Baseball Broadcasts Swinging, Missing

Give some credit to AM 1150, or whatever the Dodgers’ new flagship radio station is calling itself these days.

It has been making a lot of noise-- on the air and through ads, billboards and murals--that it has the Dodgers.

This is in contrast to KRLA (1110), the Angels’ new flagship station. There’s been barely a whimper.

And tonight’s game against Cleveland is being preempted by a Mighty Duck game and carried by KTZN (710), formerly longtime Angel flagship KMPC. So was the season opener Wednesday night.

Somebody at Disney isn’t thinking. Has anyone there noticed the kind of TV ratings the Ducks get? And radio ratings for hockey are even smaller.

Not having these games on their new flagship station should be embarrassing to the Angels.

And speaking of embarrassing, Michael Eisner’s lack of baseball knowledge was obvious in his interview with ESPN’s Chris Berman on Wednesday night, while on the Channel 9 Angel telecast, the station’s shilling for Edison was shameless.

Not all is well at Dodger flagship AM 1150, either.

One problem is the signal. Even though it has been beefed up to 50,000 watts, listeners are complaining.

The Dodgers and the station alleviated one problem area this week by adding KBET (1220) in Santa Clarita. But it’s doubtful there will be any more.

“Our signal is now the fourth strongest among AM stations in L.A., right behind KFI, KNX and KTNQ,” said Roy Laughlin, the general manager of AM 1150 and sister station KIIS-FM. “You’re always going to have some pockets. KABC did. We’re doing our best to eliminate them. We’re still tweaking the antenna.”

In the 1960s and early ‘70s, KFI’s signal boomed Vin Scully everywhere, but these days a sky crowded with airwaves makes perfect coverage impossible.

Brent Shyer, the Dodgers’ director of broadcasting, points out that AM 1150 can be picked up from anywhere on team’s Web Site at www.Dodgers.com provided the proper software has been downloaded.

Another problem for AM 1150 has to do with AFTRA, the labor union that represents on-air talent. Prompted by AFTRA, the National Labor Relation Board this week filed a complaint against AM 1150, alleging the station is negotiating in bad faith by not supplying basic information.

RADIO DAZE FOR USC

Will Lee Hamilton be shouting “Touchdown USC” on Trojan radio broadcasts on XTRA (690) this fall? Despite what Hamilton told the San Diego Union-Tribune this week, he said he has not been offered the job.

“We’re talking,” is all Hamilton said Thursday.

Pete Arbogast, the radio voice of the Cincinnati Bengals, has expressed an interest in coming back, and Tom Kelly is still a possibility even though Fox Sports West has said simulcasting Kelly and TV partner Craig Fertig is unlikely.

In the hunt for the radio commentating job is Jim Perry, who did it for seven of the 10 years he was USC’s sports information director (1974-84). Perry is now back at USC as an assistant athletic director.

Mark Ryan, USC assistant athletic director, declined comment on announcing candidates and says other things, such as sales and programming, have priority.

Of the deal with XTRA, Ryan said, “Being on an all-sports station gives us more promotional opportunities. It’s also a good deal financially.”

The school will produce the broadcasts and sell the advertising.

Ryan also points out another plus is XTRA’s 77,000-watt signal, made possible by having its antenna in Tijuana. Too bad sister station AM 1150 can’t use it.

IF THE SHOE FITS . . .

ESPN tackled a controversial topic in an “Outside the Lines” special that aired Thursday night, going after shoe manufacturers that are also major sponsors. The show dealt with the conditions at Vietnamese factories that the shoe companies subcontract.

“If there were any concerns [about insulting a sponsor] I’m totally unaware of them,” said Bob Ley, “Outside the Lines” host. “There’s a wall between us and those considerations.”

Ley, who spent 11 days in February in Vietnam, said, “Nike picked the factory and the day we could visit. Reebok, on the other hand, gave us unsupervised access. Adidas, once they learned what we were doing, didn’t even respond.”

SHORT WAVES

Fox makes its entry into horse racing with Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby, and it is also the first racing assignment for Joe Buck, who will host the one-hour coverage that begins at 2 p.m. But Buck is no stranger to the sport, having been introduced to it as a youngster by his famous father. Jack Buck even owned a horse at one time named Almighty Buck. . . . Fox has some new bells and whistles planned--including microphones sewn in the legs of jockeys’ pants. And you won’t want to miss the opening. Here’s a hint: It involves Terry Bradshaw. . . . The other big local event this weekend is Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. It’s on ESPN and live at 1 p.m., with Bob Varsha and Danny Sullivan anchoring the coverage.

Fox Sports West 2 is planning a Dodger marathon for the home opener Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The “Big Show,” with Steve Mason and John Ireland, will be televised live from Dodger Stadium from 6 to 9 a.m. and feature a bevy of Dodger guests. Then from 9-10 a.m., a Dodger preview shown earlier by Fox Sports West 2 will be repeated, followed by a replay of that morning’s “Big Show.” After the 1 p.m. game will be repeats of an earlier Tom Lasorda Hall of Fame tribute and a special on Roberto Clemente.

More worlds to conquer: Fox and cable partner Liberty, which already own one-third of the Golf Channel, have acquired one-third ownership in the Speedvision and Outdoor Life channels. . . . The presentation of the John Wooden Award will be televised live at 4 p.m. today by Fox Sports Net and carried by Fox Sports West. . . . In need of a football fix? Fox Sports Net is covering the NFL Europe League, and the first of 10 weekly telecasts will be on Fox Sports West Sunday at 6 p.m.

The USA network will air a Masters special next Wednesday at 8 p.m. Bill Macatee and Peter Kostis are the hosts, and the one-hour show includes an interview Macatee did with Tiger Woods. . . . Classic Sports Network will have a Masters marathon, featuring past tournaments, all next week. . . . “USA Tuesday Night Fights” will end Aug. 25 after a 17-year run. . . . Attention, UCLA basketball fans: PrepStar of Woodland Hills has produced a videotape on recruits who have committed to UCLA or are seriously considering the school. Information: (818) 225-7300.

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What Los Angeles Is Watching

A sampling of L.A. Nielsen ratings for March 28-30 : SATURDAY

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Event Ch. Rating Share College basketball: Kentucky vs. Stanford 2 9.7 24 College basketball: Utah vs. North Carolina 2 9.1 18 Pro basketball: Lakers at Utah 9 4.6 9 Tennis: Venus Williams vs. Anna Kournikova 2 4.5 13 Boxing: Jorge Paez vs. Juan Angel Macias 9 4.4 8 Golf: Players Championship 4 2.7 8 Auto racing: CART Budweiser 500 7 1.5 4 Golf: Nabisco Dinah Shore 7 1.1 3 Hockey: Mighty Ducks at Colorado 11 0.9 3

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SUNDAY

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Event Ch. Rating Share Distance running: L.A. Marathon 13 5.1 14 Pro basketball: San Antonio at Indiana 4 4.3 12 Golf: Players Championship 4 3.7 10 Golf: Nabisco Dinah Shore 7 1.3 3 Pro basketball: Dallas at Clippers 9 1.8 3 Tennis: Marcelo Rios vs. Andre Agassi 2 3.5 10 Soccer: Mexican League 34 1.7 5 Soccer: MLS, Columbus at Dallas 34 1.5 4

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MONDAY

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Event Ch. Rating Share College basketball, Kentucky vs. Utah 2 16.6 26

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Note: Each rating point represents 50,092 L.A. households.