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What would you do with WBT?

Mike Sheridan

Mike Sheridan

In addition to Beasley having to spin off WBT AM/FM and WLNK, what would you do with WBT? I believe the audience of conservative talk is aging out. Overall 6+ shares are down from what I have seen. WBT is running a lot of commercials so they must have either low rates or a great sales machine. I find the station hard to listen to because of the endless commercials. What comes after conservative talk? What could the next format be? Is there a next format for AM? With the cheap AM sections in most radios and the FCC or NAB's narrow bandwidth standard doesn't do much for the sound of AM stations.

So if Beasley spins the trio how do you compete with the clusters of Beasley, iHeart and Radio One with only two brands? How important is the Bob and Shari syndication deal to the mix? They have both been around for a long time, how many more years do they have left? Bob Lacy has got to be at or past retirement age.

To all concerned in this deal, I wish them the best of luck.
 
amfmradio1 said:
Broadcast traffic reports on weekends!
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Is traffic a big problem in Charlotte on weekends when there's nothing special going on in the city? I find traffic in and out of Boston, a larger city, moves pretty smoothly when commuters are taken out of the mix. WBZ, of course, still does reports to warn people about accidents, construction, sports crowds, etc. Is that what you're looking for out of WBT?
 
Either Beasley or iHeart could keep WBT AM but both operators would have to get rid of 99.3. Both I believe are at market cap for FM's

Funny how the article in the Observer (mentioned above) makes the same speculations many of us have made as to who might be an interested buyer...coincidence? I wonder. I agree 3 stations (two brands) does not a cluster make. Could someone come in and buy another FM from either Beasley or iHeart? It should be interesting to see what happens.
 
Curtis makes the most sense, and the question is: Can they find a way to make a deal? In other words, set the price low enough so Curtis will buy. Because he (and everyone else) knows BT is a money pit. The only real money is Link.
 
I had a thought today. Thinking outside the box a bit. What about Cox or Raycom? Does having 9 and 64 lock out Cox. Could they get a waver? It would be so strange seeing Cox as owners of WBT!
 
Mike Sheridan said:
I had a thought today. Thinking outside the box a bit. What about Cox or Raycom? Does having 9 and 64 lock out Cox. Could they get a waver? It would be so strange seeing Cox as owners of WBT!
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I wonder if Cox would consider buying 103.7 again. They still retain the WSOC call letters, and they could cross promote with Channel 9. Not sure why they ever sold to begin with. And Cox is apparently very successful in Atlanta with WSB Radio, TV, and the other FM stations. And the AJC newspaper as well.
 
Y-100 said:
Interesting. iHeart should NOT be allowed PERIOD to buy anymore
damn radio stations. NO WAY. The Link is a nothing. I mean, what is their format?
A waste for monster 100KW heritage station.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/media-scene-blog/article92175417.html
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I think the Link is a great station with a good adult hits format, and features personality based shows with local hosts rather than automated robots. Music mix is 80's, 90's, and today. I really enjoy Bob and Sheri in the mornings, and they are nationally syndicated. I also like the variety hits on 102.9, but 107.9 adds the personality hosts which to me is more entertaining.
 
tylerSC said:
I wonder if Cox would consider buying 103.7 again. They still retain the WSOC call letters, and they could cross promote with Channel 9. Not sure why they ever sold to begin with. And Cox is apparently very successful in Atlanta with WSB Radio, TV, and the other FM stations. And the AJC newspaper as well.
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Cox swapped out of Charlotte because EZ Communications made it an offer it couldn't refuse. Cox gave up WSOC in exchange for WHQT in Miami, which it could pair up with its WFLC there. At the time, you could only own two stations per service per market. EZ combined WSOC with the former WMXC 104.7 while Cox got a highly rated station in a much bigger market to go with its existing station.
 
Okay so it is possible then, or as somebody said Cox could take back WSOC-FM and get WBT AM-FM in the bargain. They could then promote and sell them using the TV sales staff, etc. It might work if they are interested, doubtful but possible.

Seems like it would be difficult for a buyer to come in and make a cluster out of WBT AM-FM and WLNK.

I'm sorry but EMF (KLove) buying the stations would be a shame in my opinion.
 
TheBigA said:
Cox doesn't appear to be in the buying mood right now. In fact a few years ago, they spun off a bunch of radio stations.
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It has also been rumored that Cox maybe interested in selling their TV spectrum in the repack auction. Of the folks I have heard rumored to be interested in WBT and WLNK Cox and Raycom are not among them.

t123
 
Since WBT-1110-AM can still be heard on 107.9 HD2, I'd prefer to keep that intact. I'd propose to sell 99.3 FM at this point. I'd go on to make it an OLDIES Station, which has been absent for way too long from the Charlotte Metro Area.

99.3 MHz is already is equipped with HD Radio Transmissions, so that is one Step Further in reinvigorating the Oldies Format on the Charlotte FM Radio Dial...

That is my NON-Professional 2¢...

- Steve.
 
MAYBE go on to be a Translator for 1150-WAVO-AM............. Anyone - Thoughts?!?



Steve.Gates said:
Since WBT-1110-AM can still be heard on 107.9 HD2, I'd prefer to keep that intact. I'd propose to sell 99.3 FM at this point. I'd go on to make it an OLDIES Station, which has been absent for way too long from the Charlotte Metro Area.

99.3 MHz is already is equipped with HD Radio Transmissions, so that is one Step Further in reinvigorating the Oldies Format on the Charlotte FM Radio Dial...

That is my NON-Professional 2¢...

- Steve.
Click to expand...
 
Steve.Gates said:
MAYBE go on to be a Translator for 1150-WAVO-AM............. Anyone - Thoughts?!?
Click to expand...

Not a chance, WAVO can barely stay on the air itself not to mention incurring the expense of 99.3. As for oldies that format is gone as much as I hate to admit it. It's been tried on powerhouse AM stations and didn't make a dent in the ratings and certainly not the age group they are going for. That music had a good long lifespan but it's over. The problem is most of what has taken it's place is sub par at best. MP3's, CD's and streaming are your friends now, the party has moved. If this is what you want you just have to look elsewhere.
 
I've been thinking about this way too much but I'd bet on EMF (KLove). Beasley could take Bob and Shari and put them on K-104.7 and continue the syndication deal. That's just about the only thing WLNK has going for it. Matt and Ramona are entertaining but I understand they haven't been doing all that well in syndication (are there any other stations airing their show? I'm asking, I don't know).

Selling to EMF gets rid of competition for ad dollars.

Who are the other possible owners? Entercom? I know they have clusters in Greensboro, NC and Greenville, SC, is that enough? There is Curtis Media Group but they seem to have enough dead or dying AM's around the state. Could they afford/want Charlotte? I read the Beasley financial info they give to investors and it said they are talking to possible buyers and expect to have it wrapped when the Greater Media sale is completed. True or just something to tell investors?

WBT's ratings are already doing a long slide down. One of the writers for All Access stated that conservative talk stations should look for that next big thing because no matter who gets elected the ratings will sink for these stations even more a couple of months after election day. The trouble is nobody knows what that next big thing is!
 
Mike Sheridan said:
Not a chance, WAVO can barely stay on the air itself not to mention incurring the expense of 99.3. As for oldies that format is gone as much as I hate to admit it. It's been tried on powerhouse AM stations and didn't make a dent in the ratings and certainly not the age group they are going for. That music had a good long lifespan but it's over. The problem is most of what has taken it's place is sub par at best. MP3's, CD's and streaming are your friends now, the party has moved. If this is what you want you just have to look elsewhere.
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Did you know oldies is on 1410 AM with a translator at 98.3? Not really useful after dark, but it's there.
 
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