Syndicated Radio Show at UNCG

Taylor Zarzour will be doing his syndicated radio show, Sports Drive, from UNCG this Thursday from 9-12. You can hear this show on 620 AM in the triangle or the triad sports network (1200 AM, 1230 AM, 1320 AM) in the triad. The show can also be streamed over the net here.

UNCG Basketball Gets New Radio Flagship

UNCG has signed an agreement with the Curtis Media Group to broadcast UNCG basketball games. Curtis Media, who owns stations throughout the triad (WSJS) and triangle (WZTK), recently formed the Triad Sports Network (1200 WSML-AM, 1230 WMFR-AM & 1320 WCOG-AM).

1320 WCOG-AM will serve as the new flagship station for UNCG basketball. FM Talk 101.1 WZTK will carry select UNCG games as it did last season. WZTK currently carries Wake Forest football, men's basketball and Carolina Panthers football. Plus, all of the coaches shows that go along with those sports. So, I would assume that Spartan games will be broadcast on FM Talk 101.1 when it doesn't interfere with those broadcasts.

This is wonderful news for UNCG as it is trying to expand it's brand and its reach throughout the triad and beyond. Don't forget that all UNCG games shown on Spartan All-Access this season are free. Plus, most road games can be found online at places like Channelsurfing.net.

There is no word whether select games will still be carried on UNCG's radio station (103.1 WUAG)

101.1 FM Talk to Carry Some UNCG Games (Update)

I just got an email from Britt Whitmire (co-host of FM Talk 101.1's "Brad & Britt in the Morning" show) informing me that tonight's game against Akron, plus 10 or 11 more this season, will be airing on FM Talk 101.1 WZTK. As you can see from the coverage map, this station has a huge reach throughout the state of NC (even into Virginia).

This is great news to me and other UNCG fans that games will be carried on a powerful FM station like 101.1. Now we won't be forced to sit in front of our computers to hear to Scott Pryzwansky and Dick Stewart. Plus, it is great for alumni and potential UNCG students to get to hear games in the triangle and beyond. I think we are seeing the partnership with ISP starting to pay off for our fans.

I would advise everyone reading this to send emails to FM Talk 101.1, UNCG Athletics and ISP Sports thanking them for putting Spartan games on the air. Doing that lets these places know there is an interested fan base. Also, show the radio advertisers your patronage and let them know you heard them during UNCG games.

All of this can go a long way toward helping our program move to a higher level. Thanks to all of the people who helped to make this move.

Go Spartans !!!

UPDATE: Apparently, the game now won't be carried on WZTK. This is from UNCG Sport's Twitter page.

Having a tech problem with 101.1 tonight. Won't join the network until after Jan. 1 .

ISP and UNCG

I promised I'd give this topic it's own blog entry and here it is. First, here are some of the articles.

UNCG Athletics
ISP

Here is the main quote from both articles ...

"With the partnership, ISP will work with the Department of Athletics’ staff
to market a variety of corporate sponsorship opportunities involving Spartan
Athletics, including live play-by-play game radio broadcasts and call-in shows,
various athletic department publications, signage in on-campus facilities,
corporate hospitality events and the official website of the department,
www.uncgspartans.com. "

I have not been a huge fan of the way that UNCG has marketed its basketball program. I love that UNCG has realized that they need help and partnered with ISP. ISP is the same company that partnered with UCLA and then proceeded to call out USC in the LA Times. That's the kind of "moxie" that I hope they bring to UNCG. There's a reason why this company has athletics departments teaming up with them in huge numbers. Hopefully, being located in the triad will give them a unique perspective on this market and how to attack our problems.


I think it's ridiculous that I live 30 miles away from campus and can't hear a Spartan basketball game on the radio. Meanwhile, I can easily find an App State or High Point game. ISP is going to have to use it's connections to fix this problem. There needs to be a UNCG flagship station with a strong signal, or maybe more than one station carrying the games. Part of the reason for this problem is market demand. Radio stations make decisions based on their bottom line. Whatever station Spartan games end up on, it's up to us fans to tune in, send appreciative emails and do business with its sponsors. I think that last one is true for all aspects of UNCG athletics not just radio broadcasts. Fans need to show their patronage to companies that financially support athletics.


Moving into the Greensboro Coliseum means that there will now be a lot of extra seats to fill. Putting the meager 1,300 people that UNCG is currently drawing into the ~7,600 seats will look just plain dumb. The draw has got to be bigger. UNCG has to reach out to more of the alumni living in the triad or within driving distance. If you were to take a census of the crowd at Fleming Gym for a basketball game, I think you'd find that a large majority are students. This is to be expected. But I think the second largest group would be alumni/fans over the age of 40. It's important to get the group of alumni that fall in between those 2 groups involved and interested in what's going on with the university (and it's basketball program). Those people might not buy season tickets, but may come to 3 or 4 games. Those people might start talking about UNCG basketball in their offices or with their friends. Those people might skip watching an ACC game on ESPN to catch a Spartans game on FSN. This is going to be a several year process, and I think that UNCG is missing a huge opportunity with that group of potential fans. I can't say that I've got any brilliant ideas on how to get them involved. I'll leave that to the people that get paid to make that happen.


I'm not sure if ISP can make any changes to the problems listed. I have no idea what they have in mind for UNCG. I'd like to think that they see some of the same things. However, I feel better having them involved in our basketball program.