Sports Radio Times are a Changing

Now with a title like that you would think something is changing with the little "Ticket". You would be wrong.  A line up that has gone almost unchanged since Norm Hitzges joined the Ticket in 2000, The Ticket is as strong as its ever been.  The reason to write this post is about the dirty 105.3 The Fan.  CBS's 105.3 the Fan was started in 2008 after numerous format changes .  I remember 105.3 The Fan first came on the scene, and I can admit I was actually intrigued by the new sports station even though my loyalty was to the Ticket.  When they first came around it was like being on sports radio crack.  During one segment, the radio host would be discussing numerous sports topics.  Lots of phones callers, lots of "Vandergriff Honda Fan Texts" and a lot of crazy ass topics.  You would begin the segment talking about Cowboys,  get a text about the Rangers and then end the segment with your top point guards in the NBA.  It was too damn fast and seemed to have no order to it. The line up I remember was Jagger in the Morning which I had nothing to do with, mostly because he doesn't know sports.   Newy Scruggs and Sean Salisbury, were on at 10-2.  They were a pretty big beating, I guess they knew sports but it was pretty MEH!   Next was I believe Ben and Skin, which was actually listenable.  Ben and Skin would talk sports, heavy on baseball and basketball and dabble in pop culture segments.  I really thought they were much better than most of the guys on that station.  Then one year into the experiment, Ben and Skin were axed and Newy kept his job (at the time).  Don't worry about B&S, they are on ESPN and doing just fine.  Sean Salisbury would take over drive time and Richie Whitt and Newy would join forces.  Let's say Sean's swim through drive time radio in DFW was a quick one. After that Richie and former Ticket guy Gregg "The Hammer" Williams would take over the drive time duties.  Richie and Greggo isn't an awful show but its really not that great either.  Richie is pretty arrogant and dismissive and Greggo is just not the same without his former partner Mike Rhyner. 

 Now after that of course the Fan execs would just stop there androll with that.  Not so much.   The Fan then did some more changes,  Jagger would be out and replaced with Shan (??) and RJ Choppy (former ESPN host) New School.  I'll get back to those guys later.  Newy Scruggs also got the axed and was replaced by former weekend Ticket Host Mark Elfenbein and former Rangers TV play by play Josh Lewin.  Elf was a very interesting pick for regular weekday spot.  Elf had been with The Ticket since the very start in 1994 and had only done 8am Sunday mornings and the occasional fill in during dry dock.  The Fan had gone full bore then. Making a huge push to hit some big ratings.  Really wasn't about being #1, I think they would of just settled with just beating ESPN.  The lineup consisted of Shan and RJ in the mornings, Josh and Elf for middays and Richie and Greggo (RaGe) for drive time.  They did have some shows at night but really, nobody cares (they are awful!!). 

  Shan and RJ were pretty underwhelming, Shan is from Maryland if I have my facts correct.  Shan is a Redskins fan and loves the Lakers,  he was pretty big blowhard.  I would frequently contact Shan on twitter and we would have some pretty heated exchanges.  His "New School" attempt wasn't exactly bringing in big ratings, still coming in last to #1 The Musers and #2 syndicated ESPN show Mike and Mike in the Mornings.  RJ, I believe is a pretty cool guy, I talk to him time to time on twitter and he has never been rude or dismissive.  At one time, New School was putting out a segment called "Friday Fail", which would highlight their missteps through the week. Funny I remember another station with a similar segment. I actually called Shan out on the obvious forgery.  He denied it and said it was different.  RJ told me it wasn't his idea and had no control over it.  I did respect RJ more and Shan less after that.  If you didn't know this pretty much about the demise of the Fan and I hope RJ lands on his feet quickly in this town.  Josh and Elf show I guess went pretty well, from what I heard there was obvious chemistry.  Josh of course would land a new job doing PBP for the New York Mets.  Elf for months would then roll out "Elf and Friends" where they would plug in different co-hosts (Chris Arnold, Mike Bascik and many more).  Elf has done solo work before but the problem was this wasn't Sundays at 8 am.  Elf just recently would be paired with Jane Slater (yeah me either) until further notice. Not to sound really sexist but Women+Sports radio usually doesn't equal great radio.  The Fan has taken the approach to try and grab up the women demo.  Too bad they are too busy listening to Kiss FM.  

 The recent ratings for May are out and its The Ticket with a commanding lead for #1 and ESPN at #2 and way back in last is The Fan at #3.  Rumors have come out in the last month or two that 105.3 The Fan will be on the way out.  CBS has obviously been frustrated with poor ratings and tons of money being put into the product.  The Fan has a sports bar,  numerous vehicles with wraps and just recently.....a boat???  CBS just recently registered online domains AMPRadioDFW.com, AMPRadio1053.com, and 1075AMPRadio.com. AMP radio is format they have in LA and it seems to be doing fine, so they are looking to bring it to DFW.  Now this doesn't necessarily mean the Fan is done for but if ratings continue the way they are, bye bye Fan Fans.  I don't have direct inside info so take my stupid blog with a grain of salt.  Just wanted to have a little convo about the 3rd best sports radio in DFW.  I don't even wish the demise of The Fan.  I love talk radio especially about sports but the product The Fan is putting out, in my opinion, is deficient.  We will keep an eye on the situation.