Answers to the 10 most commonly asked questions about Gamecock IMG Sports Network radio broadcasts. Thanks for listening!
-Andy Demetra, "Voice of the Gamecocks"/Director of Broadcasting, Gamecock IMG Sports Network
1.) Where can I listen to the game in [my town here]?
We keep our affiliate list for all sports here.
2.) What if I live in an area that doesn't carry Gamecock baseball? Can I listen to games on my computer?
Yes! By subscribing to Gamecock All-Access. A subscription to Gamecock All-Access lets you watch all South Carolina home baseball games that aren't televised, with the Gamecock IMG Sports Network radio call underneath. It also lets you listen to the live radio broadcasts of all Gamecock road games.
3.) Can I listen on my local station's online stream? What if I have a TuneIn, IHeartRadio, or other radio listening app?
No. Our affiliates only own the terrestrial radio rights. IMG College owns the streaming radio rights. As part of their contract, all affiliates must disable their live streaming devices during South Carolina football, basketball, and baseball broadcasts. That includes any TuneIn, IHeartRadio, or other apps.
4.) Can I listen to games on my tablet or mobile phone?
Yes! Gamecocks Online has an official app in the iTunes store and Android Marketplace which allows you to stream broadcasts over your phone or tablet. The app itself is free to download, but the live content requires a premium subscription ($4.95/month, $19.99/year for iPhone, e.g.).
Search "South Carolina Gamecocks" in the iPhone or iPad Apps category of the iTunes store.
While it costs less than a Gamecock All-Access subscription, please note: a subscription for your phone/tablet does not give you video. Also, depending on your cell phone's bandwidth, your audio stream may be more sensitive to buffering. A subscription to the Gamecocks Online app is separate from a subscription to Gamecock All-Access.
Gamecock All-Access and the Gamecocks Online app are managed by CBS Interactive, Inc., The Gamecock IMG Sports Network does not have control over the availability, reliability, or sound quality of these streams. Some things we can control from the booth; unfortunately, this isn't one of them!
5.) How can I sync up the radio with the TV?
Because of differences in satellite transmission times, as well as our own FCC-required 7-second delay, our radio call will not always match up to the TV feed. There are devices you can buy, such as SportSync, that will even out the delay. Other than that, your best bet to fix it is trial-and-error.
6.) Why do certain stations carry all Gamecock baseball games, while some only carry SEC and post-season games?
Some stations don't have the ability to run a full, 56-game broadcast schedule. This could be due to scheduling conflicts, staffing concerns, or local programming restrictions. To still maintain a Gamecock presence in their market, a station may elect to carry only SEC and post-season series.
Beginning in 2012, the Gamecock IMG Sports Network has made all of our baseball broadcasts available "network-wide" when they don't conflict with basketball. Essentially, our stations have a greater opportunity than ever before to pick and choose their schedules. As always, it's best to contact your local station to find out whether a particular game will air.
If you live in an area that doesn't carry Gamecock football, basketball, or baseball broadcasts - or if your local station doesn't carry a full schedule - you can always approach them. Community groundswell tends to make things happen, especially if there are local businesses that may be interested in sponsoring the extra coverage.
7.) Why don't you have a station in my hometown?
Let's say you live in Raleigh, North Carolina. Why doesn't a station there carry Gamecock football? Simply put, there aren't enough Gamecock fans in Raleigh - and enough advertisers who want to target them -- to justify a station carrying the games.
Each year, our IMG College Affiliate Relations team travels to every market in South Carolina, trying to line up new affiliates and renew our existing ones. We always strive for 100% coverage. However, for the same reasons listed above - scheduling conflicts, staffing concerns, or other programming obligations - in certain markets, no station may be willing to invest in becoming a Gamecock Radio Network affiliate.
8.) But I live in an area that has an affiliate station listed. Why can't I hear the game?
You may have an affiliate station that's designated for your market, but its signal doesn't reach your home. A station's signal is sometimes stronger in one direction than another.
Also, AM radio stations have different signal strengths in the daytime and nighttime. By law, they have to "power down" their signal at night. Thus, you may be able to hear Gamecock baseball broadcasts during the day, but can't pick it up once the sun sets.
9.) If a Gamecock basketball game or coaches' show airs at the same time as a Gamecock baseball game, why do stations have to carry the basketball game/coaches' show?
Inevitably, conflicts arise during the fall (when football and basketball overlap) and early Spring (when basketball and baseball overlap).
As part of our radio agreement, the sport with more affiliates statewide always takes priority. Currently, we have more basketball affiliates (21) than baseball affiliates (13). In fairness to our affiliates -- and the sponsors who count on them -- we have to offer on our satellite channel the sport that's carried by more of our stations. It's a common industry protocol, and from an ethical and business standpoint, it's the right thing to do.
We also defer to the "ongoing" sport. A late-season conference game should, and will, take precedence over an early-season non-conference game. Wins and losses do not factor into this decision. It's about staying consistent with our affiliates and our sponsors' expectations.
Please note: this does not shut you out of listening to your desired game! You can still subscribe to Gamecock All-Access or buy the Gamecocks Online iTunes or Android listening app.
10.) Can I listen to the baseball game on XM?
For selected conference games only. XM has three dedicated SEC channels (199-201), which makes carrying every South Carolina game impossible. After all, we have to share those channels with 13 other SEC schools. Each week, XM selects the games that it carries. We will notify you when they decide to pick up a South Carolina broadcast (they usually make the decision early in the week). You can also check their programming schedule on siriusxm.com.
