790/The Zone creates the Red Zone, merging the Stews with Barnhart and Durham
I was off Monday and Tuesday so I’m now catching up.
We now know what the mid-day show is on 790/The Zone. It’s called “The Red Zone” and airs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (As previously noted, “Mayhem in the AM” adds an hour and goes to 11 a.m., Archer and Bell moves up an hour and goes from 2 to 6 p.m. and John Michaels‘ “Football Night in Atlanta” starts an hour earlier at 6 p.m.)
The 2 Live Stews’ show has now been merged into a show with Tony Barnhart and Wes Durham and others. Or something like that. I was told Monday’s show included Hans Heiserer, one of the fill-ins on the station, along with Ryan and Doug Stewart.
The Stews’ agent Norm Schrutt acknowledged he wasn’t thrilled by this arrangement, which dilutes an already shrinking Stews brand on the station. But he said the brothers are “team players” and are doing what they are told. And after getting their hours cut from three hours to two last year, they do get to be on air for three hours a day again. The Stews have already been dialed back significantly since the new program director Bob Richards took over last year.
This move was partly precipitated by the success of the Barnhart and Durham show, which was pulling in the best ratings on the station. Problem: Barnhart and Durham have other obligations and are basically taking May and June off. This left the Zone in a dilemma: how to fill that three-hour window? They could have just left the schedule as is and use fill-ins in May and June during mid-days. This solution is a bit of a mashup because it means a rotating cast of players from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with core regulars.
Andrew Saltzman, the president of the station, said this roundtable-type show gives the station more flexibility. “This is more topic driven and less specifically host driven,” he said.Today, for instance, they’ll have Rick Kamla of NBA TV on as a guest host to talk about the Hawks-Celtics last night. On Monday, they had former Falcons players such as Alge Crumpler and D.J. Shockley on to talk about the NFL draft. He said Barnhart and Durham will start being heard more on the mid-day show starting the third week of July when football gets hot again.
Saltzman said this move is not a diminished role for the Stews in any way although the “2 Live Stews” namesake has been removed. The noon hour of “The Red Zone” is simulcast on CSS, he noted. He said the show is similar to what the Stews do on ESPN’s “First Take.”
“They’re very talented, entertaining, informative guys,” Saltzman said. “We’re very proud of what they’ve done for the station the past 11, 12 years.”
Will it work? We shall see.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
121 comments Add your comment
Glenn Paul
May 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
Love the Stews…Good luck men. Trust me, you two will land on your feet.
Tyrone!Patron!
May 4th, 2012
1:33 pm
Why when brothers have a show thre is problem? Answer because so many insecure white men can’t handle it. 790 is a boring station without the Stews. The writning on the wall the Stews will be moving on soon. Farewell, Ryan and Doug I will miss you guys. Hello, crappy new guys whoever you will be named later. 790 is a Hickory Dick sports talk station. the only fans that will listen are the ones that like dem BUlldogs and Braves and Beer! Dip coopenhagen tobacco and smoke marlboros.
T Nice From Chi
May 4th, 2012
3:41 pm
Some of you feel the Stews are RACIST. I get that, but is 790 THE ZONE, RACIST??? Word on the Streets from a “Reliable Source” one of the infamous “Source Brothas” is that 790 the Zone wants to cater to a “lighter shaded” demographic.
Is this just a good business practice. I know some of my 35-45 wht males who graduated from “Georgia” before they started teaching Business Ethics, think so.
Uzi112
May 4th, 2012
3:43 pm
Well said, T nice… And I also signed your petition.
T Nice From Chi
May 4th, 2012
3:49 pm
I would like to apologize to all human beings. My intent is not to make this about race but to make this about 790 the zone and their questionable at best business policies. “790 The Zone Don’t Like Black People”
again but it’s not about race.
bluto
May 4th, 2012
4:39 pm
So the station that gave them their shot is now a racist station trying to bring them down. Man there are some really ignorant people out there.
The stews are their own worst enemy, they created a different sport talk format rode it to the top and then killed it. They have no one to blame but themselves. But I am sure they and all of their followers will have no problem pointing fingers in every direction.
No respect
May 4th, 2012
4:44 pm
LOL so 790 supports the Stews for 10 years and now they are racist? For 10 years they helped them get their show out to the masses and now they are trying to bring the Stews down? They must be faking the ratings too just to get rid of the Stews.
No wonder this country is going down the crapper. No one wants to face the truth, they just want to spread lies and make up stories to muddy the waters. Spread lies and hate to try and get your way.
You reap what you sow…
Izaman
May 4th, 2012
8:11 pm
I guess its just a coincidence that of all the “talent” on 790, its the stew getting invited to Vegas, hard knocks, and Espn, right?
T Nice From Chi
May 5th, 2012
1:13 am
I guess it’s a coincidence that changes to the format started with new ownership? 790 the Zone gave them their break this is true, but in the last 8 months the tide has shifted and if the Stew can’t appeal to the 35-45 yrs old male, who roots for the Dawgs and happens to live North of Atlanta then they have to go. Absolutely nothing RACIST about that, no, not at all.
All I’m Saying is if you’re not of that demographics don’t listen to 790 because according to My-Sources They Really Don’t Care if You Listen or not. 790 THE ZONE IS NOT TRYING TO PROGRAM THEIR SHOWS FOR BLACK PEOPLE. I don’t care how many of them come on this blog and try to downplay or spin this conversation, they all sit in those program meetings and know that the new ownership want to move away from diverse programing to what they call and I quote A-Source “mainstream audience”
I admit when Matt Edgar was there the Stew were treated fairly, but you can tell by all these Stews are Racist and Stews are arrogant post that there were still some people at the station who were thinking “These Negroes are getting a little too big for their britches”
It’s getting late we’ll continue this tomorrow – Cha Cha!
SHUT UP, MUNSTER!
Kris G
May 5th, 2012
1:46 am
I listen to 790 for three reasons. Stewart, Stewart, and Bock. I like Cellini and Dimino. I enjoy Tony and Wes. Mike Bell can be funny but is often unbearable, Archer is a great balance but plays it too safe. The Stews aren’t perfect, just like the Dean ain’t perfect, but they are the liveliest voices in the city with the most unique perspectives on the air. I”m always amazed at how so many people look at the one show with black voices, in a city with a huge black audience, and decide that of course, it must be a racist show. How entitled do you have to be to think that if eleven radio shows cater directly to you, and the twelfth caters to the man standing next to you, then that twelfth show needs to be eliminated?
Monroe
May 5th, 2012
6:13 am
more racism in atlanta media–the Stews are being cut out because they are African-American and white people don’t like listening to them. I’m tired of this and may move back to New Jersey next year.
T Nice From Chi
May 5th, 2012
6:41 am
@ Kris G, well put sir skip that nonsense I’ve been talking about What Kris G Said…..
@Monroe, Don’t move back! There’s racism everywhere in America, it’s built into our very fiber. Not all intentionally act on it though. That’s actually the key, ACTIONS
Again I would like to apologize to anyone I have offended. I’m not attacking listeners or anyone in Atlanta or in this country. I’m asking people, especially people who don’t fit the typical “Serial Killer/Pedophile” profile (U can take that however you want, a little Mike Bell humor #Ain’tHeFunny?) not to listen too 790, company that took over 8 months ago, and/or patronize any of their sponsors. THEY REALLY DON’T CARE IF YOU DO ANYWAY.
tony/wes
May 7th, 2012
8:49 am
tony & wes–as boring as an accounting meeting. They just repeat stuff they’ve read online. Get some new material.
Buck Necked
May 7th, 2012
11:56 am
I’ve listened to the Stews since I had to strain through the static to hear them at night. Loved what they brought to the radio game and still do. Problem is is that they locked themselves into a demographic that does not bring the same ad revenue or advertisers that is consistent with the other shows. If they did, then 790 would not have made the move. Like it or not, much like Skip Bayless, they are polarizing. People either like them or don’t. There ain’t much in between AND ad revenue is the name of the game.
cornelius
May 7th, 2012
1:11 pm
this is retarded!!! the 2 live stews made 790 the zone.. they are the best personalities on 790. this is a mistake and as a long time viewer, i’m upset. i probably won’t listen to them much any more. i want just the 2 stews, not a mash up of other sports broadcasters, it’s so tacky smh.. it’s not gonna be the same. and this is probably going to hurt the stews fan base.
G
May 7th, 2012
2:18 pm
790 TheZone has intensified their efforts to screen the calls. What really helped make the Stews so successful was the regular callers….the dawgs and poodles. Everyone knows that most regular callers to the Stews are negative about the changes and Lincoln Financial doesn’t want that.
Just so some of you don’t forget…..Many of these hard line changes to the Stews came from Bob (Buba) Richards and his Lincoln Financial Group. The Stews original format did not meet his approval. Don’t believe the hype about the declining ratings. They deliberately placed them in the worst time slot for only 2 hours. If you put American Idol on Friday nights, their numbers would decline too. Buba Richards is the true culprit here.
……and I’m gone.
G
May 7th, 2012
2:22 pm
Awright! Awright! wright!
Oh yeah….Let’s not get racism twisted with bigotry. Both are horrible, but minorities in this country cannot be racist.
Red Pill Sports
May 7th, 2012
4:52 pm
2 Live Stews – Everybody knows them; those other guys are just LOCAL!
- Steele, Juice
They’d probably get more respect if they were on ESPN Radio anyways…smh @ 1950’s Radio programmers
Red Pill Sports
May 7th, 2012
4:59 pm
ESPN New York or ESPN Los Angeles!!!
Ryan can talk Knicks!
Doug can talk Lakers!
And they won’t get accused of racism by those who probably have some other agenda…smh
Izaman
May 7th, 2012
8:32 pm
What illustrates how boring a sports town Atlanta really is more than this?
Talk NBA for Christ’s Sake. Talking about a team that had a historic collapse and cant sell out their stadium? You can save the braves talk until after the NBA finals…leaving ALL of July and August before football.
Im from atlanta and i have come to hate the falcons. boring, wont take chances on “guys with character issues”, and the “we are happy to have a traditional QB” faction.
Atlanta sports are boring, now Atlanta sports talk is boring. Vegas fight? we dont want to talk about that. NBA? Nope, too “ethnic”…lets rehash boring braves talk, how we hope the dogs do better this year or…what else is there worth talking about in atlanta? Hawks? nope. GT basketball? Nope. UGA basketball? Nope. Hockey? Gone.
Who freaking cares to listen to only Atlanta sports everyday. I dont want to hear no X’s and O’s football talking in May. Im not a gambler…just a casual sports fan.
I listen to sports talk for fun…to laugh…and if i can do that, why bother with it?
The stews had a wonderful two shows hosting in Vegas by themselves for 3 hours…then they have to comeback to some crap “roundtable”? Unbelievable.
Someone please rescue the stews from atlanta so the only time i have to tune into 790 is to catch a game on the radio when im in my car.
Reggie
May 9th, 2012
7:39 am
Wow!! Let’s see we got a new director! Doug Richards??? Mr Richards what you don’t get is when the Stews were authentic they had great ratings. If you know marketing you gotta know to be a mee too product is doomed. 680 the fan is a ” Hey Buck” tell us again about run Lindsey run”. It’s a Dawg station.” Hey Buck tell us about 1980 again!!!” What the Stews bought to the table was another point of view. Not Black but urban. In sales It’s called a “unique selling proposition.” Not Hey Buck! Mr Richards you don’t know radio. Trying to make the Stews like “Hey Buck” will be fatal for 790. I wish the Stews would leave 790 I will follow them. At that point 790 can be a :Hey Buck 2!! Good Luck with that!!!