https://radioinsight.com/headlines/215154/cox-trust-seeks-one-year-extension-to-divest-wpyo-wsun-fm/
WSUN and WPYO has been in a trust due to the Cox/Apollo deal in 2019. Now the clock is running out for the trust to sell WSUN and WPYO.
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CXR Trust Given Until February 15, 2022 To Sell WSUN & WPYO
- Thread starter Y2kTheNewOldies
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WSUN and WPYO has been in a trust due to the Cox/Apollo deal in 2019. Now the clock is running out for the trust to sell WSUN and WPYO.
Sounds like SBS has a lot of interest in WPYO. I wonder if they’ll snag 97.1 as well?
Given Tampa is still Florida with a big Hispanic population, seems likely.
Of course, Orlando only has one full-powered Latin station. Tampa has two (albeit one of them is a rimshot from Sarasota).
Wait, I thought Orlando had at least two? WRUM and WOEX?
But, to an extent like San Antonio and Albuquerque, the Hispanics in Tampa are predominantly later generation. The community there goes back to the late 19th Century exile of Cuban leaders and business leaders.
Very interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_immigration_to_the_United_States
So you have fifth and sixth generation Cuban-Americans in large numbers; they don't listen to Spanish language radio.
There are two full coverage commercial stations, WRUM and WOEX. One is the top market biller, the other is about 8th. WOEX is a Cox station, in fact.
There is a high rated non-com, WLAZ and five or six AMs, several with translators. And iHeart has a translator that uses an HD-2 to originate.
Keep in mind that the huge Puerto Rican diaspora favored Orlando in the last two decades. And the Boricua migrants are predominantly white collar professionals and many have always listened to stations on the Island that played all or mostly English music. They won't be listening to Spanish language radio unless it is for Island news and the like.
That is why the market, in 18-49 is nearly 40% Hispanic but the Spanish language stations all together only get 12 to 13 shares... much less than occurs in markets like Miami and Dallas and the like.
And non-com WLAZ has a good if not full signal.
I think SBS, however short-sightedly, probably wants to replicate the success it has had with its Puerto Rican cluster. It would not surprise me if they start syndicating, say, WMEG or WODA's successful morning shows there to save money and resonate with the Puerto Rican audiences they're seeking.
It's probably not going to work out the way SBS is thinking it will, but I see the logic.
The stations in that cluster were not created by SBS. They inherited them from the prior owners. In fact, they could not balance the cluster and ended up selling one of the FM networks.
The WMEG show is so enormously localized in references to local politics (with politics being the national sport in PR), local events, local TV shows and the like that it would do horribly anywhere off the Island. The same, on a lesser scale, is true for WODA.
I think they want to replicate one of the Miami formats, not something from what is essentially a separate country.
And at the same time, Liberman and Univision up theirs.
I'd like to see NIA Broadcasting, the owner of WTMP, purchase 97.1 and move the format there. The throwbacks / jammin oldies / R&B is sounding pretty good lately on 1150 and the translator on 97.5. Putting that format on a bigger signal would help and essentially create a place for older displaced 95.7 The Beat listeners since the format adjustment there a few months ago... and besides, NIA might be the only current local broadcaster that might make decent commercial use of 97.1.
As always, EMF is always mentioned in situations like this.... but I'm not sure if EMF would enter the market with Joy-FM already so strong of a player... but then again, EMF seems to want to be in every large market across the county no matter what the cost. I think Tampa Bay may be one of their last large markets where they're not broadcasting. I'd just hate to see the signal go non-commercial.
As always, EMF is always mentioned in situations like this.... but I'm not sure if EMF would enter the market with Joy-FM already so strong of a player... but then again, EMF seems to want to be in every large market across the county no matter what the cost. I think Tampa Bay may be one of their last large markets where they're not broadcasting. I'd just hate to see the signal go non-commercial.
The market, in relation to the signal as it covers the beaches, could go Smooth Jazz, Lite Rock, or my favorite format, AAA.
I enjoyed listening to 97X when I visited Tampa Bay. I found it to be one of the best commercial alternative stations in the South. They had a good mix that focused on newer songs in the evening.
Maybe NIA could swap the 97.5 translator for WSUN so Cox could move 97X to it and still be "97X." Cox already simulcasts 97X on WPOI-HD2. They could use that to feed 97.5. Wishful thinking, I know.
EMF also does not have a presence in Orlando (Z88.3 country). I get why SBS may be drawn to one or even both of the signals, but they very well could turn to K-Love when all is said and done.
I hope iHeart brings back the Alt format to HD if 97x changes Format.
Would be nice.something that appeals to the masses instead of a niche market.
I know they’re strapped for cash, but I wonder if Audacy would be interested in adding a 4th Orlando signal with WPYO. CXR doesn’t have much leverage left at this point. I’d imagine SBS is still the most likely candidate.
Spanish AC may be the format hole (there's already 100.3, 97.1, and 96.5) in Orlando. Though SBS may have to come up with a name other than Z, thanks to the presence of WPOZ.
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