What do you do when you have 160-something broadcasts a year, all of which are pretty much the same, and yet you want to do something special that can help you get noticed at a time when attention spans may be waning a bit?
Many radio stations go through this problem every week. Client remotes, promotions, and other fulfillment activities begin to sound obligatory on the air. They end up sounding the same, they get mailed in, they hurt the ratings, and after a while, they fail to generate results for clients who paid for them in the first place (assuming they aren’t dreaded “value-added” bonuses).
That’s why Fox Sports Detroit’s treatment of the AL Central Division Champs, the Detroit Tigers’ final weekend series against a mediocre opponent, playing meaningless games is so interesting.
The play-by-play team, Mario Impemba and Rod Allen, will have the best seats in the house tonight – front row, behind home plate, hanging out with enthusiastic fans.
And to enhance these games, FSD reporters will host a web chat while tonight’s game is going on. And the Fox Sports Detroit Girls (yup, they have their own version of Rock Girls who have had on-air presence all season long) will also participate, as fans can ask questions and chime in with their own commentary.
The end result is taking a mundane broadcast against a bad team for a game that means nothing – and turning it into something special.
Every event a station does – from the iHeartRadio Music Festival on the one hand to just another remote for a phone store on the other – can be special.
Integrating fans, dressing it up, using social media, and yes, even some babes, are all part of the formula for taking something that’s no big deal and turning it into a buzzworthy event.
Kudos, FSD. Go Tigers.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Is It Quittin’ Time For SiriusXM? - November 26, 2024
- Radio, It Oughta Be A Crime - November 25, 2024
- Baby, Please Don’t Go - November 22, 2024
Multi-platform engagement really allows radio to “re-invent the remote” in smart ways too; from instant “Street Tweet” location appointments to interaction built around and through everything, from a station’s CRM system, to crowd-sourcing, lead generation, database loyalty, social connects and more… as you say Fred, that isn’t a “value-added” bonus, it is value that builds the power of the buy… and revenue.
Thanks, Lee. Great comments. Thanks for adding to the conversation.