Cumulus buys WFME 94.7

[chrocket87]

I think country and/or active rock make the most sense. Do we expect a major morning show or will it be a "more music" type of format?

If it's country, I'd expect a morning show. Any sort of rock will likely be a syndicated show or all music mornings. That's what I've found from Cumulus stations of the two formats.

[erwin33]

I guess that 94.7 becomes a music station, not (sport)talk. But country is very unlikely, NYC isn't a country city offcourse. Maybe alternative with the lack of RXP in november, it would be great.

[secondchoice]

Sports on 770, current WABC on the "new" FM and WPLJ stays the same (for now).

[mjb1124]

Really hoping for Alternative on 94.7.   Considering the traction that New Rock 101.9 gained so quickly, I really think it would be the right way to go.   If not, country or dance would also be good to see.   I just want to see a music format that's not found elsewhere on the dial.

[XCountry285]

I say Alternative has to be the way to go. RXP has to return or some form of it

[EJM]

They don't add much more in the way of details, but just in case, here are some additional items...

http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=2553473&spid=32061#.UH16Fm9G9WI

http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n25695

http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/79293/cumulus-acquires-94-7-wfme-new-york

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2012/10/16/cumulus-to-buy-new-yorks-wfme-fm.html

As Mr. Venta notes, Cumulus already owns WMAS-FM, which is also on 94.7.  Therefore, there might be some signal adjustments in the works.

[Rollo-Smokes]

It's easy to speculate what Cumulus would do with 94.7 FM.  Some off-the-cuff options...

A. Country: not a chance in heck.

B. Rock -- active, alternative, or anything current: see above.

C. a WABC AM/FM simulcast: a possibility, but with the struggles that Cumulus has with the WMAL AM/FM simulcast down in Washington, not to mention the trend away from conservative talk, I'm not sure about that one.

D. CBS Sports Radio: an even bigger possibility.  Perhaps that talk about 660 breaking away from the WFAN AM/FM simulcast to run the new network was nothing more than a smokescreen.  This implies that perhaps CBS knew something was in the air, thus spurring them to make the move to buy 101.9 when they did.

Now, for the fallout...losing Family Radio programming on FM is no huge loss, but what if they plan to use the cash and look for an AM station to replace WFME, like they did recently in Philadelphia?  Someone mentioned perhaps WLIB or WWRL, however I think a sale of either will cause a bit of an uproar in the African-American community. What about, say, WSNR or any of the Multicultural stations (WPAT, WZRC, or WNSW)?  Or, here's a really wild wild-card - WNYC?

Furthermore, what happens with WFME-TV, which is now even more of a stand-alone operation as Family's only television station and (pending final approval of the FM sale) the ministry's only NYC property.  Then again, with 1) no NYC cable presence; 2) an OTA signal that is practically invisible in the city; and 3) less-than-compelling programing, it's like they don't exist anyway.

No matter what happens, it is obvious that Cumulus will have to do some major improvements to the 94.7 signal in order to make it worth the cost.

All eyes are now focused on WBAI, the last independently-owned commercial FM in New York that hasn't changed hands in the past half-century.  If the Pacifica Foundation wants to get the most bang for their buck while they still can, they'd better make moves soon.

[secondchoice]

Now, for the fallout...losing Family Radio programming on FM is no huge loss, but what if they plan to use the cash and look for an AM station to replace WFME?  

Well CBS might have to get rid of a station in NYC*.  1010?

*They might have found a loophole, but if not either a sale or trust is coming soon for one of the NYC properties. 

[Marckd]

Maybe True Oldies Channel on 94.7??? Enabling CBS to shut down CBS FM 2 the Sequel?

[carolinaradio]

WABC on FM would be stupid.  Is conservative talk really viable enough to put on FM on that signal?  I don't think so.

It would be interesting if, whatever the format may be, the station could have the WABC-FM calls.