WFAN to 101.9

[liradioisbad]

Richard Sandomir ‏of the New York Times just tweeted this:

WFAN will move to FM 101.9 in mid-Nov. as per CBS station purchase. `FAN will stay at 660 AM until new format is chosen. To be clear...new WFAN-FM will be simulcast on AM and FM until 660AM gets new format. This follows ESPN's NY migration to FM

I can't believe they're doing it, especially with 98.7's struggles. And there goes modern rock in NYC again 

[liradioisbad]

Apparently the word on the street is that this is happening since the Yankees are demanding to be on FM. So I guess that means the Mets end up on 98.7 in 2014.

And All Access says the reporting price for 101.9 is $75 million.

[Theater of My Mind]

Pretty sad, it was the best sounding NYC rock station to come along in years, even being run by remote control.

Now what wil CBS do about the ownership cap?

[GooberVision]

...and will CBS put rock back on 92.3 with all of this? Seems logical, but we all know logic isn't always in some of these companies best interests. Haha! 

[radioguy39nj]

To acquire 101.9 or any other NY FM, CBS must divest one property.  Currently, CBS is maxed out in NY.  The question is what will CBS unload or spin off to get within ownership limits.  The possibilities have been debated on this board many times.  Does Sandomir have any idea which property CBS will unload? 

IMHO, when WFAN goes to FM, it will be replaced on 660 by CBS Sports Radio, which goes 24/7 on 1/1/13.  This is CBS' grand plan, the model based on Philadelphia and Detroit, live and local sports talk on FM, the national network and overflow games on AM.  No doubt, CBS wants its national sports network on a 50 kW non-D blaster in market #1.

[GooberVision]

...and will CBS put rock back on 92.3 with all of this? 92.3 NOW is an underperforming CHR going against Z100. Seems logical, but we all know logic isn't always in some of these companies best interests. Haha! 

Here's the official news on it:

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/111125/merlin-sells-wrxp-new-york-to-cbs?ref=mail_bulletin

[reelyreal]

I wouldn't be one bit surprised to see one station placed into a "divesture trust" indefinitely.

[liradioisbad]

I'm gonna guess 660 will be sold.

The Mike Francesa YES account is alluding to Francesa making the announcement official in a matter of moments.

[EJM]

Just in case, the original tweets are at https://twitter.com/RichSandomir/status/255344657494593537 (first) and https://twitter.com/RichSandomir/status/255344860196900865 (second).

Mr. Venta has since tweeted about that $75-million price tag, at https://twitter.com/radioinsight/status/255352303459123200.

[Mike D]

I wonder if this sale could include trading 1010AM to Merlin?  It would give them another shot at news, but on an established frequency.