CBS Sports Radio has been assigned a station in New York City, and I am actually listening to John Feinstein’s show as I write this.
It’s on, all right, but certainly not easy for the average listener to tune.
That’s because the New York CBS Sports Radio outlet is 101.FM HD 3. In other words, it is on a sub-channel of the popular WCBS 101.1 FM, which is the best oldies station in the nation, It can only be picked up over-the-air on an HD radio.
Try to find a legitimate HD radio in a store. Chances are the one or two models even a “big box’’ store has will not serve your purpose in style or ease of use. Look up HD radios on-line, and you’ll find the only models that look good and are easy to use are quite expensive.
“The problem is the technical guys designed these HD sets, not a consumer person,’’ explained a New Jersey radio executive.
There are some HD radios built into cars, some that are wristband models good for recreational listening and those that cost a decent chunk of change. Because of the lack of mainstream models, HD radio, which has superb sound and could have certainly been a solid seller, has been a flop.
CBS could have placed the sports programming on newly-purchased FM 94.7, but chose to place Country Music on that outlet. Believe it or not, Country will likely rate decently in the New York market, and is not splitting the audience with WFAN’s Mike Francesa or ESPN’s Michael Kay.
In fact, as CBS has begun to promo CBS Sports Radio on WCBS-FM, the promos tell listeners to listen on-line and look for local stations that carry the programming in other locales. HD is never mentioned because the audience is so miniscule.
The programming, after six weeks, is not bad. I’ve listened to it from time to time. Feinstein’s show has been informative and consistent. He is starting to gain traction with a lot of calls from smaller markets such as Shreveport, La., and Birmingham, Ala. Callers from the Philadelphia market are also beginning to voice their opinions.
Using Shreveport as an example, one can easily see CBS Sports Radio succeeding in those markets. The programming, with Jim Rome in the afternoon, is better than what ESPN offers. The South has its preferences as far as sports go, and Feinstein and Rome are versed enough to interact well with such fans.
In New York, the best way to listen is on-line, or on your phone or tablet with one of the many apps that are available. The sound is good, the delivery consistent. Having the programming on 101.FM HD3, while the only place to drop it right now won’t result in many listeners.
I stand convinced, as has happened in Philadelphia, that WFAN (AM 660) will eventually carry the national CBS Sports Radio lineup, while FM 101.9 will carry Francesa and Company.
Yet, technically, CBS Sports Radio is on a New York outlet that can be received over the air.
