CBS loves NOW $75 million worth

[whatsnew3000]

CBS loves NOW $75 million worth

As it was just announced, CBS Radio got into a major deal to buy WRXP for $75 million so its prime sports radio station has a radio home on FM. It is shocking to understand why CBS Radio would invest $75 million dollars on a station format on FM in NYC that has still yet to see the fruit of its labor as in WEPN-FM (98.7). What is also shocking is why WFAN was not flipped at WXRK which is still WXRK after 3+ years as 92.3 NOW. Yes, I've been a major supporter for NOW, but when hasn't NOW been responsible for creating a better pop station that can be consistent. It is shocking that CBS believes in going against corporate-iHeart-whatever-30 year old Z-100 that they spent $75 million to get another FM channel.

All I'm saying is: if CBS spent this much on a new station to put on its roster, I can only imagine what they can or will do for NOW. A few ideas would include laying off the urban flow and mix a bit of rock or mirror the Z-100 playlist. Instead of doing it 70%, do it 100%. A big idea would be to purchase Pulse and put it back on FM at 92.3, but given the money CBS has spent it's highly unlikely they'll do that and it'd look awful to not have a pop station on their roster.

Any thoughts?

[TimeIsTight]

In this case buying another license is more about owning the FM license long-term than it is about preserving any current format on any of the stations in the cluster.

Good NYC FM signals are rarely for sale, and CBS is making the move when it has the opportunity.  This purchase means one existing CBS signal has to go, and that likely will be WINS.  But, the successful WINS format will stay, we'll have to see if it winds up on 660-AM, or on 92.3-FM when all is said and done.

CBS is most likely interested in keeping its two TV licenses, and having as many FM licenses as allowed. That means an AM has to go, and WINS will be that AM for a variety of reasons.  But having one CBS all news on FM and one on AM is one scenario that would allow the new CBS Sports Network to be carried on 660.  Another scenario might have someone else, or an independent trust, own WINS and then pick up the CBS Sports Network as a full-time affiliate.   WINS news format would then move to 660 and everything else would stay the same.

[RBRadioWaves]

Who said WXRK was staying? That station might wind up being the one getting sold off.

[radioguy39nj]

IMHO, this is all part of CBS' plan to move its sports and news brands to FM.  To do this, they needed a 4th NY FM.  If anyone thinks 92.3 is untouchable with WFAN on 101.9, think again.  One of the news stations could land on 92.3.  WXRK remains CBS' lowest rated NY FM.

[Bob1370]

They could be thinking of selling 1010 AM (their most limited AM signal), moving WINS to 660, keeping WCBS-AM where it is at 880, moving the FAN to FM exclusively and thus staying within their limit for the market.

92.3, 101.1, 101.9 and 102.7 will all stay within the CBS portfolio as well.

Who would a new owner for 1010 be, and what would they do with it? My guess is someone with an existing AM with an even more restricted pattern will get it. Best case scenario might be for a new entrant to the market to  bring an interesting new secular spoken-word format, next best wouold be for WNYC to get it and upgrade its AM service over what it can now do on 820. More likely scenario is that someone like Salem starts a preach-for-pay station, further devaluing the AM band as a whole. 

[radioguy39nj]

They could be thinking of selling 1010 AM (their most limited AM signal), moving WINS to 660, keeping WCBS-AM where it is at 880, moving the FAN to FM exclusively and thus staying within their limit for the market.

92.3, 101.1, 101.9 and 102.7 will all stay within the CBS portfolio as well.

IMHO, CBS' plan for 660 is for it to become the flagship for the new CBS Sports Radio Network.  This would follow the model in Philadelphia and Detroit.  On 1/1/13, when CBS SR goes 24/7, WIP (610 AM) Philadelphia and WXYT (1270 AM) Detroit will broadcast the new network full-time.  Live and local sports will remain on WIP-FM and WXYT-FM.

The same scenario will happen in NY eventually, CBS SR on 660 AM and 101.9 The Fan.

[Kevin L. Sealy]

We're all speculating about what would CBS Radio do with one of their existing AM properties, since there's an FCC limit on the number of radio/TV stations a broadcasting could own in a major market. In New York the limit is eight, and the purchase of WRXP 101.9 would put CBS over the eight limit.

If the sale is approved by the FCC, what AM station would CBS put up for sale and some are speculating the 1010 AM frequency.

I'm not a radio expert;I'm just another poster to this board. But It's unlikely that CBS would sell the 660 or even the 880 frequencies.





Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

[XCountry285]

Dance ain't happening. Rock was killed off after it was doing EXTREMELY WELL! A heck of a lot better than Pulse ever did. We're getting rock back first here in NYC, then country, then MAYBE dance. There are NO STATIONS playing alternative. You get your dance fix on 92.3 & KTU. You are fine. At least you have something that supports you. We rock listeners will have NOTHING as will country listeners! What if the FCC doesn't approve this sale?

[Mike]

they are not going to Move WINS to 660 they need that spot for the National sports network coming in January 1st

im thinking WINS goes to 92.3 And 1010 gets sold off

[XCountry285]

I'm hoping that 94.7 or 99.5 becomes Alternative.