Hell yes, it's war! KIROAM is moving their 80-year old news talk format to FM and flips to sports-talk in April.
KJR-AM will be seriously challenged.
Bonneville's loud, heritage, AM talker will have the Seahawks and Mariners radio
(photo: Geov Parrish)
play-by-play; ESPN national talkers, and now they've hired Kevin Calabro, the veteran pbp announcer, and long-time voice of the Sonics for local sports talk.
KJR has the Huskies and all the hot local sports-talkers like Groz, Mitch in the Morning and Elise at Night.
There's gonna be a shootin' like in the newstalk wars of the mid '90's. That's why we've begged Geov Parrish, (who claims he's a former jock) to do some sport radio and radio biz commentary.
You probably know Geov as a political commentator -- he's what was known in the Nixon era as a "radic-lib." But he's an excellent reporter -- no one who read his August 1999 Weekly cover story on the anti-globalist preparations could have been surprised (as the City of Seattle was) at what happened at WTO meeting in November 1999.
He's the principal in the long-running (since 1996) Eat the Airwaves (KEXP Saturdays, 8:30-9a) and founder of the venerable newsletter, Eat the State. He wrote for the Seattle Weekly for 8 years, after putting in some time in the early days of The Stranger. He contributes to Horse's Ass.
Before becoming a glamorous free-lance writer and political activist, Geov was in radio management, and media journalism.He was a founder of the M Street Journal in DC, which reported on radio biz, a publication many of whose staffers migrated to what's now known as Radio-Info. Also Development Director at KPFT (Houston's Pacifica Station), a much bombed-up and shot-at progressive outlet in the middle of a big red-state, red-neck puddle.
He writes a column for the several Seattle Pacific Publishing neighborhood papers in town. Here's one
But despite all his liberal commentatin' bona fides, Geov loves sports and listens to a lot of sports-radio. He's kept a sharp eye on the radio business, too.
With the probable disappearance of the Seattle Post Intelligencer, local media will go through a period of major realignment. That's why we're hoping for more than occasional posts from Geov in this year that's already made huge upheavals in media, and will thrust sports to the forefront of AM radio.
It will be good to see some coverage of the other side of talk, particularly now that there is a battle for listeners.
Hopefully KJR recognizes that they have been rather stagnant.
Posted by: Dave Clark | January 10, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Kudos, and I welcome BlatherWatch out of the political talk ghetto... I will be really interested in chatting about sports radio with Geov Parrish. There will truly be a big change in Seattle in this area.
Posted by: Randy | January 10, 2009 at 10:50 PM
I heard on the radio news tonight (KOMO) that the P.I. would disappear only in its paper form, but would continue online....true?
Welcome Geov!
Posted by: sparky | January 10, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Do any liberals even like sports?
Posted by: Randy | January 10, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Oh yeah, Elise is a big name, she's fucking awful. KJR keeps running "live and local" spots. Yet they set aside 6 hours of the day where they don't take phone calls. Mitch is a douche, Softy is a meatball, Ian is a bore and bitter Coug but Groz and Gas are cool. Hugh Millen is also a twat.
Their Seahawks post-game is piss poor. Plus they add to the loser mentality that Seattle sports fans have. They all pulled a train on Holmgren after the last game, but can someone tell me how many titles he won here?
Posted by: Thought I Saw A Bum | January 11, 2009 at 01:25 AM
I posted a welcome and imprudently uttered the name of he who has been disappeared.
So this time I'll just say welcome to Blatherwatch. I'll be looking forward to reading your commentaries, Geov. I like lots of sports. But I like them best when we win.
Posted by: joanie | January 11, 2009 at 01:53 AM
The best show on KJR is the weekend stuff with John Clayton. Now that he 'can' go over to KIRO the folks at KJR may start to appreciate him a little more. Little things like not bumping his show for Huskie-Talk would be a good start.
Posted by: Puget Sound | January 11, 2009 at 07:32 AM
Speaking of sports:
wow
Posted by: sparky | January 11, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I agree Puts...Clayton is the best...bar none!
Posted by: Duffman | January 11, 2009 at 10:51 AM
The great think about Geov is that he actually spends time preparing to go on the radio, you know, like reading up on what he's talkin' about!!!
Posted by: howie in seattle | January 11, 2009 at 01:09 PM
The great think about Geov is that he actually spends time preparing to go on the radio, you know, like reading up on what he's talkin' about!!!
Posted by: howie in seattle | January 11, 2009 at 01:10 PM
The great think about Geov is that he actually spends time preparing to go on the radio, you know, like reading up on what he's talkin' about!!!
Posted by: howie in seattle | January 11, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Geov
I look forward to your commentary. You may have noticed that the morning show has gone back to talking about sports and less about good looking chicks. Mitch has evolved into a top flight sports reporter. His interviewing skills are very apparent. Softy is sophomoric, but what the hell, you have to look toward WSU for excellence in broadcasting! (lol) Ian projects that professionalism. Mike Gastineau is an example of how a nice guy can live through and thrive the era of "shock Talk" he is outstanding.
Posted by: Mike Barer | January 11, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Do any liberals even like sports?
Even Goldy puts an occasional sports story on his blog.
Posted by: Mike Barer | January 11, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Do any libs like sports?
Yep, lots of them. You should have seen all of the Oblahblah shirts at Seahawks games.
Libs sat side by side with us, suffering together through an unbarebly crappy 4-12 season.
We suffered to gether as the Sonics drove off in to the sunset.
The Mariners? Yep, them to. How 'bout those Cougars? Dawg for desert.......We have soccer and hockey. I don't know much about them.
Oh well, it is a new year. New hope for change in local sports.
But at least the libs have their very own President to clean up the mess Congress made of our and the rest of the worlds economy.
Posted by: chucks | January 11, 2009 at 06:54 PM
chucks, did you look at the video I posted????? crazy stuff..
Posted by: sparky | January 11, 2009 at 07:20 PM
chucks
if they do as well in DC as they have in Washington State we should be fine, eh?
they don't want to talk about that. i guess they haven't figured out a way to deal with it other than to put the blame on W.
what they gonna do when they don't have W to kick around anymore...
pardon me whilst i LMAO.
Posted by: Puget Sound | January 11, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Wow Sparky
No, I hadn't looked at it untill now. Watched it twice. Those folks are nuckin' futs!!
You know, I always wonder about the guy that tried it first when it comes to stuff like that.
Cops run in to buildings when bullits are flying. Firefighters run in to burning buildings to save the lives of strangers.
Others jump off of huge cliffs wearing Rocky the flying squirel(sp) suits.
Posted by: chucks | January 11, 2009 at 08:14 PM
I hope KIRO is more relevant on sports than they are sometimes on political talk. John Clayton is the best on talking sports - agreed with Puts and Duff.
KJR - stagnant at least 1/2 of the time. Groz and Gas are OK, but maybe it is just that sports around here are going through a down cycle.
Posted by: KS | January 11, 2009 at 08:31 PM
Groz and Gas are the epitome of stagnant. Their best segment is voicemails. Something that started nearly a decade ago.
They are neither Journalists, nor analysts nor are they entertaining.
Posted by: Dave Clark | January 11, 2009 at 09:32 PM
I love Eat the State (a must-read for election directions), I love ETS on KEXP, I love Geov, and maybe I can learn to love sports! Welcome Geov...can't wait to hear your commie interpretation of field hockey.
Posted by: Fremont | January 12, 2009 at 09:21 AM