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Format Changes 2024

So making the entire show a podcast is too long.

I agree with that, yet a lot of talk stations offer their entire show as a podcast. My experience in this area tells me the majority of users only stick around for the first 15 minutes. However, some stay longer. If you break the podcast up, that likely means the pre-roll commercial (s) will air for each segment, thus the ability to make more money with the segmented podcast.
 
It would be nice if all the translators weren't occupied by religious broadcasters and used for a Country/Alternative format to serve NJ suburbs where the biggest fanbase for both formats are served.
 
It would be nice if all the translators weren't occupied by religious broadcasters and used for a Country/Alternative format to serve NJ suburbs where the biggest fanbase for both formats are served.

Anyone can apply for translators, however they count against the ownership cap. The companies that would love to do what you suggest are already at the limit. That's why they're forced to put those formats on HD-2s. Religious broadcasters are the only ones with money and are under the cap. So they're most likely to buy 98.7 when it becomes available.
 
Anyone can apply for translators, however they count against the ownership cap. The companies that would love to do what you suggest are already at the limit. That's why they're forced to put those formats on HD-2s. Religious broadcasters are the only ones with money and are under the cap. So they're most likely to buy 98.7 when it becomes available.
Translators do not count against the ownership cap. Any broadcaster can own an unlimited number of translators.
 
I know of at least two with Manhattan transmitter sites that would be available to a buyer immediately, at the right price.

I think one was just sold on the WTC, but it's not the same price as applying for a new one. It's market price.

I should have said no "new" translators available.
 
Religious broadcasters are the only ones with money and are under the cap. So they're most likely to buy 98.7 when it becomes available.
And, as we’ve seen mentioned recently, except for very good strategic deals, EMF is pumping the brakes on acquisitions, so there may not be a religious broadcaster willing to pay for 98.7, assuming Emmis even comes down. I feel they’re going to want a pretty high price even if they come down. If there are no bidders that meet Emmis’ desired or lowest acceptable price, we could always see them dump something automated or cheap on there (like Merlin did) until they give up and lower the price, or a buyer willing enough to pay their price comes along.

I agree that a religious broadcaster is most likely for 98.7, but it would be a big acquisition. Would VCY, Family Life, BBN (unlikely), or even EMF (for Air 1) be willing to spend the cash? I very highly doubt they have the money, but I wonder if Family Radio would like to resurrect (no pun intended) their closer to full NYC market presence with a relaunched WFME? I’ll see myself out…
 
I wonder if Family Radio would like to resurrect (no pun intended) their closer to full NYC market presence with a relaunched WFME?

Funny thought. I just looked up how much they got for the tower property in Maspeth:


OTOH they could buy back 94.7 for half that price. Or just keep operating off the interest. That's what I'd do.
 
Funny thought. I just looked up how much they got for the tower property in Maspeth:


OTOH they could buy back 94.7 for half that price. Or just keep operating off the interest. That's what I'd do.
I never thought about it, but Family Radio has to have toyed with the idea. They obviously have a desire to continue to cover NYC with them just recently buying 92.7 in addition to 106.3 and 1560. I’m not sure if or how much they’ve recovered financially from the mess Camping got them in to, but their website looks like they’ve modernized a bit…
 
Talk radio would last so much longer, even on am if radio execs hired podcasters to do radio shows and stayed out of their way
The problem can be explained with a simple example:

On numerous occasions, stations have hired great club comedians to do morning shows. But comedians do the same show, maybe twice a night, over and over in a club. If they are on tour, they do it for a year or more... same show, maybe a bit more than an hour or 90 minutes, adding an occasional bit and dropping one that is not topical any more, So, after being on the air for the first 3 to 4 hour shift, those comedians run out of stuff. They improvise, and badly. They don't have a live audience feedback, so any attempt to do new stuff fails.

Pure podcasters do a short segment once a day at most... sometimes only once or a couple of times a week. They often make horrible radio hosts, unless they came from radio to begin with.
 
I never thought about it, but Family Radio has to have toyed with the idea. They obviously have a desire to continue to cover NYC with them just recently buying 92.7 in addition to 106.3 and 1560. I’m not sure if or how much they’ve recovered financially from the mess Camping got them in to, but their website looks like they’ve modernized a bit…
Okay, so here's a scenario. Jeff Smulyan comes down in price enough for Audacy to buy 98.7. Audacy, in turn, sells 94.7 back to Family Radio, which, in combination with 92.7, now are able to cover the full market again. Let's say the numbers are $40MM and $20MM respectively. For a net of $20MM, Audacy can now reach the entire market with 98.7 and can either take a shot at making their "The Block" programming successful by reaching the whole market, or pop a format onto 98.7 that's more suitable to the full market. Family still has $31MM to earn interest on, and with the 94.7+92.7 combo, they can see if their message will get enough donations to sustain itself, supplemented with the investment interest. Everyone comes out a winner, nobody has to dig $50MM deep into their pocket, and even Emmis gets the number they probably expected to net in their most realistic projections.
 
And, as we’ve seen mentioned recently, except for very good strategic deals, EMF is pumping the brakes on acquisitions, so there may not be a religious broadcaster willing to pay for 98.7, assuming Emmis even comes down. I feel they’re going to want a pretty high price even if they come down. If there are no bidders that meet Emmis’ desired or lowest acceptable price, we could always see them dump something automated or cheap on there (like Merlin did) until they give up and lower the price, or a buyer willing enough to pay their price comes along.

I agree that a religious broadcaster is most likely for 98.7, but it would be a big acquisition. Would VCY, Family Life, BBN (unlikely), or even EMF (for Air 1) be willing to spend the cash? I very highly doubt they have the money, but I wonder if Family Radio would like to resurrect (no pun intended) their closer to full NYC market presence with a relaunched WFME? I’ll see myself out…
Out of all those religious broadcasters, I think EMF is the most likely to buy 98.7 for their Air1 network. They could recoup the money by selling 96.7 and through listener donations. I bet VCY and Family Radio would love to have a better signal, but I doubt they have the kind of buying power that EMF has.
 
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Okay, so here's a scenario. Jeff Smulyan comes down in price enough for Audacy to buy 98.7. Audacy, in turn, sells 94.7 back to Family Radio, which, in combination with 92.7, now are able to cover the full market again. Let's say the numbers are $40MM and $20MM respectively. For a net of $20MM, Audacy can now reach the entire market with 98.7 and can either take a shot at making their "The Block" programming successful by reaching the whole market, or pop a format onto 98.7 that's more suitable to the full market. Family still has $31MM to earn interest on, and with the 94.7+92.7 combo, they can see if their message will get enough donations to sustain itself, supplemented with the investment interest. Everyone comes out a winner, nobody has to dig $50MM deep into their pocket, and even Emmis gets the number they probably expected to net in their most realistic projections.
Sounds like a good idea, but Audacy is already at the limit unless the FCC will allow them to put 94.7 in a trust. The Block on 98.7 would give it a better chance against the other Urban stations. If Family Radio were to acquire either 94.7 or 98.7, it would make 92.7 and 1560 redundant. I could see someone buy 92.7, but 1560 may be a tough one even for a Class A. Even then, 1560 is still operating on a 1 kW STA.
 
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KISW. It lists itself as a rock station. But it's mainly a talk station that also plays rock music, and it does very well in the 18-34
This could be closer to what I am suggesting. New Talk won't be like what I think a "talk" station would be, but I am not in the demographic New Talk would be going after. That station which I will not identify in Orlando, does not seem to pause the conversation for top of the hour news, sports updates or anything else but the topic at hand. KISW afternoon drive program is "The Mens Room" which seems to be a lot of question of the day and responses to it. They also apparently have Trivia Contest type segments. The KISW website is peppered with Podcasts of the Mens Room shows. KISW is number 4 in the 6+ numbers for Seattle. I know that 6+ is not useful for anything other than curiosity entertainment, but it is an indication of who is doing good versus competitors. A station programmed like this would be unique for Market 1.
 
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