Which AM Station Might Be Available to Family Radio?

[Barry]

In an article today in Inside Radio, an executive of the firm that helped arranged the sale of WFME 94.7, indicated it is likely Family Radio will look to purchase a local AM station to continue their programming in this area.
Which one seems like a good candidate? Most of the stronger signals, such as 660 or 1010 are probably not for sale anytime soon. WNSR is apparently still for sale, but has a horrendous signal in most directions. WWRL also has a signal that is also very bad.
WLIB is considerably better, but may be paying its way with its gospel programming. Many of the ethnic stations on the upper end of the dial also have reception issues.
It seems unlikely that WNYC AM would be for sale, as it is used part of the day for NPR shows that don't fit into WNYC FM's schedule.
Might Salem be willing to sell WMCA 570, or WWDJ 970 AM? Those two stations have some of the better signals among the lower rated local AM's.

[secondchoice]

Unless they have found a loophole of my math is incorrect, CBS will have an "extra" signal to put in a trust or sell.  Would WINS work on 660 or would they lose their NYC focus trying to cover the whole market a suffer ratings wise?  In the 1010 pattern (which ratings wise works for WINS) who has the stronger signal 1010 or 660?  I personally would would keep 660 just because it is a simpler operation technically but I do not get to make the decision.

[WNTIRadio]

There's always the Multicultural stations... 930 etc. 

CBS is going to do EVERYTHING it can to hold on to all of the radio properties.  WINS isn't going anywhere, it's one of the top billers in the entire country. 

[luperm]

CBS does not plan to dispose of anything in the NY market.

I doubt Multicultural would either.  Their stations are all brokered time and probably generate some nice cash flow.
Same goes for Salem and WMCA.  AM 970 is running some of Salem's in house talkers.  Not sure if they'd want to part with that.

WWRL and WLIB seem to be the most likely candidates to me.  WFAS-AM and WMTR seem like possible longshots.

Would Family Radio be dumb enough to buy AM 620?

WNYC? Maybe...if they could get their hands on 91.5 FM...
What about the old NJN radio stations?  I bet they could be had on the cheap.

[Giacomo Siffredi]

Despite all the talk regarding AM's imminent demise, very few AM licensees will surrender a cash cow.

I think it's safe to say that - pending a favorable decision on their recent application from the fcc - all of CBS's AM stations are off the market.

Multicultural Broadcasting (MCRB) has several such cash cows, however, due to their financial issues, may be open to a sale of one of their stations. In that case, WNSW Newark (1430AM) which moved to the Clifton, NJ. site a few years ago might be under consideration. However, if MCRB maintains a package deal is required to effect a sale, I think that would rule out that possibility.

Emmis has recently been very open to liquidate their assets, so WLIB New York is another possibility. However, I wonder if there could be any backlash as this would be the second station programmed to the Black community that Emmis would effectively silence under such a deal...

As far as Cumulus, WFAS White Plains carries some of their owners' talk lineup which could be cleared on WABC New York eventually. I would say they could move some of this to the FM side given the recent trend, but they seem content with their John Tesh station This could be a 50/50 possibility.

Here's a guess from out of left-field: How about WVNJ Oakland?

[DavidEduardo]

Emmis has recently been very open to liquidate their assets, so WLIB New York is another possibility. However, I wonder if there could be any backlash as this would be the second station programmed to the Black community that Emmis would effectively silence under such a deal...

Emmis does not and never did own WLIB.

[TimeIsTight]

Multicultural Broadcasting (MCRB) has several such cash cows, however, due to their financial issues, may be open to a sale of one of their stations. In that case, WNSW Newark (1430AM) which moved to the Clifton, NJ.

WNSW 1430 may be the least likely of the Multicultural stations to be for sale.  For a couple of years it has been leased 24/7 to a major client with very deep pockets, the government of Russia.  The checks probably just roll in like clockwork with very little effort needed by Multicultural other than keeping the transmitters on and the audio feed connected.

Sure, "The Voice of Russia" could decide to move to a better signal in NYC, if it could find one, but these state supported international broadcasters have very different agendas, in terms of ratings and reach, than most commercial broadcasters do.

It seems supporting an international broadcasting service in English has become something many national governments have decided to add to their annual budgets permanently, although most seem to favor TV.  Japan's NHK News in English is a basic channel on my cable system thanks to it paying to be carried on a digital channel of WRNN-TV in the Hudson Valley.   Meanwhile, the BBC, France 24, Germany's DV, and Voice of Russia are among the state supported broadcasters that offer TV news in English 24/7.  And there are many others that offer the same kind of English language service for several hours each day.   These countries see these services as important to their international image.  The Voice of Russia has decided it wants to be on the radio in international capitals like NYC and Washington DC 24/7, and that lease with Multicultural is likely as solid as any commercial radio revenue stream could be. 

In simple business terms, that station is a cash cow keeper for Multicultural.

[WNTIRadio]

What about the old NJN radio stations?  I bet they could be had on the cheap

Too late.  WNYC already bought everything from Trenton north and WHYY bought the rest in south Jersey.

[ai4i]

...among the state supported broadcasters that offer TV news in English 24/7.

And, let us not forget Al Jazeera, while not strictly national, a loud voice for an important region.
Are all commercial FM's (94.7, 105.9) really more valuable than all AM's (660) within the market?
Look at the differences in coverage areas.

[DavidEduardo]

Are all commercial FM's (94.7, 105.9) really more valuable than all AM's (660) within the market?
Look at the differences in coverage areas.

The only coverage stations can monetize is the New York City Metro Survey Area (MSA) and all the good FMs cover it all, except for the eastern part of Suffolk County, which is really only about 150,000 persons 12+.

Even in New York, with some very good AM signals, over 80% of listening is to FMs. That explains the price differential when coverage is equal.

As one poster pointed out, about the only case where some outside-the-metro coverage may help is with play by play sports. Yet still, most teams are looking for FM today because FM gets the same demos that attend sporting events and otherwise patronize their teams.