10 Questions with ... Nate Lundy

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• Started in radio at 16 at KFLY/KEJO in Corvallis, Oregon.
• Graduated from Oregon State and continued in Corvallis as KLOO AM & FM.
• Moved to Portland and KEX/KEWS as Assistant PD in 1998.
• In 2000, went to WSCC in Charleston, SC as PD.
• Then to WREC-AM/KWAM-AM in Memphis in 2001.
• In 2003 took the PD job at WOAI & KTKR in San Antonio.
• In 2007 went to EA SPORTS in Orlando as the head of Live Production.
• This week, returned to radio as PD of 104.3 The Fan in Denver.

1. What's bringing you back to radio? Why now, why Denver?

I'm a radio geek. Period. That's probably the quickest explanation I can give you. People who have been in the business for a long time probably know exactly what I mean. But, this opportunity was the ultimate combination of what I was hoping to do. A sports station, in a major sports town, with a company that believes in the format. Added to that is the fact that Denver is a great city and it is one that my family can enjoy. This opportunity was my own "perfect storm" and I would have been a fool to turn away from it.

2. What would you say you learned in your years at EA Sports about the differences and similarities between the video game and radio industries? What was your experience there like?

EA SPORTS was nearly three years for me and I think the similarities far outweigh the differences. You're talking about two industries who rely on the concepts of Cume and TSL, or Time Spent Playing you could say for the gaming industry. Both play into your overall success in both ratings and revenue. On top of that, you're talking about a fan base that is rabid. Madden NFL is an incredible video game franchise and one that I am proud to have been a part of. The fan base is intense, but can also be broken into categories based on how often someone plays the game and whether they buy every year's version, or only every few years. Take a look at that population as a PD and you see the similarities immediately. I think the differences that I experienced are less about "differences" and more about "leading or following." EA SPORTS is built, in part, on the concepts of the latest advances, interactive entertainment, and embracing new media and technology. They lead the way, rather than wait for others to lead and then follow. Traditional media is finally doing this, but not nearly soon enough and certainly not in a leadership role. Being a part of a company like EA that was trying new things and breaking down barriers is part of what drew me to them.

As for my experiences at EA SPORTS, I would not trade them for anything. There are brilliant people working there. I learned so much in the world of technology and new media opportunities. EA is also extremely active in social media and I am very pleased to have been able to be a part of that growth. In the coming months, you're going to see some of those strategies appear with The Fan.

3. Your new station is on FM, part of the growing trend of putting sports on FM. Your previous stations were AM stations. Are there any differences in your approach between doing the format on AM versus FM? Is the availability of younger listeners on FM as opposed to AM going to play any role in your thinking about future programming?

The audience potential is obviously larger on the FM. We all know that. But, sports radio, as a format with a distinctly-targeted demographic, belongs on the FM. I think, perhaps, that's your reference to the availability of younger listeners. As to a different approach, it could potentially appear as a different approach to outsiders, but I have always programmed talk stations with an energy and style that was not your stereotypical "AM station." So, I anticipate a very similar style to my approach as I have in the past.

4. The Fan doesn't have the local pro teams' game broadcasts. How important is having play-by-play in the mix for a sports station?

I'll be honest. I'm thrilled that The Fan has none of the professional play-by-play. Sports radio stations that are built as "The Home of ____" before they are built as an entertaining radio station are putting all their eggs in one basket. And, it's not even their own basket so they have zero control over it. The team could tank. They could go through continual losing seasons. The owner could want to buy his own station and take the rights away from you. The possibilities are endless and each one is completely out of the station's hands. But, if you have built your station to stand on its own, THEN decide that play-by-play is the right thing for your station, you're building on a foundation that is already rock solid. Your team affiliations are then able to be an enhancement, rather than a pillar of existence.

5. What do you look for in a sports talk show? What makes a good show?

First, entertain me. After that, entertain me. And when you're done with the first two steps, be sure to take time to entertain me. That's what I look for in a sports talk show. (Oh, you wanted a more detailed answer? Okay...) I want a show that reflects the market and the sports fans of that market. If I went to the sports bar around the corner and listened-in on the conversations, would I hear the same kinds of things there that I heard on your show? Are you just trying to be Jim Rome, Jr. or do you have your own personality? Did I laugh? Did I yell back at you? And in the end, did I hear enough to make me want to come back tomorrow? Next, I need to hear the fundamentals. As my good friend Gabe Hobbs would say, "Do you understand blocking and tackling?" Then, beyond that I pay a lot of attention to the other 21 hours out of the day. I want someone that recognizes the value of new media and interactive to extend the experience of their show beyond the broadcast. Sports fans don't only think about sports during afternoon drive, so as a listener can I interact with you beyond those three hours? That's vital to success.

6. You've been co-hosting a weekly fantasy football show on Fox Sports Radio for a few seasons. Do you see fantasy sports playing a greater role in daily sports talk moving forward? How much will fantasy concerns enter into the discussions of games and teams? Is it more or less germane to sports talk these days than the betting angle?

The Fantasy Football show started as a local show in San Antonio and just grew from there. I knew there was an audience for it by simply looking around me at friends, colleagues, and listening to guys talk at the local bar. The popularity of the NFL is what drives the Fantasy Football market around the country. It's also a remarkably simple concept, meaning anyone can play. Basketball, baseball, college football, golf, even NASCAR and Hockey all have fantasy angles, but in the end the NFL reigns supreme. Is it a daily part of the station? Only if it is done in a way that recognizes the balance between the Fantasy perspective and the actual NFL gameplay. When I'm talking on Sunday morning about the potential of Kurt Warner as a starting Fantasy quarterback, I'm not just discussing whether he's going to get your Fantasy team points... I'm dissecting his performance on the field. You can't have one without the other. I've heard people say that Fantasy sports has killed football. On the contrary... my 8-year-old plays fantasy football and it has helped him understand the sport and become a HUGE NFL fan.

7. Now that you're not working in the gaming business, which video game is your favorite? Which one do you most enjoy playing, whether you worked on it or not?

EA's football games, both Madden NFL and NCAA Football are both spectacular. I love Tiger Woods on the Wii. But, to answer your question, I think Call of Duty is the best game that I've played. However, the game I enjoy playing the most is Rock Band. I can't play a real instrument to save my life, but I have a blast firing up the XBOX 360 and rockin' out.

8. While you're from Oregon, you've been down south for a long time, most recently in Orlando. What are you looking forward to the most about moving to Denver? What do you anticipate the biggest adjustment will be?

It's colder than *&^% here. That's the biggest adjustment. I mean, seriously, people in Orlando think 60 is cold. They panic and stores sell out of electric blankets. With all the time I've spent living in the south, I was rapidly becoming one of those people. So that's the biggest adjustment. But, Denver is a great city. The mountains are beautiful and it's nice to have that kind of scenery again. Florida is so flat that Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain are the tallest mountains.

9. How important is a station's online presence? What should a station be doing on its website, and should it be treated as an adjunct to the on-air product or a separate entity?

On a scale of 1 to 10, it's 1000. I sort of hinted at this earlier, but to me the station's interactive plan (not just a website, but pure interactive) is what each show is for the other 21 hours of the day. It's an opportunity to share with your audience what they may have missed, which many stations do well. But, it's also a chance to share with them all the things that didn't make it into the show.

When I was in San Antonio, we used to do a web segment (and for those sales managers reading this, yes we sold it) that was simply my hosts doing 5 to 10 minutes on a topic that they didn't have time for on the air, or that for whatever reason they chose to not make into a segment that day. It wasn't simply a replay of part of the show, it was something you didn't hear on the air. So, when you ask whether it should be an adjunct to the on-air or a separate entity, I think your interactive presence has to be a combination of the two. My on-air is limited to 24 hours a day. My interactive has no limits. That means I can fit in my on-air and still have room to grow.

10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?

The best advice I ever got comes from my partner in the M.V.P. Sports Imaging package, Gabe Hobbs who 10 years ago told me to never stop looking for two things: The next great host and your replacement. Building the future of media, whether on the mic or behind the scenes, should be a goal of everyone in this business.

The worst advice I received came from someone who I won't call out by name here. But, the advice was, "Stop trying to be different. Follow the formula and you'll succeed." Sure, you can learn from the past. But, stop trying to be different? That's the advice that got radio into the new media trouble it's in right now.