WHCU ends broadcast partnership with CU

[Bahnstorm]

WHCU to conclude historic broadcast partnership with Cornell Hockey:

https://607newsnow.com/news/258852-a-legacy-of-over-80-years-comes-to-a-close-as-cornell-shifts-its-broadcast-plans/

More time for WHCU to air the quality evening programming we are accustomed to hearing leading up to games the past few years I suppose. *eyeroll*

Locals I've talked to today have expressed concerns how this will play out in terms of a terrestrial audio offering.

[billhoward]

Sad. Passing of an era.

But ...

The number of people who want to listen to Cornell hockey and who don't have ESPN+ audio or video streaming is probably quite small. They're, ah, hosed.

The story doesn't say a lot, like what happens to sports other than hockey ... if Cornell is taking back and keeping radio rights ... if WVBR would want to do a simulcast (it would probably require sports fans on VBR's leadership ... is it really worth the effort to send a radio guy on the road ... is it worth it for an undergrad student interested in sports broadcasting to travel to away games ... could the audio of the video broadcast have a carve-out that allows the audio-only to be broadcast locally for the couple hundred (my guess) of Ithacans who want to listen to an over the air broadcast?

I struggled to the current cornellbigred site, found Cornell football, and saw the only broadcast link is for ESPN+ video.

[upprdeck]

radio is so much easier when listening outside the house. Doing yardwork or in a car. And cell phone coverage is just so bad in so many places around here.

[marty]

Sad. Passing of an era.

But ...

The number of people who want to listen to Cornell hockey and who don't have ESPN+ audio or video streaming is probably quite small. They're, ah, hosed.

The story doesn't say a lot, like what happens to sports other than hockey ... if Cornell is taking back and keeping radio rights ... if WVBR would want to do a simulcast (it would probably require sports fans on VBR's leadership ... is it really worth the effort to send a radio guy on the road ... is it worth it for an undergrad student interested in sports broadcasting to travel to away games ... could the audio of the video broadcast have a carve-out that allows the audio-only to be broadcast locally for the couple hundred (my guess) of Ithacans who want to listen to an over the air broadcast?

I struggled to the current cornellbigred site, found Cornell football, and saw the only broadcast link is for ESPN+ video.

Anyone care to put odds on Jason vs.  Grady?  This potentially sucks for me because I like them both. And for the record I'm not from Binghamton. ;-)

[Trotsky]

Sad. Passing of an era.

But ...

The number of people who want to listen to Cornell hockey and who don't have ESPN+ audio or video streaming is probably quite small. They're, ah, hosed.

That's not the only problem.

There are games not invited to the Bristol Bastard Banquet.  Worse, at least ten times a year that inept crew drops trou and leaves large chunks of games with no video coverage.  And now we are shut out from them.

WHCU may have crawled up the fasc anus, but at least they actually gave a shit about Cornell hockey.   Bill Rasmussen's fucktoy never did and never will.

[Trotsky]

Sad. Passing of an era.

But ...

The number of people who want to listen to Cornell hockey and who don't have ESPN+ audio or video streaming is probably quite small. They're, ah, hosed.

The story doesn't say a lot, like what happens to sports other than hockey ... if Cornell is taking back and keeping radio rights ... if WVBR would want to do a simulcast (it would probably require sports fans on VBR's leadership ... is it really worth the effort to send a radio guy on the road ... is it worth it for an undergrad student interested in sports broadcasting to travel to away games ... could the audio of the video broadcast have a carve-out that allows the audio-only to be broadcast locally for the couple hundred (my guess) of Ithacans who want to listen to an over the air broadcast?

I struggled to the current cornellbigred site, found Cornell football, and saw the only broadcast link is for ESPN+ video.

I never understood why WVBR doesn't do the games.  It's not as if their other programming relies on large audiences; well, I shouldn't say that, I am judging by back in the day when Throbbing Gristle was too mainstream for their DJs.

[Beeeej]

I never understood why WVBR doesn't do the games.  It's not as if their other programming relies on large audiences; well, I shouldn't say that, I am judging by back in the day when Throbbing Gristle was too mainstream for their DJs.

I'm reasonably certain it had something to do with not wanting to spend the money on the rights. That plus the training program for sportsies at VBR never really included play-by-play or color, just reporting and panel, and paying for outside talent was more or less taboo as well.

[upprdeck]

Cornell wanting more money would make sense.

But even big time sports like SU struggles to get games on the radio to cover most of the state. No different than the Mets who you can't listen to at all locally anymore.

[arugula]

Very sad.  I like Grady. He seems like a nice guy but Jason is an outstanding radio pbp voice.   A real shame if he's lost to us as I assume he will be.

[Trotsky]

Grady is outstanding.

[rmandel]

I miss the pre- and post-game analysis that the football, basketball, and lacrosse radio broadcasts used to provide.  I will miss that if the radio broadcasts go away for hockey.

[upprdeck]

The school loses site of the bigger picture. Anything they do which limits fans access just means less people down the road who care.  Attendance is dropping off as it is.

If they think streaming fills that hole in coverage, they don't really understand the void that it fills.

[ugarte]

Understandable that WVBR wouldn't be a part of the university - don't want to be under its thumb, especially now - but also a bummer that it wouldn't get preferential treatment as a part of the larger university community.

[rmandel]

Some of the most enjoyable and entertaining Cornell sports talk I have ever heard took place on WHCU during the Ohio State and Rutgers NCAA lacrosse tournament weather delays in 2022.

[Larry72]

This is most unfortunate. Over the last few years, regardless of where we traveling, we could always stream WHCU.  Not so with ESPN+ and predecessor TV streaming services.  We've listened to games while in China, all through Asia, and on various oceans while on cruises.

And while driving to and from games, being able to listen to the pre and post game commentary, coaches interviews, postgame analysis, and the "three stars" all on the radio was wonderful.

Very sorry to see it go.