Amid the sports talk radio wars, Yahoo! Sports Radio has continued to shake up the ranks, adding heavyweights to its executive roster as well as to the microphone, most recently announcing the additions of Anthony Pepe, Matt Perrault, Tim Murray and Jason McIntyre to its lineup for its 2015 schedule. Earlier in the year, Gow Broadcasting reeled in radio veteran Jeffrey Schwartz as the new EVP, Corporate Strategy at Yahoo! Sports where he is looking to expand the network’s presence throughout the country.
With Yahoo! Sports Radio now heard on more than 500 stations and boasting a listenership of about 5 million, Cynopsis Sports spoke with Schwartz about the recent additions, the direction of the network and its deepening ties to Las Vegas, where the company boasts a studio and slate of talent at The Palazzo Las Vegas.
Schwartz on joining Yahoo! Sports Radio: I was promised a blank board when I was hired. Frankly, there are no “nos” here, it is all about trying something. Of course, It is still a child in training, but there are still so many things we want to do and try that I never would have been able to do at a mature company. Things that companies like ESPN simply can’t do. Those companies are driven 100% by the bottom line. That’s why I took this. Yes, it is a challenge but I believe that with every step you take, the next step should be a challenge. There’s so many exciting things we are getting ready to roll out. I want to change the world one more time and Yahoo! offered me that opportunity.
On objectives: We have a lofty goal. I want a financial increase of somewhere around 20% in revenue. Nobody talks like that, especially in this day and age. I’m not saying we will hit that target, but I give myself that 20% because I want to overshoot the runway. I am very comfortable knowing what we can and can’t do. I sent out an email last week talking about all the possibilities and that every sign pointed toward 2015 being the year of the Yahoo! Being down sucks, so why can’t you always try to look at things and try to smile a little bit?
On 2015: 2015 will be the year of the Yahoo! because there were so many elements missing but now there will be someone coming in who will complete the triangle offense we are setting up. We have hardworking people on board and we have terrific guys in Craig Larson (COO & Program Director) and Chris Morales (VP, Head of Creative & Imaging). They have the heart of a tiger. Everybody here appreciates Yahoo!, they love every day that they come in. They are all one over here because they share in one desire, which is to see this company become more than what it is. As for our new hires, they bring to the table a different sound than what we are replacing. The industry needs new voices. It is no disrespect to who they are replacing, but we have to try. The new talent is young, energetic and they want more than they are being given right now. So I truly believe there is a place for us.
On the company’s relationship with Las Vegas: The people at the Palazzo/Venetian have been incredible about working with us as we set up shop there. We are going to be doing some incredible things there in 2015, beyond what we are doing now. When you are in sports radio, you are in the male-dominated world and Las Vegas is the ultimate male destination, end of story. There are going to be so many fun things we are going to be doing at the Palazzo, I can’t wait to talk about it.
On the state of sports radio: Being in this business for almost half a century, do I worry about the future? Yes. I worry about all the debt-ridden companies. I worry about who is next in line. I worry about this industry, which I love dearly. Radio is too cool. But it’s a weird time we live in. I want to see sports radio – especially network sports radio – grow because in so many of the top markets, local wins almost all the time. When I was in Chicago, we beat the snot out of ESPN, because we talked about the Bears, the Bulls and the Cubs. But if I was in Chicago right now, it would drive me crazy because everybody is talking about Jay Cutler when there are so many other things to talk about. Network radio is more valuable than people think it is because network radio increases your knowledge and it gives your audience a chance to think outside the box.
