2 Live Stews lose syndication deal with Sporting News Network
Doug and Ryan Stewart. CREDIT: 790/The Zone
The 2 Live Stews has lost its syndication deal with Sporting News Network as of July 1 but will remain on 790/The Zone from 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays.
“It allows them to be more involved with the local teams,” said their agent Norm Schrutt, trying to make the best of it. He also represents several other local personalities including 680/The Fan’s John Kincade and Dave FM’s Mara Davis.
Doug and Ryan Stewart started their syndication deal in early 2008 and amassed as many as 35 radio stations across the country. But Sporting News has been going through ownership changes and cost cuts. The Stews lost some affiliates, and a new contract didn’t pan out.
Sporting News replaced the Stews with a single talk-show host, which is certainly less costly.
“There are two Stews instead of one,” said Ryan. “They are a very good company but our time was up. There’s no love lost. Everything is good.”
Focusing exclusively on their metro Atlanta “dogs and poodles,” as their fans are dubbed, and “being live and local again should be fun,” he added.
As the brothers focused on national sports to accommodate syndication the past three years, ratings for the Stews on the Zone slipped a bit, but the station as a whole has had ratings problems. Nonetheless, the Stews remain the strongest show on the Zone and the station’s performance has steadied in recent months.
The Stews’ TV deal with ESPN-TV, where they appear four times a month to provide commentary, remains in place.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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72 comments Add your comment
sid frito
June 27th, 2011
7:09 pm
did anyone hear cry baby shapiro this am? “The people on the ajc blogs hide behind their posts, they should use twitter”. What are you going to do shappy, come kick some people’s arse. Sorry your business venture FAILED.
WFW
June 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
I never have figured out why Steak catches so much hell. I think he’s funny. The other thing I can’t figure out is how Nick stays on the radio. He loves to brag about what a bully he was, talks about all the girls he’s knocked up (”I look at them and they get pregnant.”) and knocks his dead father. I guess he thinks these are endearing qualities. Mystery to me…….
Tim
June 28th, 2011
12:30 am
I’m a big fan of the Stews. They have their niche and are sticking to it. I don’t want to hear about boring baseball, golf, or hockey while in the car. I don’t start paying attention to baseball until September. Kincaide bores me to death talking about the Braves. It’s funny reading some of the posts. They are basically saying, “Hey Stews, could you please do radio like the other white hosts?” To hell with that. I like them precisely because they are not similar to the other hosts. It was great to hear basketball talk during the NBA Finals, instead of Atlanta Braves radio.
It never ceases to amaze me… these posts on the blog. People are on here talking about The Stews cater to black people. As if there is something wrong with that. Just because you are popular with a certain demographic doesn’t mean you are trying to exclude others. You don’t have a problem when Asians cater to Asians. Or when Jews cater to Jews. Or when Whites cater to Whites. But let Blacks do it, and they’re “racist” LOL. You clowns always provide a good laugh.
Hiding behind my real name Steaky
June 28th, 2011
5:16 am
Awww poor Steaky get his feelings hurt??? Call your daddy & ask for some more money, that will cheer you up.
Frankie
June 28th, 2011
7:43 am
According to my friend at 680 marketing, Barhart / Durham will be on 680 radio in two months.
They couldn’t come to an agreement on their schedule and time slot at 790.
That’s why 790 isn’t talking about it and trying out partners to work with Hans.
left, right...who cares?
June 28th, 2011
8:16 am
tim– ummmm, these are opinions. and there is freedom of the press, if you are one of the stews and your feelings are hurt–get over it. make your haters your motivators. no one posting on this blog can affect your cash flow. and i do not know how you sound, and based upon what i am reading, would not like your show. i am interested in how my friends find you and will prob ask around. i just know that you guys are not cute… but, so what? that has not stopped a paycheck, correct?
left, right...who cares?
June 28th, 2011
8:16 am
sorry, freedom of speech, oops.
GH
June 28th, 2011
9:18 am
Frankie,
You’re not real bright! How can you have the voice of GA Tech (Wes Durham ) on 680? I’ll explain it to you… YOU CAN’T… You have no friend at 680 marketing… If you listen to 790 at all you hear them talk about Barnhardt and Durham coming back in July once we get closer to football season.
glsjunior
June 29th, 2011
11:58 am
If you want to know if racism is alive in America, read the comments section of the AJC following a 2 Live Stews story.
Chi city
June 30th, 2011
7:07 pm
Is everyone hating them because they choose to not talk about baseball all day? I find nothing about the show racist. Its only giving you sports from a different point of view and people can’t deal with it. If you want to really start a conversation lets talk about Skip Bayless from ESPN.
Iggystooge
June 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
I like the Stews, I think they are funny. But let’s talk about Buck and Kincade instead. That show drives me crazy. The primary offender of saying “uh” is Kincade. “Buck, uh, I’m a pompous ass, uh, who thinks I’m morally, uh, superior to others”. Then Buck responds with something about dem dawgs, because even though the station is in Atlanta, it is imperative to talk 98% UGA and 2% Tech. My only question, does anyone like Kincade? All he does it try to make funny inside comments, or rant about something that goes against his beliefs. How he got a show on ESPN I will never know.
Will
June 30th, 2011
11:35 pm
Well I for one find myself fussing at times with each Stew but damn I am going to miss “Your in the dog house, ruff ruff ruff”.
Damn now what do I do at noon.
Matt
July 1st, 2011
3:40 pm
Utterly, utterly crappy show. Bye-bye.
Tony
July 1st, 2011
6:44 pm
To some people, anything what so ever that comes out of the mouth of people you don’t like, is racist.
Cornell
July 3rd, 2011
2:55 am
Here is a great idea if you dont like the Stews you have the right as well as the option to turn the station. All of this keyboard courage is not necessary but is expected!!!
Tee
July 3rd, 2011
4:42 pm
Did you haters skip the part of the article that said The Stews are the “strongest show” on 790? The bottom line is The Stews are paying the bills for this station….its obvious that even the haters are listening everyday! Doug and Ryan will continue to be blessed with or WITHOUT Sporting News Radio!!
Tim my real name
July 6th, 2011
5:25 am
Thank you Sporting News Radio. I am a former resident of Atlanta and I can safely say that the “2 Live Racist” ranked slightly less than “static” above Matt Chernoff and Chuck Oliver who are on a competing station in their time slot in Atlanta in my eyes. Other than Chernoff and Oliver 680 AM is the armpit of Atlanta radio but the 2 Live Racist are clearly the armpit of 790 AM. With the demograhics of Atlanta I can see why they might get local ratings but how these two got a national gig I will never understand. Who’s in the “Doghouse” now?
Rick
July 6th, 2011
7:43 pm
Enter your comments here
E Cornwall Jackson 'Neck
July 7th, 2011
1:32 am
You people don’t get it. The Stews are the best thing this town has. I’m a fan and will continue to be a fan. I love the hip hop culture they reference. Old white men just don’t get it. It isn’t racist it’s perspective. Long live the STEWS!
P.S. forget the braves, I don’t care, it’s boring radio. We need some NFL dang it!
Tim my real name
July 7th, 2011
2:41 am
Thank God for satellite radio…Long live Scott Ferrall on Sirius Howard 101…That is REAL sports talk radio.
art
July 8th, 2011
8:05 am
the things i most hate about sport talk host are their obsession with themselves and their families. as far as i’m concerned that’s personal. the day that host finds out his other is cheating or asking to get out of the relationship this will not be told over the air. for 790 host this simulation that you are shooting a caller is not funny whatsoever. just ask a someone who is a victim of gun violence and its also child-like behavior. talk sports and take calls. for the hosts who can’t get over your back home professional teams, you’re not professional
cr
July 8th, 2011
3:27 pm
Stews! Good show with great guest. They remind me a great deal Cowherd on ESPN. My dream lineup would be Mike and Mike, Cowherd, Stews, Bottom Line w/ Pollack Bell. Chris, Nick, Mike, and Pollack would be the best.