The ultimate value of focus groups depends somewhat on how definitively the solicitor regards the results. But we don’t need to look far for situations in which the conclusions did not justify the investment in time and money.
Consider, as documented in Terry Francona and Dan Shaughnessy’s new book “Francona: The Red Sox Years,’’ the buzzy revelation that the Red Sox spent $100,000 in 2010 to convene a focus group to gauge the desires of viewers. After the information was studied, the Red Sox reacted to the thin conclusion that more star power was needed in part by shelling out $142 million to make Carl Crawford NESN’s new prime-time idol.
Comments
John Dennis spends most of his time as the angry guy. If the team would actually discuss sports instead of havin fun being mean more sports fans would listen. Ordway talks way too much. Holley is much better. Holley with Arnold was a great team. Intelligent and pleasant. Real conversation. Listened Ho each other. I enjoy teams most when the offer insight. Or just offer experience of hanging out with friends who are talking sports.
Chad, I cut the following letter to the editor out of the paper when it appeared a month before The Sports Hub started broadcasting in 2009. I saved it because I felt that the writer nailed it perfectly and I wanted to see if he got it right. He most certainly did and even now it's amazing to watch people like yourself not acknowledge the obvious;
"I read with great interest the article announcing the impending arrival of a new challenger to WEEI's monopoly on Boston sports radio talk.
I have been a WEEI listener since the onset of the current sports talk format, despite an ongoing love-hate relationship with the programming choices that the station has made. Having said that, I eagerly await August 13 so that, for the first time since WEEI started broadcasting in it's current incarnation, I can finally listen to an alternative - one that uses a strong, clear signal to broadcast local sports programming that is mercifully free from the often hateful and irrational hard-core right-wing political diatribe that listeners must suffer through during the morning and evening commutes. From my many conversations over the last decade with friends, family, clients, and business contacts, I know that I am by no means alone, and I eagerly look forward to the fall ratings book to see whether my viewpoint is proved correct."
WEEI didn't need to hire a focus group. The decision to allow hard core right wingers to alienate a sizable share of their audience in one of the most liberal and educated radio markets in the country is a decision that didn't matter when they were the only game in town, and now they are paying the price in ratings in ad revenue. As the old saying goes, you reap what you sow. If WEEI wants to change everything and get competitive again, they need to fire Dennis, Callahan & Ordway (the three main practioners) and hit the reset button.
Amen. I'd add that Smerlas in particular adds virtually nothing of value on football, and D'Ossi is adequate. We're all tired of hearing these fat tired old f&rts eating for free on air. Felger and Maz are entertaining and lively and real. They are relatable human beings. Also I'd say that Felger and Maz are more knowledgable about football, baseball and hockey than any of the EEI hosts, and they keep their politics to themselves. A woman? yes. Less 'ha ha' guy talk? Yes. I used to listen to EEI, but frankly can't anymore, and won't again until D&C are canned.
I used to enjoy listening to John Dennis & Gerry Callahan more than any other sports talk show tandem. I always felt that they provided great insight to sports, often were lots of fun whether making fun of themselves or others, and offered decent debate whether sports or political. But the political side has become too much a part of the show. Their expertise is in sports, while I think it is apparent that their polictical insight is predominantly weak. If I want to hear unbalanced, political drival, I can watch the national Fox TV station or listen to the hypocrite Rush Limbaugh (remember his comments about drug abusers, when he, himself, was buying drugs illegally?). I like debate, hearing opposing views, but these two need to stick to sports if they wish to be taken seriously and if they want former listeners to return.
Enough of Ordway. Holley is great but I love the idea of a 3rd person in on all of the shows. The 3rd person could rotate amongst the most active sport at the time. Troy Brown, Bruschi, Curran during football, Max, Grande during basketball, etc. You get the picture. Michael Smith is awesome and is great with Holley-use him more.
I am 31 and Holley is the only one on that channel I would even consider listening to. The morning show is a political show run by two outdated, old, racist bigots and Mike Adams is a clown at night. Ordway is tolerable at best.
I know that I switched to 98.5 with no intentions of considering moving the dial back.
Sounds like Dino is being lined up for the head shot.
Dennis, Callahan and Ordway are a**-clowns, relics from the past. Nobody in the hot demographics wants to listen to their brand of radio anymore. It's just that simple. They are jokes and laughing stocks with everyone I know or talk to. Dennis and Callahan are crotchedly old cranks that turn people off in so many ways its amazing. Orway's act has just worn too thin. He was a personality, but that's past tense. EEI can't expect to trade on that with younger listeners. On the radio or on the Pats Tailgate show on CSSNE on thursdays. He's become pathetic. I thought it was actually hilarious when EEI fired Dale Arnold and promoted Holley to afternoons with Ordway. Dale is certainly an older guy and a bit avuncular; but Dale & Holley was the only show on EEI that I would listen to at the time. I preferred them to Gresh & Zo. They had good chemistry and they were clearly devoted to our teams and the sports topics (including the Bruins, otherwise woefully under-covered on EEI), and had a good rapport with guests and callers. They should have fired Ordway and moved Dale & Holley to afternoons (or mornings). The management of the station is hamstrung or incompetent or both. But the rest of the EEI stable/lineup is pretty weak and/or boring. I suppose they might try Holley and Lou Merloni in the morning slot. I might listen to that. I'd at least give them a shot against T&R. I would certainly also have no objection to having a female voice in the mix; but simply adding one to their current lineup won't change anything. I'd give Curran a shot... not sure if he has enough of a point of view on sports other than football though. I don't know where they're going to go to get talent to compete with Felger and Mazz. They probably would have to search out of market and bring someone in (male and/or female). I can't imagine anyone from our current panoply of pundits (culled from EEI, NESN, CSSNE, Globe, Herald, etc) becoming a break-out star.
Right wing politics has been wrung out of the playlist for at least a year - are they still doing Brady vrs. Bledsoe and discussing the Vadnais trade? But seriously - it is a chat show for middle aged men. Just listen to the commercials - they really tell - the - tail as to who is the target demographic. If you are blading, in trouble with the IRS, have failing eye sight or have trouble, " below the belt line " you have found your radio home. Best caller: Frank from Gloster, Worst caller: Frank from Gloster, person I would most like to hear as a geust host: Frank from Gloster.
I actually like the sports expertise that Dennis and Callahan bring to the table. But for years, even when they were the only game in town, the first political comment made, made me push the Disc button for music. I knew from past listening not only was the sports talk ending for as much as 1/2 hour or more but that any caller who dared to present an opposing opinion was demonized and maligned on the air. Click...change to music. It wasn't just the difference of opinion but the abject meanness in tone and attack. The afternoon, drive home commentators were even worse if you can imagine that. I did tune in at 5:55 PM for the Whiner Line, for the off and on clever humor of the listeners. That Robert Kraft impersonator was dead on and funny!!! So glad to have a sports talk show to tune into where deep disagreement is over sports not politics! I still tune in to D & C after a big game for their perspective but when political comment begins...Click...now to 98.5. More and more I'm not even tuning to 93.7. And for a lot of people the morning program sets, for some, the tone of the dial for the whole day.
Gerry Callahan is a bigoted right-wing zealot. John Dennis is a closeted bigoted right-wing zealot. I was listening the other morning when they began to "discuss" Donald Trump suing Bill Maher for $5 million. It was only moments after introducing the subject when Callahan went into his standard smear the liberal elitist schtick. Time to switch the station before they got back to the real subject: the METCO gorilla (or is an orangutan?).
What does Trump and Maher have to do with sports? STICK TO THE SUBJECT!!! As a reminder the subject is SPORTS!!! Keep the politics where it belongs: in a paper bag with the Thunderbird.
As for Ordway and Holley, I enjoy their interplay and sense a genuine respect for one another's opinions. Also enjoy Mutt and Merloni, and on the weekends the Preacher and the Teacher.
Glad to see those bigoted neo-fascists get their comeuppance. D&C: diced and chopped. Sayonara, boys!
Every time Dennis opens his mouth he thinks he has something monumental to say. I can just see the studio. Dennis has the mike, all lights shut off except for the spot light on Dennis while he starts his diatribe. It's almost commical.
Nothing to add. Everybody beat me to it!
WEII, arguably, shouldn't need a focus group to understand that Dennis and Callahan are offensive to a broad swath of intelligent sports fans, who like thoughtful insights on sports action and issues of the moment--without their right wing (even racist) rants. They are humorless and condescending. I stopped listening years ago.
As for Ordway, his intelligence and insights were once a reason to tune in—despite the loathsome footballers (the steak boys) and Pete Shephard--but he's lost resonance and can’t hold a candle to Holley. The "Big O" now only characterizes his waistline.
As for the afternoon competition, Felger is actually charming. He's clearly having a good time and he's smart. Massaroti’s defining radio characteristic is his high-pitched screech, which conveys words that are often ill-considered nonsense. Somewhat surprising, because his online columns are often thoughtful and well-written. He should stick to the keyboard and spare our ears.
The most obnoxious host of all--other than D&C--is Andy Gresh. But, what do I know? Mid-day doesn't matter.
I am a 30 year sports talk radio listener and am outside of the demo group but I do have a 45min drive in the am and pm.
I have to agree that competition has certainly exposed some dry rot
Dennis can be a condescending clown and when paired with Callahan, who is unlikable and a total turn off, there is not much sports talk with the exception of guest callers such as Boomer, Larry etc. some of whom they disparage as soon as they hang up!
Ordway is buffoonish and never lets people finish their thoughts.
Holley is the best talent of the group and is very likable and would make a great pairing with Dale Arnold.
With all of the commercials on FM these days the iPhone gets more speaker time now!!
Callahan should consider career change to prosecutor. He's waaaaaay too negative and everyone is guilty as Hell. I used to like Dennis better but he's just as negative now. All during the Superbowl and after it was all about Ray Lewis over and over and over. Holley and Arnold were the best. Big O is a big blowhard. I'm not too keen on the other station either except Felger who has half a brain. predicted the Pats would lose
The worst part is the morons who call the show.
Were you going to mention that the Boston Globe has an ownership interest in the Sports Hub, a competitor of WEEI? How about being honest and transparent?
Hahahaahahahahahahaahaha D&C are two of the biggest pieces of garbage I can't way for the day they ardefined much like the tea party their days are numbered
I feel like having women on would just be an over-correction. Of course someone like Jackie MacMullen would be a great asset, not sure if she'd do it, though. Who would want Schilling on, especially seeing as they are asking about the morning show? He is just another clone of those guys.