Mike Steely

[warreng88]

I wish the new station would bring in someone like Desmond Mason to talk about Thunder basketball. He is living here and doing his art thing, but I am sure he would have time for a two hour time frame dedicated to college and pro basketball. Of course, pair him with someone like John Rhode to carry the conversation with the listeners.

[SoonerDave]

I wish the new station would bring in someone like Desmond Mason to talk about Thunder basketball. He is living here and doing his art thing, but I am sure he would have time for a two hour time frame dedicated to college and pro basketball. Of course, pair him with someone like John Rhode to carry the conversation with the listeners.

I'm very curious how much Thunder "stuff" will occupy the new station's content. On the one hand, its an unmistakeable part of the Oklahoma City mindset, and will mandate some level of coverage from any station presuming to call itself a "sports" station, but given that the Thunder just re-upped with the Animal for all it's anchor stuff, they may opt not to give it as much time.

On the other hand, you could make a case that there's a market to be served about "honest" Thunder assessments from media members not (directly or otherwise) paid by the team. Like him or hate him, Traber has not been the least bit hesitant to criticize the Thunder's play, coaching, or management, but beyond that there's very much a "company line" from the Animal on other things re the Thunder. An opposing, "unconflicted" view might draw a lot of interest.

Should be very interesting to see how they carve that out. Looks like Steely and Rohde are going to be the morning show, with Sam Mayes in a mid-morning slot, and whether they can persuade Traber to jump ship is still out there until his contract is up in October.

[OklahomaNick]

Anybody hearing when the new 107.7 station will launch?

[SoonerDave]

Anybody hearing when the new 107.7 station will launch?

Current rumor, and I stress that's all it is, is somewhere around 13 August. Don't think there's been any official announcement, however.

[BorisYeltsin]

If they are giving shows to Sam Mayes, Brent skarkey and Lump that station will implode as fast as you can say Hindenburg.

[MWCGuy]

If they are giving shows to Sam Mayes, Brent skarkey and Lump that station will implode as fast as you can say Hindenburg.

Even if it crashes and burns it will give the Sports Animal the kick in the pants it needs to actually provide some form of entertainment. I stopped listening years ago because it's not sports anymore. They yammer on about stupid crap and then talk about how great OU. People want to here more than that. There are other sports to cover and you can't stay on the same topic for three hours straight. Any good talk host knows you have to set a time limit for each topic and move on to something else.

[SoonerDave]

Even if it crashes and burns it will give the Sports Animal the kick in the pants it needs to actually provide some form of entertainment. I stopped listening years ago because it's not sports anymore. They yammer on about stupid crap and then talk about how great OU. People want to here more than that. There are other sports to cover and you can't stay on the same topic for three hours straight. Any good talk host knows you have to set a time limit for each topic and move on to something else.

You and I must listen to a different Sports Animal. They've been talking Big 12 football in general and Johnny Manziel in particular for the hour or so I've had them on the air this morning. All sports. Over the last several days/weeks, I've heard consistent discussion about how low OU's talent level has become, and how thin they are in DT. Now, they've shifted to the SEC and are talking about Alabama and the fact they are such a prohibitive favorite to return to the BCS title game, and now they're talking about how the Baylor program has turned around.

No small amount of time these days is given to the Thunder, which is understandable given their recently renewed affiliation with them. Not being a huge NBA fan, I even find myself tiring of that topic, perhaps primarily because I realize Thunder ownership isn't planning to make any significant moves to improve the team, and I don't pretend (nor, in all honesty care enough) to understand all the intricacies of salary caps and luxury taxes, but the point is they talk about it plenty as well.

Point is I hear a lot of generalizations about the Animal, everyone seems to "know" how bad they are, but when I actually listen to them, the generalizations don't match reality. I freely acknowledge I listen to them probably more than most, because I'd rather listen to the Animal than the klackety-klack of keyboards all day, but I consider myself a pretty objective listener, and a great many of the things I read here about them just aren't accurate. Not at all saying they're perfect or can't stand improvement, and I have no personal affiliation with them whatsoever, but what I'm hearing just doesn't match what I see here many times.

The OSU fans say Traber is an OSU hater and he's in OU's pocket, while the OU fans say he's an OU hater and is in OSU's pocket, which can't both be true. Some say all the Animal talks is OU football, but a good part of yesterday's show(s) were taken with the ARod situation and MLB. Again, nothing to do with OU, still sports, and it was not a secondary topic of conversation.

Amid all the insistence of how bad things are, many of the purported positions are mutually exclusive extremes. Reality for the Animal is somewhere in the middle.

[okcboomer]

So does this change mean 1. Less commercials. 2. The hosts actually do their homework and know what they're talking about and 3. No coach/player interviews? If not, I'll continue to pay my xm radio subscription.

[SoonerDave]

The new 104.5 FM frequency has "gone live" here in OKC and is airing a simulcast of KRXO 107.7. Its actually been on a couple of days - I think it was Friday when I first noticed it, and just neglected to post.

Would think the 13 Aug start date for the new station seems a pretty sound guesstimate at this point.

[Paule4ou]

The Franchise 107.7 Sports Radio

[ou48A]

Is there any word on when the new station (107.7) will switch to its new sports format?
I thought it was are ready suppose to be on air by now?

[kwhey]

It starts tomorrow (Aug. 20).

[iambecoming]

It starts tomorrow (Aug. 20).

Any idea on what time the switch takes place? Still playing Bob & Tom currently.

This site claims the switch takes place next Monday.

KRXO Begins 104.5 Move; Details Of New ?Franchise?

[ThomPaine]

Any idea on what time the switch takes place? Still playing Bob & Tom currently.

This site claims the switch takes place next Monday.

KRXO Begins 104.5 Move; Details Of New ?Franchise?

Interested to hear from this "Mike Stelly" person...

[traxx]

I heard today that the switch was to take place on Aug. 25. A little odd since that's a Sunday.

[Tydude]

the switch is happening 2:00 PM tomorrow.

[kwhey]

I wish the new station would bring in someone like Desmond Mason to talk about Thunder basketball.

You got your wish. He may not have a show but he is going to cover the NBA and Thunder for the new station.

[OKCisOK4me]

I've been listening since about 3pm today. Good stuff so far. Just nice to hear other opinions from fresh voices.

[kwhey]

I've been listening since about 3pm today. Good stuff so far. Just nice to hear other opinions from fresh voices.

Agreed. So much better than guys giving it up to themselves, their political beliefs or name that tune. Actual sports talk without the seemly hour long commercial breaks.

[soonergeezer]

I turned it off several years ago, when Al was smacking B-B-Q and talking at the same time..that did it for me..only time I listen now is on the drive home after a game to hear the Thunder recap.

I am so glad to see someone else respond to eschbach and one of his most irritating habits. Between his lip-smacking and acting like a 5 year old about half the time, I end up switching stations.

[John1744]

I'm not too in the know on radio stuff but I'm guessing 107.7 frequency is a very powerful frequency? I know I could hear KRXO way outside OKC before and now that it's on 104.5 I get about 60% static on KRXO outside OKC even just in Harrah and far MWC. Really disappointing.

[SoonerQueen]

So far I have been impressed listening to 107.7 sports. You can listen to the stream online too. Just go to the website, click on the under construction page and another page will show up with the streaming link. I like Tony and company a lot. Kinda been switching back and forth between stations. I agree, Desmond Mason would be good for any of the sports stations.

[Bellaboo]

I am so glad to see someone else respond to eschbach and one of his most irritating habits. Between his lip-smacking and acting like a 5 year old about half the time, I end up switching stations.

The last time I listened was when Al was smacking BBQ somewhere...... that was it for me, haven't listened since. Glad I'm not the only one that felt that way.

[ou48A]

Much of the new sport station is better than WWLS, particularly in the PM hours.

So many people have been alienated by WWLS that 107.7 will eventually capture significant market share in the local sport talk show market. It's just a matter of time before major advertisers start realizing this.

[Tydude]

WWLS isn't going anywhere because of they affiliate with OKC Thunder.