed station. If you let your most talented people go then you deserve to go out of business. What is the job description for a Brand Manager? Is that a made up job?
steeledawg
August 31st, 2010
2:14 pm
I may not have always agreed with their opinions or personnel decisions, but the guys at 790 have given me a million laughs to and from work over the years. I hope the transition goes well and Atlanta will continue to have two sports talk stations.
Good luck to the 790 folks.
flacker
August 31st, 2010
2:39 pm
I prefer 790 to 680 although both stations do leave a lot to be desired. That said, i am certainly glad there are two sports talk stations. I can’t listen to Perry, Kincaid or as little as possible of Chernoff, all three seems to have a high opinion of their opinions and voices.
I am tired of hearing that the Stews are racist, the problem it seems is many of you are not use to hearing a point of view that doesn’t come from a non-white male. There are other points of views out there, i guess Rush, Hannity, Boortz, Savage, etc. are just telling it like it is with their opinions.
I guess the Stews having a Jewish agent, white attorney, and countless guest, who are white, is just a ruse! If nothing else i salute steak and his team for at least bringing some diversity to the airwaves. It appears that as long as the “darkies” are helping my team win on the field it’s ok, but lord forbid if they want to venture into the area that many non-black athletes venture.
Any of you remember Brian Finnerman(sp) on 680? Talk about dry and boring!
see ya salsa
August 31st, 2010
2:42 pm
I hope Tony and Wes haven’t signed those contracts yet!
Rude
August 31st, 2010
3:14 pm
OK, now that all of the employees from 680 & 790 have filled this blog, it’s time to go back to work!
Oh, and lemme give a “shout-out” to all of the former, disgruntled employees of these 2 stations for making a contribution to this blog, as well…
Sports Fanatic
August 31st, 2010
3:23 pm
As a native Georgian, I have listened to both 790 and 680 from the beginning. The best recipe for sports talk in the south is having hosts that entertain and educate the listeners, while having great chemistry with each other. This is why the majority of the posts compliment Chris/Nick and Matt/Chuck. They have the chemistry, are well prepared for their shows, and entertain daily. Every other combination on the air here is missing one or several of those components. It’s not hard to figure out, but it it is extremely hard to find it.
Steak is not playing a character here in Atlanta. He was a part owner. He could act however he wanted and did. He is just has a huge ego that rubs most people the wrong way. He definitely is not the best on-air talent and never seems prepared. He played the part of a buffoon on Imus’ show years ago. That was the act. He and Saltzman have made a great living over the years and achieved far more than any expert would have guessed. Ignoring the problems of an extremely weak signal, allowing talented hosts to leave, and a much better funded competitor making changes cost them. This ignorance combined with the horrible St. Louis investment led to their undoing. They might still believe it is only a cash flow problem sue to the economy. That would be another mistake.
Hopefully, the new owners and management will take heed to the down turn and make positive changes to restore a much needed second sports talk voice in this town. Just like having one newspaper has never been good for the sports fans in Atlanta, having one source for sports talk will prevent us from getting hard hitting sports stories and interviews of the top names in the sports we love. I remember not being able to get the baseball box scores in the morning edition of the AJC if the games were not finished by 6 pm the day before. You think that ever happened in any multi-paper city in the U.S.? No way! All the posts cheering the downfall of a second sports talk station here are from short-sided people.
I love sports and sports talk! I want the best of both for this city!
Chris
August 31st, 2010
3:39 pm
@ Sports Fanatic
I don’t think people in the greater Atlanta area are hoping for one sports radio station, they just did not like 790 the Zone and the on the air staff. Look for Steak to be let go very soon since he was not named to the many new management positions. Also, look for Mike Bell to go to another market. He is not going to wait around to be released because he makes too much money. Luckily with XM radio, and with the ability to listen to sports radio stations on the internet there are more choices.
The real question is there enough interest in the Atlanta market to support two sports radio stations. With Dickey broadcasting owning the broadcasting rights to the Hawks, Thrashers, and Braves. Then you have add the point of ESPN radio and Fox Sports radio controlled by Dickey broadcasting, it will be difficult for another ports radio station to start up.
braves win
August 31st, 2010
3:42 pm
Hey Flacker….you say the Stews aren’t racist because they have a Jewish agent and white attorney? So does every one else in the entertainment industry.
Doud Stewart is flat out racist. No doubt. I realized that when Steve nash won his first MVP and Doug couldn’t understand it. Even though all his peers and legends like Magic and Isahia praised him too.
Besides, who wants to listen to someone start and finish every sentence by saying, “man”? Give me a break, man!
Rude
August 31st, 2010
3:46 pm
Hey Rude,
Alright, Mr Smarty Pants, what makes you SO sure this whole blog was written by employees of 680 The Fan & 790?
Ben Poofter
Dear Mr Poofter,
Thanks for your inquiry, no we are not hiring at the moment. In case you’re not a former, disgruntled radio employee, understand that only “radio people” read Rodney Ho’s column. Nobody enjoys reading about radio people except radio people. Nothing inflates our senses of importance more than seeing our names in print.
That’s what makes the blogs following a Rodney Ho article so laughable. You can pick the ones that were written by Steak versus the ones written by Matt or Chuck. Obviously, Chris & Nick have a consulting firm writing for them. Regardless, all were very funny! …and for what it’s worth, I hope everybody gets to keep their jobs. Anytime there’s a change in the balance of power in radio, heads roll. Basically, we’re all good people, just a tad egocentric. Ben, I hope that answers your question?
rude
Love the zone
August 31st, 2010
4:13 pm
I hate 680 the fan, other than Chuck & Chernoff, they are old and mostly predictable. 790 has better events, and overall much better radio personalities. I do hate the number of commercials 790 has, and the fact there always the same.
680 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Chess
August 31st, 2010
4:31 pm
Atlanta – The city that makes time to hate. This is sports talk. Bring your opinion and lunch box. Some of you guys sound like your on a Cosmopolitan magazine board. Are we not men. These guys are not journalist….journalist!! These are radio personalities. This is locker room chatter…..water cooler talk..and arm chair trash talk. You guys sound like a Dr Laura sewing club.
Are we not men.
SportsTalk Fan
August 31st, 2010
4:35 pm
Like everyone else on here, I have my own opinion of what I feel constitutes as good sports talk radio in this town. We are fortunate to have options. If 790 does go under, or if something does indeed happen, I do not think there will be many people with an issue if we are left with one sports talk station, and on that station you have : Mornings w/ the Rude Awakening, or whoever is chosen from 6-10. Nick and Chris from 10-1. Chuck and Chernoff from 1-4. Keep B and K or shake it up, for afternoon drive. Point is, if Nick & Chris had a show on the same station as Chuck and Chernoff, ratings would be through the roof.
mack daadie
August 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
ChuckNChernoff deserve morning or evening drive. But that might cause them to choke. I’m from NJ a hundred years ago, so I like Steak, Nick & Chris’ dynamic. I have a warm spot for Rude, but Laurentino makes ME choke. Leo is cool. But the one thing I cannot STAND is the smarmy nasal voice of the afternoon drive Buck Baloo! (yeah I misspelled it on purpose because he is a cartoon). He throws one pass, they win one National Championship, and he feasts on it for the rest of his life! Unreal! Try that in Jersey, Buck!
Michael
August 31st, 2010
6:13 pm
Both stations are better than Racist Radio – WSB.
Snickerz
August 31st, 2010
6:21 pm
Clark Howard’s a racist? Who Knew?
Mike
August 31st, 2010
7:54 pm
Sorry I’m missing the Young Guns tonight. I thought watching the 1st place baseball team in a playoff run against a division rival would be more entertaining.
Not trying to echo the earlier thoughts but I don’t care much for Steak.
It’s cool that Dimino “broke” the Chipper ACL story. Did it really need to be made into a commercial to declare that 790 gets everything first? I think everyone that saw a 38 year old 3B player fall to the ground while grabbing his knee had a clue it was probably bad. To run spots saying that 790 is super awesome because Dimino got a text was a bit odd and comes across as desperate. It didn’t help that the following show that’s called whatever had to have Dimino stick around.
That being said about 790, I LOVE the Thursday college football show. Please God make Wes and Tony a fixture on that station while their is still hope.
Trig
August 31st, 2010
8:42 pm
Well, I don’t work in radio so I don’t know but is it unusual for a radio station to have that many managers. Sooner or later you would assume they would have to trim the fat. I know there are large corporations that have more than 1 Vice President but I don’t know how it works at a radio station.
Seems like Steak got the short end of the stick in terms of titles. Its gonna be weird after all the years of Mike Bell and others calling him boss. Now he’s just another dude. I bet people start loving Steak all of a sudden now. LoL. That would be hilarious, but I could see it happening.
kcb
August 31st, 2010
8:52 pm
I think this is a lot worse than has come out in the press. It has been mentioned that this is an asset sales. Asset sales, as opposed to acquisition of a corporation itself, are usually done in distress deals where the buyer wants the assets but not all of the liabilities. My guess is that BLB is carrying a lot of debt that Steak et. al will have to pay back.
As far as Steak goes, he will work as long as his employment contract requires. Even if he leaves the air, he is probably going to get paid for some period of time. For those who dislike him, he will not be tossed out the door, but rather will have a graceful, planned exit.
Ultimately, control will go to Lincoln and we may see some long needed changes at 790 and hopefully hear more of DImino. Maybe they will even bring in people who like Atlanta teams and sports and will not try to tell us how great the Red Sox, Steelers, Mets etc. are.
Dan
August 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
kcb – there is a northern bias to the teams the Zone announcers love, but at least on the morning show there is no Steelers love with Nick from Cleveland in the building
790 will be broadcasting a new format with 18 months
Mikel
August 31st, 2010
10:41 pm
790 – All Peachtree-Dekalb Airport parking information. steak shapiro – used car sales, assistant manager, slidell, LA.
dre
August 31st, 2010
11:18 pm
All of you “insider experts” seem to know what’s going to transpire. You think Steak allowed this to take place without a contract allowing him to stay on the air?
dre
August 31st, 2010
11:29 pm
Have never heard a more unprepared, unprofessional (chewing, swallowing, constantly interrupting colleagues and guests), slow-on-his-feet (often can’t articulate a thought) talk show host. But got to give him credit for giving us a radio station that has provided plenty of drive-time entertainment and laughter over the years. More Soon-To-Be-Famous, more Beau, more Bell and Cellini.
ryan
September 1st, 2010
1:58 am
The problem with 790 for me is they do not support their client (GT football/basketball) why in the hell is Fletcher Proctor allowed to crap on Paul Johnson. What is Radakovich thinking allowing jerks like Proctor, at times Shapiro and Bell savage their brand. Could you imagine Dowdle or a 750 personality treating Mark Richt with disrespect. Have some personalities with a clue- Bill King from Rivals on Sirius gets my vote and for pure entertainment, Finebaum.
Rebuild 790 with Nick and Chris, Wes and Tony and try to get Matt and Chuck back when their 680 deal expires.
How about a NBA oriented show with Steve Holman or Rick Bucher, they have passion and knowledge or maybe a college sports show with Brad Nessler (all of these national talents are based here) For some controversy bring in Terrance Moore, who is missed in the AJC.
sad brotha
September 1st, 2010
5:54 am
Shapiro has got to go…. go home to baby Sophie. What a buffoon! The worst on-air talk radio sports guy ever. His being a part owner kept him on air. Good by and go back to Boston or New Orleans. “Steak-Cha-cha” has worn out the welcome mat years ago… the only reason he is on the air is money (his/daddy’s). Eating at the Palm, and throwing craps doesn’t make one cool, no matter how hard he tries. Family money kept him in the sports airwaves loop, not talent or class.
Peachtree Pete
September 1st, 2010
7:41 am
790’s problem? Tom much juvenile “strip club” talk and not enough sports talk. Without Dimino (best in the business on baseball) and Cellini (good, but could be better), they’re nothing.
Reggie
September 1st, 2010
10:30 am
Wow!!!! I now understand why Atlanta is called hickville>.
Rodney Ho Moe
September 1st, 2010
11:49 am
Fire Steak
Fire 2 Live Stews
Hell fire ‘em all they all blow.
Hire the Kimmer.
tbone
September 1st, 2010
4:41 pm
Bring back AJ Cannon
Mikel
September 1st, 2010
4:47 pm
To have ANY credibility and to have the slightest chance of survival, Lincoln should fire shapiro immediattly. if not, they dont stand a chance.
Michael
September 1st, 2010
7:00 pm
Lincoln Financial has the naming rights at the Eagles stadium in Philly, by the way.
one track
September 1st, 2010
7:16 pm
790 has made a series of programming errors. Their best morning show was Chris, Nick & Bell – very funny, informative and entertaining. Steak is like a cloud hanging over the other 2, who ALWAYS has to get his opinion in on EVERYTHING however inane or uninformed it might be. They should have put him in PM drive opposite C Oliver, listening to those 2 Titanic egos fight it out would have been very listenable. Pollack just doesn’t bring anything to the table at all, and Bell can’t carry the show by himself. He’s a comedic foil, not the leading man. As for the afro-centric midday show, I just don’t get 1/2 of the lingo, and I’m not interested in learning it. 11-1 seems to be amateur hour. Finally, I live in Walton county and 40% of the time 790’s signal is too weak to hear, plus why does 680 power up right at sunrise, while 790 takes another 2o minutes to be hearable at all?? The only bad thing I can say about 680 is that “update” guy in the PM who reads the same 4 stories, word for word in the same order, EVERY 1o minutes. It’s mind numbing. He must be the laziest guy in Atlanta radio, they must have an intern who could take over that job and do better than that.
Steak's breath of death
September 1st, 2010
11:34 pm
Steak Shapiro is the worst radio personality of all time. If you took every cliche of a bad radio guy and wrapped them up and multiplied by 10, you get Steak. I also despise Wolverton, let’s be serious if he wasn’t a member of the tribe he never would have got the gig, well the other possibility is that 790 was fulfilling diversity requirements by hiring a stuttering retard. And all you people who like Dimeano, I can not forget or forgive the man crush he had on Barry Bonds. He would talk to all the old timers and then spit in their face by playing up how great Bonds was without acknowledging the doping that was obvious. Dimeano is a fraud. And that brings me to one last horrid detail, Tony in Smyrna. What a Georgia Tech Piney rooter doofus this clown is. I can picture him staring at the clock on his sofa, Detroit redwings jersey, no pants (ewww), a bucket of KFC waiting till 10:09 on Saturday to call in and give his putrid take. Dude you are a moron, get a life.
790 fan
September 2nd, 2010
1:02 am
Do you guys really have nothing better to do than sit at the computer and trash talk people who some of you have never met, and say that you want them off the air. If you guys think that Steak is so bad then why dont ya’ll become a sports talk show host, and then when ya’ll are horrible, Rodney can write a blog about you and your station, and see how people think that you are horrible. Geezes give Steak a break. Then you guys want to trash talk the callers who call into the station, who happen to be sports fans, and write on these blogs to tell the callers to get a life. Are you guys serious? GET A LIFE!
Paul
September 2nd, 2010
9:50 am
Nick and Chris are outstanding! Dimino’s contacts are second to none, as is his knowledge. How anyone can listen to Rude, who knows nothing or Belue with that god awful enunciation is beyond me!
justin
September 2nd, 2010
11:03 am
Considering the audience size is roughly 3 to 1 in favor of 680, it is clear what they have been doing is the successful formula.
Jock sniffing the local teams and acting like you are the big dogs when you have 1/3 of the audience is smart only to the uninformed.
Get some more minimum wage talent and put them on the air.
Frontman
September 2nd, 2010
5:27 pm
I couldn’t care less who is the big dog, but 680’s on air talent is pathetic. Christopher Rude? Go back to being a DJ. Perry Laurentino? Somewhat mitigates Rude’s stupidity, but doesn’t bring a whole lot else. Leo? Great baseball man and love to hear his stories, but I HATE Notre Dame. Chuck and Matt? I like them both on 680 and 790. Buck Belue? If it’s not about UGA or SEC football, he is useless. John Kincade is the most knowledgeable, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets a bigger ESPN radio gig soon.
And that’s it for 680.
790 has done a great job of developing on-air talent over the years. 680 got most of their talent FROM 790. If 680 did not have the backing of the Braves and ESPN, they would have been long gone by now. Kudos to them for getting the Thrashers, but there’s not enough hockey talk in a football town.
All in all, 790 has 680 beat hands-down in local talent. Add to the mix Tony Barnhart and Wes Durham with the College Football show on Thursday, and it’s a really good lineup. Heard a great interview with Houston Nutt today as Ole Miss prepares for the appeal to the NCAA about Masoli’s eligibility.
You can dislike Steak if you want, but to say the station and lineup is bad just because you don’t like one guy – as Michael Irvin would say, “Come on, man…”
Jason
September 6th, 2010
2:21 pm
Bring back Home Team! Get rid of Steak asap! Can’t stand that pompous a-hole! I love it when it’s just Chris and Nick. And yes I love the Stews but please get rid of Jazzy. I could do without Pollack and Bell’s act ran it’s course a long time ago.