Cumulus buys WFME 94.7

[yossefgershon]

No one thought about 105.5/106.3/94.7 KICK!!!!!!

[luperm]

Why not just a directional antenna on the ESB with a null to the east and NE...?
Or they can move it to 4TS or the new WTC when it's done...with a directional antenna.

It doesn't have to be at the very top of the building (master antenna)
it can be rooftop level, about 200-300 feet below the other signals...

I know there's little or no room for a DA at the ESB but theres plenty of room at 4TS for this kinda thing, no?

Can't be done as 94.7 would then be short spaced to 94.3 on LI. That can't be mitigated by a DA.

[ansky212]

No one thought about 105.5/106.3/94.7 KICK!!!!!!

That would be an interesting concept if they simulcasted Kicks Country on all 3 stations.  It could work considering 105.5/106.3 cover areas in Westchester/Putnam counties where 94.7 is weakest in terms of signal strength.

[Barry]

I really like Kicks 105.5/106.3, as it has live DJ's, and plays a good mix of current and older country songs.
But I do not think it would make sense to simulcast it on 94.7, as the station is programmed for the Danbury CT and Westchester County areas, not NJ or NYC.
If WFME goes country, it should have its own programming, probably focusing on NJ.

[Zach]

Since everyone and their grandmothers have gotten in on this, I might as well, too.

I really think there's something to the concept of Cumulus wooing Pacifica for WBAI.  It would solve two problems at once and give both what they want — Pacifica a virtually market-wide signal with a lower bill and Cumulus a city-centre signal. 

As for formats, Cumulus is cheap but maybe there's a glimmer of hope that they realize they gotta spend to play in the big sandbox?  Younger-skewing speech programming appeals, especially if they stick with the current WFME signal, but so does country.  If they could swap for 99.5 I would think music would make a bigger impact. Country, or dare I agree with everyone else, alt. rock of some type.  Oldies is probably a no-go.  Yeah, we love Shannon's pet project but it skews to the one foot in the grave demographics and I don't think NYC would be any different.

Again though, that 99.5/94.7 swap really sounds like a much easier way into the city proper than a complex and costly move-in scenario that depends on bribing your competition.

[stationless listener]

If the 94.7 signal were to be moved into the city (and we've been down that road explaining why that's almost impossible under current FCC rules) it almost guarantees another chr/urban/female/talk format for that station. For some reason, city folk are allergic to any other format, especially the national buyers. As much as some love the idea of a signal swap, I think they may not like the result of such an action.

Using the current location I can get the fringe benefit of hearing a station that isn't programmed to city audiences. I'd even tolerate some country, provided it's not too yokel for my taste. However, my preference would be alt rock, dance or music similar to what's heard on NJ101.5 during the weekends but for every day.

Hope they don't screw it up.

[ansky212]

I really like Kicks 105.5/106.3, as it has live DJ's, and plays a good mix of current and older country songs.
But I do not think it would make sense to simulcast it on 94.7, as the station is programmed for the Danbury CT and Westchester County areas, not NJ or NYC.
If WFME goes country, it should have its own programming, probably focusing on NJ.

Or perhaps 94.7 becomes the main station and 105.5/106.3 simulcast 94.7. I don't know that it makes sense for Cumulus to operate 2 separate country stations in the same market, even with 105.5/106.3 being on the fringe of WFME's coverage area.

[HHH]

If WBAI is also sold, I would like to see 94.7 go alternative and 99.5 go country.

Pacifica would NEVER sell WBAI without an exchange for another signal.   Never. 

Not impossible that Cumulus would (as mentioned) swap 94.7 with 99.5 for some much needed cash to Pacifica, possibly with Pacifica also getting a 99.5 HD2 channel in the deal.

But, who knows?  The Pacifica crew have turned down truckloads of money for that frequency in the past.

Although, the past is the past.  They are in (reportedly) worse financial shape than ever, PLUS will they still get big bucks for 99.5 in the future?

A sale/lease makes the most sense, but they are liberals, and, well...

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

They aren't "liberals".  They are anarchists, iconoclasts and gadflies!

[Markd]

My guess will be Rock. In fact I think the best guess is 94.7 will take the intellectual WRXP unit and move it to 94.7 from CBS. I think CBS will lilkley offer this format to Cumulus. Whether Cumulus accepts? Unknown. But that is my top guess - logic - 94.7 is semi suburban. Their signal is still excellent in Manhattan and still good to trhe east - just not quite as far as the rest to the east. Their signal to the west is a bit better though. One station that would be hurt possibly - Heritage Rock station WDHA - Still I feel there is room for both and I do not think that a WDHA listener will leave that station all that quick. At very least 94.7 will be the second favorite station for rock fans. 94.7 will take some listeners from WDHA but also from Q 104. WDHA buys the Morris COunty book twice a year and with a rock format 94.7 will fare well.

Another guess is Country. The fact 94.7's signal drifts slightly west could make them a better fit for that than other FM stations. Country will guarantee them an upper 2 to low 3 share in new York but for New Jersey markets like Somerset and Morris - they will skyrocket to at least the top 5 overall. Plus Country will be an excellent sell for New Jersey based businesses and could make up for what they may not take from Manhatan.

True Oldies Channel might be another option - hey their Chicago station on 94.7 coincidentally has this format overnights and a local oldies format during the day. That could work if CBS FM 2.0 was not doing so well. That also could be an option - CBS sells Cumulus CBS FM's intelelctual unit. It moves to 94.7 fine tuned slightly and for overnights True Oldies Channel. That move is unlikely. CBS FM the Sequel is doing far too well at this point. I also see maybe just the automated True Oldies channel on 94.7 with no staff. Would hurt CBS FM - Overall though I give this maybe a 5 % chance. I doubt Cumulus will go after a successful product on 101.1. Plus demos are too old.

Sports I think is least likely - The national CBS Sports Network would go to WFAN 660 likely and the local version to one of CBS's FM stations - probably 101.9.

News is unlikely after its fiasco on 101.9

Another hole is Urban AC but Cumulus is not known for such a format. I also hear rumors that Spanish Broadcasting System is considering an English speaking Urban AC format for WPAT FM 93.1. The Spanish AC there is failing miserably so SBS may well consider that station for english programming again.

Talk from WABC is unlikely as well.

[XCountry285]

Alternative or Rock Most likely I think will occur considering the success of RXP 2.0
Hopefully with 94.7 as alternative, whoever buys 99.5 can flip it to country and 103.5 can go dance.
ANY format can work in NYC IF programmed CORRECTLY! Don't say NYC isn't a rock market or a country or a dance market. If done right it can work. There is no format hole for Urban A/C 107.5 has that covered fine. Plus Hot 97 covers a bit of it.