Hunter And Bordick Are MASN’s Most Boring Broadcast Duo
Last week, I praised Jim Hunter for his play-by-play with Joe Angel on WBAL radio. Seven days later, I’m back to complain. Hunter and Mike Bordick called all three O’s games in Toronto and have proven to be the least energetic broadcast duo MASN offers Baltimore fans.
On Thursday the guys showed little emotion during the first three innings of the game. Bordick provided general, broad commentary on various aspects of the play on the field. However, what sticks out to me the most was when the two failed to provide analysis on a play Buck Showalter opted not to challenge that ended the top of the sixth inning.
Ryan Flaherty appeared to beat the throw to first and Showalter let it go. The inning ended and Hunter and Bordick came back from the 90-second commercial break without ever even mentioning the play again. They went right into a read about the day in baseball history and never looked back. No replay. No commentary. No reaction. No nothing.
Hunter is great on radio and his personality comes out more with Angel as his broadcast partner. But the last three days have been tough to watch.
Ravens Schedule Announced
Every Ravens fan has seen Baltimore’s schedule by now. But here’s how it breaks down from a broadcast standpoint, barring any future flexing. Thirteen of the Ravens 16 games will air on CBS (WJZ channel 13), they’ll play one on Fox (WBFF channel 45) and have two nationally television games.
Baltimore gets the national audience twice on the road, on Sunday Night Football in week nine at the Pittsburgh Steelers (NBC) and Monday night at New Orleans in week 12. Additionally, the Ravens will host their AFC North foes, Pittsburgh, during the first game of the new CBS Thursday Night Football Package with the NFL Network on September 11.
No One Wants Pay For Podcasts
The RELM Network announced the release of free 20-30 minute weekly “Best Of” Don Geronimo Show featuring highlights from recent episodes. The radio veteran recently launched a two-hour daily podcast on RELM on April 1, which is only available via paid subscription.
A subscription to Geronimo’s show will run you $99.99 a year, which seems incredibly steep. Subscriptions to SiriusXM satellite radio start at $164.89 annually and that includes over 140 channels.
With so much free content available on iTunes it’s hard to imagine RELM’s strategy lasting long. Bigger names in comedy like Adam Carolla, Marc Maron and Joe Rogan all make their shows available free and are supported via advertising revenue. The diehard Geronimo fans may pony up the cash, and maybe that’s what RELM is going for, but there’s no way his audience will ever compete with those comedians in the iTunes top charts at 100 bucks a year.
The release of a free “Best Of” may be a way for RELM to advertise Geronimo’s show to non-paying subscribers, but it also might be a sign that not many have purchased their memberships.
