BREAKING NEWS!...Star 102.5 sold in Buffalo

[davideduardo]

With expensive News and Sports brands as well as high rights fees for the Eagles and Phillies. They make more money in Philadelphia, but with higher expenses the profit margins are lower. The smaller markets are cheaper to operate and have higher profit margins.

Is it doable, yes. Will it happen? Not a chance. EMF specifically wanted WTSS...

I wonder what WTSS could have gotten were it not for EMF? (Although I doubt they would have sold for a significantly lesser price).

 

[CTListener]

I wonder what WTSS could have gotten were it not for EMF? (Although I doubt they would have sold for a significantly lesser price).

Has EMF had any competition for its high-profile acquisitions? Any from commercial radio interests? Or is the runner-up for most stations usually VCY or some other Christian radio outfit?

 

[davideduardo]

Has EMF had any competition for its high-profile acquisitions? Any from commercial radio interests? Or is the runner-up for most stations usually VCY or some other Christian radio outfit?

I know the one they bought in LA had other offers, but they were I was told about $5 million or more below EMF.

Note: "I was told" is about as good as "rumor and hearsay".

 

[flybynight]

However evangelicals are involved in a religious culture where there is tremendous pressure from leadership and their own peers to provide financial support to their church and other proselytizing activities. Religious broadcasters such as EMF are an extension of that culture, and use the same mindset to encourage support of their radio ministries.

Those that love Classical music (or other ”fringe” genres) do not have the same financial demands and cultural pressure placed upon them.

Cults are definitely profitable.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

To add to what Mark 1981 and others said WTSS for the benefit of those who are either out of market or just don't know WTSS is a class C with 110KW at 1165 feet in a class B market. Originally owned by The Buffalo Evening News (WBEN-AM-FM-TV) and those people never did anything halfway. The biggest FM signal in Buffalo, only WNED comes close.

 

[tbolt909]

Has EMF had any competition for its high-profile acquisitions? Any from commercial radio interests? Or is the runner-up for most stations usually VCY or some other Christian radio outfit?

Not many folks interested in buying Radio stations these days. That would be like opening and installing pay telephone booths. Audacy stock is something like 11 cents a share. EMF will have them all in a few years. I have heard Christians refer to "Secular" music as the work of Satan. Maybe EMF can get Dana Carvey to do his "Church Lady" SNL character. "Could it be Satan!!!"...

 

[CSMWNY]

Would Buffalo-Toronto Public Media be interested in buying 107.7 to get it's AAA format that is currently on WBFO HD-2 on the standard FM dial? I notice that "The Bridge" has been promoting itself quite a bit lately. I for one as a fan of the AAA format would love to see this.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Has EMF had any competition for its high-profile acquisitions? Any from commercial radio interests? Or is the runner-up for most stations usually VCY or some other Christian radio outfit?

There's a host of religious non-comms with stations and translators spread all over the FM band. Holy Life Ministries operates full power Class A 101.7.

WCOU is Family Life Network, operating 88.3 from Attica; Reach Gospel Network operates a translator on 88.1; Calvary Chapel operates full power Class A 92.1 licensed to Amherst, which years ago should have gone to Dick Green as a commercial band FM when he owned WLVL Lockport, but he was sideswiped.

Crawford-Kimtron operates flame-throwin' 110 kW WDCX on 99.5 and preaching-teaching AM 970.

Objectively, the FM band in Buffalo is rife with flotsam and jetsam translators, full power US, and full power Canadian stations. Throw in an occasional pirate or two and it's the wild freakin' west out there. EMF gets the Cadillac of FM frequencies with the purchase of 102.5, so it will be interesting to watch the 99.5 vs. 102.5 tug of war for the faithful. Some of the weak signals won't survive. Kinda like the seeds thrown on hard ground, in the briar patch, or bad soil...

 

[2Speakers]

To add to what Mark 1981 and others said WTSS for the benefit of those who are either out of market or just don't know WTSS is a class C with 110KW at 1165 feet in a class B market. Originally owned by The Buffalo Evening News (WBEN-AM-FM-TV) and those people never did anything halfway. The biggest FM signal in Buffalo, only WNED comes close.

More accurately, it's a grandfathered superpower B.

It has facilities equivalent to a slightly overpowered C0, but not the same contour protection. In terms of spacing, it's just like any other class B FM.

 

[TheBigA]

Would Buffalo-Toronto Public Media be interested in buying 107.7 to get it's AAA format that is currently on WBFO HD-2

Depends on the data they're getting. Several other public radio stations are experimenting with AAA around the country, and so far it hasn't attracted the funding they had hoped for. But you're right that The Bridge is a priority for Calderone (perhaps more than WBFO), so they may be economizing in some areas to build some funding for a broadcast outlet.

 

[CassChopper96]

A news reporter who works for WGRZ named Dave Cash announced the sale on his Facebook page yesterday

 

[RadioGuy1864]

I think we can speculate all we want, but one thing is as close to certain as you can get: Hot AC will be on another signal in Buffalo. Either Audacy moves it to 107.7, sells it's STAR IP, or another station group jumps the gun and flips a underperforming station. Another possibility is some type of station swap, but since Audacy desperately needs cash, that's probably the least likely alternative.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

Depends on the data they're getting. Several other public radio stations are experimenting with AAA around the country, and so far it hasn't attracted the funding they had hoped for. But you're right that The Bridge is a priority for Calderone (perhaps more than WBFO), so they may be economizing in some areas to build some funding for a broadcast outlet.

I could see BTPM buying WWWS for the 107.3 translator and moving The Bridge onto 107.3. They could then sell and/or donate the AM. A relativly inexpensive transaction to get The Bridge on an FM signal.

 

[CassChopper96]

I wonder if the CBS Radio merge is the reason why Audacy is in so much debt right now

 

[tbolt909]

I wonder if the CBS Radio merge is the reason why Audacy is in so much debt right now

Is that a serious question? The quick answer is yep. Even stations that otherwise would be profitable cannot bring in enough revenue to pay the current debt. David Field is learning that when you bluff in Poker, someone may call your hand...

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Not many folks interested in buying Radio stations these days. That would be like opening and installing pay telephone booths. Audacy stock is something like 11 cents a share. EMF will have them all in a few years. I have heard Christians refer to "Secular" music as the work of Satan. Maybe EMF can get Dana Carvey to do his "Church Lady" SNL character. "Could it be Satan!!!"...

The funny thing is I have found Christian message in secular music. It might not be quite as evident.

 

[RadioRonnie285]

Back in 2012 EMF purchased WABB/97.5 Mobile Alabama. Then Cumulus swapped their 98.3 (a class C2 signal with good coverage of Mobile for 97.5 so K-Love went there. The urban format on 98.3 went to big class C 104.1 and the CHR format remained on big signal 97.5 as WABD. Don't remember all the details of that deal but Townsquare could swap its 96.1 for 102.5, EMF would get full market coverage on 96.1, Townsquare gets 102.5 and 96.1 would quietly go away. Is this doable?

EMF also was able to get Cumulus' 97.1 a C2 serving Nashville in the deal.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I should have known radio died when EMF bought WPLJ.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

I should have known radio died when EMF bought WPLJ.

WPLJ wasn't the first, but to me it represented the turning point as soon as it happened.

 

[CassChopper96]

Is that a serious question? The quick answer is yep. Even stations that otherwise would be profitable cannot bring in enough revenue to pay the current debt. David Field is learning that when you bluff in Poker, someone may call your hand...

A lot of the former CBS stations are still profitable. It just that spent way too much