Oakland A's Games No Longer on the Radio

The Oakland A's recently announced that their baseball games will no longer be broadcast on traditional radio. No longer can an A's fan hop in their car in Oakland and flip on the ballgame.
Is this a bad thing? Our answer may surprise you.

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As an aspiring or established sports broadcaster, a podcast is a great way to help you improve your skill and get your work out to the public! At Sportscasters Club, we use Buzzsprout to host our online radio show, most importantly because it is the easiest and quickest solution out there.
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Transcript

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relax. Radio is still

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radio. Welcome to the Sportscasters Club radio show, where it's all about becoming a better sportscaster on a better sports fan. And now your host, a man who began his sportscasting career by sleeping on hotel floors during road dribs. Rick sh OTs Welcome to the Sportscasters Club online radio show. I Am Rick Schultz. Thank you so much for tuning into another episode and thank you for all of you out there who have shared this program with friends, with sports fans in your life and with aspiring sportscasters

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that you know. I also want to thank the fans who have been listening and subscribing to the podcast, especially those in Beacon, New York, in Albany, New York, in Middletown, New York. Holyoke, Massachusetts. Manhattan. New York. Binghamton, Watertown, Kingsbridge, Brentwood. I'm just seeing some of the city's seems like we have a lot of listeners in New York State. Danbury, Connecticut. I know we've got some in Santa Clarita, California, Paterson, NewJersey, Orlando, Florida Syracuse, New York, Columbus, Ohio, Melbourne, Victoria. So we really span the globe here on the Sportscasters Club online radio show. Thank you so much for listening today's program. We're gonna talk about what occurred a couple weeks ago, when the Oakland A's announced that their baseball games will no longer be broadcast on regular radio. Instead, they will move to a streaming format so most listeners can listen to games. They just can't turn on the radio. And this has sparked a lot of opinion and a lot of emotion out there, and I think rightly so. Because baseball on radio is special. Baseball on radio in many ways is sacred, and many of us feel that baseball is better on the radio than it is on TV. For one reason, the pictures are better. Think about that. So how about the Oakland A's and this decision? Is it the right decision? How will fans be affected? I have some thoughts coming up.

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Is this the year you want to learn all you can about a sports broadcasting courier? Visit our website sportscasters club dot com for articles, tips, advice and a ton of free resource is

spk_1:   2:53
all right. Welcome back to the Sportscasters Club online radio show I'm Rick Schultz and let's talk about the Oakland

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A's and the fact that they're moving to ah streaming service for radio. But first, let's talk about baseball on the radio. Baseball has always been special on the radio. Well before TV fans could tune in to radio broadcasts, and that is how they followed our national pastime. That's how they learned about the game. That's how they followed the stars and the teams of the day before they could open up a newspaper and read about them before they could find them on television, certainly before they could open up a smartphone and quick away and find out anything they'd want to know or see all the highlights before Sports Center in baseball tonight, fans had radio, and it was special because it was. Radio is such an intimate medium. Because you're allowed, you're able to establish a bond one on one. And when you listen to the best broadcasters from today spanning back years and decades, it's all about the bond they're able to build with the listener. It's such an intimate medium because you feel as if the broadcaster is talking directly to you, and that's what's so special about it. It also it also brings your imagination into the picture. It it engages your imagination because you have to picture it when a batter slaps Ah, hard line, drive down the right field line and it bounds into the corner and bounces off the wall, and Aaron Judge picks it up, fires quickly into second base. You're picturing that in your mind's eye. You're picturing that word picture, and it might look different to me than it does to you. But that's what's special about radio, because it is such a personal medium that connects directly to our own imagination. And that's why baseball has always been special on the radio. The other thing that's been great is we've been able to just turn it on and it's there. I mean, think about it. In the summertime, you're at the beach, you're in the car, you're doing some yard work. You're taking care of some things around the house. You're walking the dog, you're out with the kids. Wherever you are, you can turn on the radio and hear a ball game, and it's like that friend, that companion that's with you throughout the summer. That's one of the special things about baseball and specifically baseball on the radio. Incidentally, quite a few years ago, I wrote a great in my mind Great article about this on sportscasters club dot com And I had quotes from Marty Glickman and some other broadcasters, like Bill Rogan and George Combe aux and and talking about baseball and what has always made it special on the radio. That article is included in the book that's available on Amazon Secrets of sports broadcasting. So if you want to read that, you can check it out there or you can see the original version on our website. But it talked about how baseball began on radio and how it's always been special on this is way before TV. So how about the Oakland A's the Oakland A's now announcing that their games will no longer be available on radio? They will be streaming, and so many people are up in arms about it. A couple great articles that I read from a couple people, baseball writers, sports writers that I really have a ton of respect for. First, Ray Rad O wrote a great article out on the West Coast talking about the impact and how some fans that are not in the Oakland market can actually listen on radio. But in the Oakland market. It's only gonna be streaming where they can catch athletics ballgames on streaming devices, streaming service and also another great article by Phil Mush NICU. If you've been in any of my classes, both at Fordham WFUV. When I was the sports director there, and also at Maris College, where I taught, and the Connecticut School of Broadcasting Phil Mush. Nick's articles and stories have been staples, and they have been. That's really been the way we started our classes for years. The beginning of the class. We would read Phil Mush, Nick and Bob Raceman and then maybe some others. And then we would discuss. And that's how I began my classes at Fordham and embarrassed and at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. And that's how highly I think of Phil Mush, Nick's work and how he die. Sex, the sports media industry. Nobody knows it like he does, but he he's not taking it so well. He's He doesn't think this is a great development at all. I I'm not. I agree 99% of the time with film mush, Nick, and it's funny because I would sit in the class and I would throw out these articles and we would all read them. And 99% of the time I would agree with Phil, and most of my students would disagree. And they would always look at me like I was the old, cranky guy, you know, clinging to tradition and two to norms and to the way things were in the past, whether it be with baseball, on the radio or otherwise. But this is one case where I have I have embraced technology, and I think radio is still radio and it's going to be radio. The only difference is that now, instead of flipping on my little transistor or my Walkman or my boom box or my stereo or whatever, I have always listened to ball games on. Instead of turning that on, now I'm going to do it on my phone. So if I'm in Oakland A's fan, I constrain it right to my phone and listen. And honestly, that is more convenient for listeners now. And I think you're going to see more teams move to this model after this season. Not so much a monetary thing, although it does open up a lot of different possibilities and the way things air our build out as faras ad revenue and and opportunities that way for ball clubs and four media partners. But I think it's a great thing because there have been many times in the past, let's say five years when I've wanted to listen to a ball game and I had my phone with me and I got in there and started looking for APS and ways, and it's not always that easy. And I wanted to listen on my phone because I wanted to listen at the beach or doing yard work or on a walk with the dog or with the kids or wherever I was, where I used to listen to it on the radio. Now I want to listen to it on my phone because it's ubiquitous. The phone is everywhere we go and we consume media on the phone or on the pad, and that's how we do it now. And when I listen to something on the phone, if it's play by play of the game, it's still the same broadcast as it would be if I were turning on W. F A n 6 60 on the AM dial. It's still the same thing. My imagination is engaged. My mind is thinking, I'm clued into the game. I'm listening. It's a very intimate medium. The only difference now is where you get it, whether it's the phone or whether it's turning on the radio and a lot of cars. Nowadays, you can connect it. So you turned it on and it connects directly to your phone, so there's no difference at all. So I think I think this is a great development. Ray Ratto may disagree Phil Mush Nick might disagree, but I think I would love it if our local teams would move to the streaming only model. And I understand that maybe some fans this would be a hardship for, But I think the vast majority of fans would rather listen to the games and listen to this. Content the radio broadcasts of their team through their mobile device and threw a streaming service. So the Oakland A's they've been they've been on the edge. They've pushed the envelope with a lot of things, as we've seen on the field and off over the years, all the way back through. Charlie Finley just read a great Ah, great autobiography about Charlie Finley actually was probably a couple years ago, but it's sitting right behind me over here on my shelf, a really good book. But the Oakland A's have been on the front on the forefront in a lot of ways, and I think this is a good move moving to a streaming service. I wish more teams would follow suit, and I think they will. Coming up. We've got not one question, not to questions. But as I looked down here, three questions and hopefully you'll send your questions in a CZ well. But when we come back, we're going to tackle these questions here on the Sportscasters Club online radio show.

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And this is the year that you want to improve your sports broadcasting skills. Then why not start your own podcast? It's simple and fun. We use buzz throughout the host our podcasts, and you can too simply click on the bus sprout link in today's episode notes. And if you have questions while you are creating your podcast, let us know we'd like to help you. Now it's time for the best part of our show. Your questions are answers to ask a question for the program. Send an email to questions at sportscasters club dot com.

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All right, glad to have you back. Question. Number one today comes from Tyler in Pompton Lakes, New

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Jersey, and Tyler says, do baseball broadcasters gets sick days? I hope not. I hope they stay healthy. That's a funny question, Tyler, and I guess you're kind of alluding to the fact that it's a long season in baseball like no other sport is. Every day in the major leagues, you may get one off day a week, but when I was broadcasting in the minor leagues at the lower levels in the New York Penn League, there were 76 games and 79 days from June through early September, so we would have three off days, roughly one a month. And honestly, I was bummed out when we had those off days. Yes, I'd get to do laundry. I'd get to catch up with friends that I haven't seen. I get to do all the normal things that 18 or 20 year olds would do because those are the things. I missed a lot when I was broadcasting in game every day. But the Truth of the matter is, I didn't want an off day because I I lived for being at the ballpark. I couldn't. I couldn't wait to wake up and go to the ballpark again because that's all that consumed me. This is before I had a family of my own. And so that was my focus, my sole focus. And I loved it. Broadcasters as they get older and have other commitments. Yes, certain broadcasters do take time off. I mean, if your call last year Michael Kay took some time off for some health things he was going through. It's not uncommon for a broadcaster to take a day off, whether it be a sick day or typically, what's more, usual is a scheduled time off, so you may have multiple broadcasters that rotate. You'll see, Let's say, in New York, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. They have scheduled days that one of them is gonna be with Gary Cohen, the other ones off. And then we'll rotate and certain road trips some broadcasters will go to, and some won't. So, yes, broadcasters do get off days, depending on which type of medium you're working on. If you're hosting a sports talk show. Then, yes, you'll get vacation time. I mean, it's not like it's not like a typical 9 to 5 office job, but in some respects it is because you get certain vacation time. And definitely, if you're if you're sick and into the point where it's going to hinder the broadcast, then you're better off not being there. And it's funny. That's how Marv Albert got his start when Marty Glickman wasn't necessarily a sick day. But he said he couldn't get to a venue. I think it was because of a snowstorm, and he wasn't gonna be able to make it. So his mentor, Marv Albert, had to take over and broadcast the game. And although he maybe didn't admit to it, I think Marty might have had something up his sleeve knowing the great talent he had in Marv Albert and wanting to give more of a shot. So maybe maybe Marty didn't get there because he, you know, maybe didn't want to that day. That's the kind of guy Marty was. Terrific guy, great mentor, a great teacher and coach. But yes, broadcasters gets sick days, and that's answer to that. Thank you Tyler. Thanks for the question. And if you have questions, you can certainly shoot them into us. At questions at sportscasters club dot com Our second question of today's broadcast is from Sarge in Minneapolis. Sarge asks, Can I start a career at a seminar? There is one next month here in my town. I guess he's talking about Minneapolis, but I don't want to waste my money if it's not worth it. Good question, Sarge. I think seminars air great, great ways to learn. I mean, depending on what kind they are. I mean, I'm a podcaster. Obviously, on this program I've never been to any of the podcast seminars. But if you listen to pack Flynn or Dan Miller, any of the really established podcasters it's You get a lot of value from being around like people going to event an event, maybe on a weekend and networking with people. It's a great way to learn. It's a great way to build relationships in terms of the sports Broadcasting arena, one of my earlier coaching positions and teaching positions before Fordham and Marist, I was at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and sometimes I would teach regularly. I can remember teaching. Ah, a Saturday all day seminar at the Hasbrouck Heights location in New Jersey and we had maybe 30 people that attended, and I taught all areas of sports broadcasting for a full day. And we had students that were 18 years old and aspiring sportscasters. We had, you know, sports fans who were thinking about leaving a 9 to 5 job. And it was a great way for them to immerse themselves for a day, find out a lot of the behind the scenes of the industry. Two to decide. Number one. Do they want to pursue the industry and number two where they might fit in in sports broadcasting? So yes, seminars. They're great. They're a great way, oftentimes very inexpensive. I mean, that's kind of why we do this program here and why we have so much content at sportscasters club dot com. We've got obviously the seven hour online course you can take. We've got a lot of free resource, hundreds of articles, a ton of books on Amazon. You can link to all of it from our website sportscasters club dot com, and later this year we're looking to put together a little bit something more for youto come in and be part of our group. Virtually so. Definitely. Send us your name and information Sarge or anyone else. If you're interested in that, if you're if you're looking to get more involved. Questions that sportscasters club dot com is a great email. But yes, Sarge, the answer to the question is seminars air Usually great. I wouldn't go spending thousands of dollars on one but take advantage. It's a great way to figure out what you like, where you might fit in in the industry but most importantly, learned from people, meet people and network and build relationships. Take advantage definitely would do that. Our third and final question today comes from San Diego, California and it's from Tammy. Tammy says. How can I publish a book on Amazon? Wow. Well, Tammy, since since I've put, I think five on Amazon minor league baseball revealed a renegade championship summer. Untold tales from the Bush leagues, secrets of sports broadcasting. Those are for the sports books that I have on Amazon, and it is a lot of work. It is a lot of fun, but Tammy, you can do it. I think the best place to start First place I started was there's a Kindle book called Building Your Book For Kindle, it's a free download. Just just pull it off of Amazon, and that will tell you the technicalities and how you actually formatted book so you can format it as your right or you can write it and then formatted. That's usually what I do when I'm writing a book for Amazon. My process simply goes like this. I'll write the entire thing in a Google doc forward when I first started 10 years ago and then I'll go through and I'll follow that guideline from that. That resource I just referenced and all go through and I'll form at the entire thing. Then I have people I work with as far as a cover, Um, and some of the other things that go with it. Then I uploaded as an e book. Then I formatted again for a paper back, and you can do it on create space to have a paperback version, and then I go through and I formatted for an audiobook. So my books are all on audio, paperback and e book, and I'm pretty technical But I'm no wizard. I'm no, no. Steve Jobs. I'm no computer wizard. Trust me. So if I can do it, you can do it. Start with that one resource. If you have questions along the way, shoot me an email at questions at sportscasters club dot com. Let me know what the specific issue is you're having trouble with. And again stay close to us here on the podcast because we're gonna be announcing ways that you can get even closer and join our our group here. We've got some cool things coming up in the weeks and months to come. So stay tuned here on the Sportscasters Club radio show for that. So, yes, that's where I would start. Tammy, download that resource and go ahead and get started. Some great questions today. Thank you. To Tyler. Thank you too, Sarge. And thank you to Tammy. And again if you have questions. The email is questions at sportscasters club dot com. When I come back, we're

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gonna wrap this puppy up.

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coming well. Another episode almost in the

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can here at the Sportscasters Club online radio show really appreciate you joining us. And again, we talked today about the Oakland A's moving there, baseball radio broadcast away from radio and to streaming service. I love it. I think it's great. I think it's the future, and I think it opens up the door for Maur listeners to be ableto listen. Instead of turning on the radio, they simply open up a nap on the phone. And I think everything else after that will be seamless and no different for the fan. They'll still be able to enjoy the magic of baseball on the radio, and I think that is what I want to preserve. And I think that's going to be preserved by this change. So if you have an opinion, let me know what yours is. But that's where I fall on this issue, and we had some great questions today. Thank you for everyone who road in their questions. Keep them coming We've got some great episodes coming up and again. If you've just tuned in and caught our podcast for the first time, go back to the beginning and listen because you might learn Ah lot, whether you're an aspiring

spk_1:   23:05
sportscaster or an established sportscaster or just a die hard sports fan that wants to know more. So I think you'll find value there. You'll enjoy it. And

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if you have an idea for what we should

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cover on an upcoming episode, let me know that as well. I've got a bunch of great things coming up, but always willing to take your considerations and things that you think would be helpful to you in tow. I'm Rick Schultz. Thanks for listening, and we will see you next time on our next episode of The Sportscasters Club online radio show. Thanks for listening to the Sportscasters Club radio show at sportscasters club dot com. Don't forget to subscribe, so you will never miss an episode. And thanks for liking sharing, boasting reviews and spreading the word