Looking Forward

[sevelev711]

Holy **** that goes so hard, I might actually get that.

[Wxcpanther]

Holy **** that goes so hard, I might actually get that.

Already sold otherwise I was gonna bid :/

[PantherAlum09]

Not sure what to make of this information, but the Panther Collective website is expired.

[sevelev711]

It's back up now

[sivert]

It's back up now

I sent them a bunch of money and also for the team’s sake I’m glad to hear it.

[Newsbreaker]

Panther Radio moves from KXEL/Woodward to Mix 93.5/Coloff Media.

https://unipanthers.com/news/2023/7/14/general-uni-athletics-announces-comprehensive-broadcast-agreement-with-coloff-media.aspx?fbclid=IwAR09G5myspHJpxB1Fqp0N194lcp6hHbtvQNPkqY0gNtOH1lMp7vOU59N6uw

Everything old is new again. The history I was told, by someone who should know, is Coloff's AM station (probably 1250, at the time, IIRC), was broadcasting UNI games, but it was a one-off agreement. There was no "network" so to speak. UNI wanted to build something, and Coloff put forwards an unimpressive bid.

Almost last minute, they approached the then-local owners of 92.3 KOEL, and asked them to make a bid, with a wink-wink that a bid was likely to be accepted. They did, and their local sports director at KOEL-AM in Oelwein was one Gary Rima. The rest, as they say, is history.

KOEL, through three different owners, ran it until the late 90s, give or take. Then it moved to Learfield, who shop around the local rights.


Coloff is the only radio operator bothering with a real Waterloo/Cedar Falls operation, at this point, so it's probably just about UNI's only realistic option.

[BCPanther]

Panther Radio moves from KXEL/Woodward to Mix 93.5/Coloff Media.

https://unipanthers.com/news/2023/7/14/general-uni-athletics-announces-comprehensive-broadcast-agreement-with-coloff-media.aspx?fbclid=IwAR09G5myspHJpxB1Fqp0N194lcp6hHbtvQNPkqY0gNtOH1lMp7vOU59N6uw

Everything old is new again. The history I was told, by someone who should know, is Coloff's AM station (probably 1250, at the time, IIRC), was broadcasting UNI games, but it was a one-off agreement. There was no "network" so to speak. UNI wanted to build something, and Coloff put forwards an unimpressive bid.

Almost last minute, they approached the then-local owners of 92.3 KOEL, and asked them to make a bid, with a wink-wink that a bid was likely to be accepted. They did, and their local sports director at KOEL-AM in Oelwein was one Gary Rima. The rest, as they say, is history.

KOEL, through three different owners, ran it until the late 90s, give or take. Then it moved to Learfield, who shop around the local rights.


Coloff is the only radio operator bothering with a real Waterloo/Cedar Falls operation, at this point, so it's probably just about UNI's only realistic option.

Honestly with the move to streaming and Varsity App existing, I don't think it's a huge deal that KXEL wanted out (and a year early to boot). They've gone even more hard core right wing talk radio and I can't imagine there was much crossover in their audience between that and sports. NRG had also completely stopped promoting UNI broadcasts on their other stations. The ideal scenario would have been getting NRG to make 105.7 the flagship but there was zero chance of that happening.

Coloff will put a ton into UNI and they just filed to build a new 25,000 watt tower outside of Dunkerton that will greatly increase their coverage area. Having a full time dedicated outlet for volleyball and women's basketball is a good deal too.

[Wxcpanther]

Honestly with the move to streaming and Varsity App existing, I don't think it's a huge deal that KXEL wanted out (and a year early to boot). They've gone even more hard core right wing talk radio and I can't imagine there was much crossover in their audience between that and sports. NRG had also completely stopped promoting UNI broadcasts on their other stations. The ideal scenario would have been getting NRG to make 105.7 the flagship but there was zero chance of that happening.

Coloff will put a ton into UNI and they just filed to build a new 25,000 watt tower outside of Dunkerton that will greatly increase their coverage area. Having a full time dedicated outlet for volleyball and women's basketball is a good deal too.

How far would a 25k watt tower stretch, roughly speaking?

[BCPanther]

How far would a 25k watt tower stretch, roughly speaking?

Assuming it's directionless (not pointed in any certain direction but a full radius) you'd be looking at 40 miles in all directions with a chance to get another 10 or 15 after dark.

These games are also going to be simulcast on KCHA 103.3 which blankets NE Iowa pretty well out of Charles City.

Learfield has put big money into the Varsity App and that's where a lot of schools our size are going to end up.

[not a drake fan]

If UNI games are going to be on Varsity app, that would be amazing. Loved that during the NCAA baseball tournament, it made it so easy to go find broadcasts of games and it's a smooth app, very user friendly.

In other news, saw that an NCAA committee is looking in to expanding the tournament to 80. This would be a big deal and imo it wouldn't water the tournament down at all. A lot of quality teams that are good enough to win a game or two are being left out. We'll see how that would play out over time, I'm sure most of those are still going to go to P6, but it would make it a lot easier to stay in a difference like the Valley if you are a coach like Brian Wardle or Devries.

[orangetennis]

If UNI games are going to be on Varsity app, that would be amazing. Loved that during the NCAA baseball tournament, it made it so easy to go find broadcasts of games and it's a smooth app, very user friendly.

In other news, saw that an NCAA committee is looking in to expanding the tournament to 80. This would be a big deal and imo it wouldn't water the tournament down at all. A lot of quality teams that are good enough to win a game or two are being left out. We'll see how that would play out over time, I'm sure most of those are still going to go to P6, but it would make it a lot easier to stay in a difference like the Valley if you are a coach like Brian Wardle or Devries.

96 would be better, with top 8 seeds in each region getting a "bye" in the first round. Honestly they should just go to 128 to make the math easier. That way essentially every P6 team gets in and pretty much every regular season champ and tourney champ. But they'll never do that because it'd make conference tournaments meaningless.

[BCPanther]

96 would be better, with top 8 seeds in each region getting a "bye" in the first round. Honestly they should just go to 128 to make the math easier. That way essentially every P6 team gets in and pretty much every regular season champ and tourney champ. But they'll never do that because it'd make conference tournaments meaningless.

TV is ultimately going to make that choice. Networks need all the content they can get to try to keep people subscribing so whatever method gets them an extra weekend is where they'll go.

The best solution, that will never happen, is to shrink DI to the FBS plus A10, Ivy, Valley and WCC and put all 170ish teams in the tournament.

[Newsbreaker]

Assuming it's directionless (not pointed in any certain direction but a full radius) you'd be looking at 40 miles in all directions with a chance to get another 10 or 15 after dark.

These games are also going to be simulcast on KCHA 103.3 which blankets NE Iowa pretty well out of Charles City.

Learfield has put big money into the Varsity App and that's where a lot of schools our size are going to end up.

Assuming it's KCVM (Mix 93.5) upgrading from 11,000 watts to 25,000 watts, that a pretty sizable upgrade. FM signals aren't directional.

The FCC expects about a 30mi radius from their tower today, which reaches approximately from Manchester to Iowa Falls (your results likely vary).




On that map, you'd expect to easily get the station inside the purple ring, indoors. Outside that, it's likely car-only, or with a messy signal.

There aren't any 25,000 watt stations in Waterloo or Cedar Rapids. They're uncommon in this area; we live in the land of 100,000 watt blowtorches.

KXNO 106.3 is 25,000 watts, in Des Moines, to give you some vague basis of comparison (tower height also matters, and I can't find their application for an upgrade). I'd guess it will add another 20-30 miles on each end. It's a lot, and I'd guess it'll get their city-grade (the purple ring) just to the outside of Cedar Rapids.

[CyCarp]

What wattage is KXEL? In Dubuque, it's kind of hit and miss, but I could usually get it in pretty well. Haven't tried since basketball season was over though. Sounds like this won't be as widespread?

[BCPanther]

What wattage is KXEL? In Dubuque, it's kind of hit and miss, but I could usually get it in pretty well. Haven't tried since basketball season was over though. Sounds like this won't be as widespread?

50,000 but AM signal travels much better than FM, especially at night.