Interesting and potentially exciting news breaking last night, with no confirmation as of yet. Our friends at Section303.com broke a story about a potential new flagship station for the Predators. The site quotes a source telling them that the 102.9 The Buzz will be the new home of Predator’s hockey on radio. The station is owned by Cromwell Radio Group, a Nashville based group of 22 radio stations in four different states. Somehow, the symmetry of having the Nashville owned and operated hockey team being broadcast by a Nashville owned and operated radio station is very appealing. The interesting part about this move, if it is indeed confirmed, is that it sets up a microcosm of what the NHL faces on a national level with broadcast agreements.

The NHL has been roundly criticized for not falling all over itself to get back on ESPN. People whine and complain that they can’t find Versus, that because the league is not on ESPN, they get shortchanged on Sports Center, and that they just don’t get enough exposure without being on the so-called “worldwide leader.” You can also argue that it is ESPN’s JOB to cover sports, all sports, not just the ones they are interested in or the ones they have contracts for.

You can have the same argument now in Nashville.

If this report turns out to be true, you will hear people complain that they won’t be able to find the games on the new station, they will get shortchanged in the discussion topics on sports talk shows on the former flagship station and they won’t get enough exposure on a rock station.

Bull… 102.9 the Buzz is a 100,000 watt flamethrower of a radio station with almost double the effective radiating power of the Zone and much better reception in the heart of Predator season ticket country, Williamson County. They have a much larger local reception footprint and is rated in the Top 10 Arbitron ratings, both in diary and in initial people meter ratings. The combination of rock and sports has been growing for quite awhile and the demographic match is a very good one for both sides.

There are many good things about this potential move to a different flagship, a station that won’t bump you at all… a station that will focus a good bit of its’ marketing and promotional muscle behind you… and let’s face it, that is a fundamental expectation of your flagship… an expectation that has largely gone unfulfilled over the past few seasons, save for a few months in Summer 2007.

The Zone maintains its ratings lead in Sports Talk, but they are not the only game in town. They cover UT and the Titans and devote a significant portion of their day to football talk. In order for them to maintain the hockey fan, they will now have to make an effort, instead of relying on their status as flagship station… that ship looks like it may have sailed.

I expect an announcement sometime today or tomorrow... 18 days till Opening Night.

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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates… I’ll also be updating with starting lineups and scratches during Pred home games, also I’ll be supplying information and explanations from the PA box.

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COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…

SlapShot Radio is on hiatus until our NHL Preview show on October 6th… however, pre-season advertising specials are available. Join our returning advertisers who already know, advertising on SlapShot Radio is a cost-effective way to reach out to hockey fans all over North America. Send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll get you information on joining the SlapShot Radio family.

The show has also put together a road trip for Pred Nation… watch out Carolina, we’re headed your way this year. We’ve set up a bus trip to go see the Preds and Canes tangle on November 20th. We got the bus, the tickets and hotels available… check it out at SlapShot Radio’s Facebook page. We’ve already filled one bus and are efforting another… stay tuned.

For the most updated guest information go to the SlapShot Radio website.

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