ESPN 98.7 FM to be no more come August 31, 2024

[davideduardo]

No, but younger Latinos who recently arrived are likely to be less fluent in English. By the time they have been in the U.S. a number of years, they likely are more comfortable with English. So at that point, they may listen to English-language stations.

They may go to English language stations and music if they arrived young enough. But if they arrived as adults, it is likely they will like their "homeland" music forever.

Look at WKTU. It has a Rhythmic Hot AC - Top 40 sound but it is tailored to Hispanic women. Some of the DJs are Latino themselves and throw in a few Spanish words. But otherwise the DJs, songs and commercials are all in English.

And it is targeted at second generation Hispanics.

It isn't a hard, fast rule. Some immigrants stay within their communities, work jobs where they can speak their native language and will only consume media in that language forever. They only know enough English to get by. On the other hand, some see knowing English as the key to a better job and a better life experience. Maybe they have an aptitude for picking up English faster or they came at a younger age where language learning is a bit easier. They will probably consume media in both languages for the rest of their lives.

And many if not most middle and upper class Latin Americans who have to leave their country already listened to stations "back home" that played English music either mostly or exclusively. But few of that type of immigrant go to New York and the Northeast. They go to FL and the Southeast.

 

[Gregg.]

Does Family Life Network, upstate NY and PA area, have the money to buy out 98.7, I wonder, and expand to NYC? It's a mix between WMCA and K-LOVE. Several-hour blocks of CCM music, a few hours of teaching, more CCM music, then Adventures in Odyssey for the kids, and more teaching programs. Praise and worship music on much of the weekend slots. (My guess is no, but anything's possible.)

I would give it a possibility. Since the Family Life Network (based in Bath NY) owns stations across much of Upstate NY and the Upper Hudson Valley, logic would say they'd love to have a NYC station as well. Look at the similar named Family Life Radio (based in Tucson). Who would have guessed that they'd spend $10 million to buy a poorly-rated Cumulus station in Detroit and flip it to their network?

I'd say EMF is not high on the list of possibilities. EMF already has WPLJ for K-Love and 96.7 in Westchester for Air 1. There really aren't a lot of places where EMF will spend significant money on a SECOND full power signal. They're OK with Air 1 being on a lesser signal.

My bet is on John Catsimatidis buying it, probably as an Oldies station, an outgrowth of what 770 is doing on Saturday and Sunday evenings. He's the type of mogul who would think the music HE personally likes could be attractive to advertisers. I'm sure he'd say he has business leader friends who'd buy ads on Oldies 98.7 WABC-FM, home of The Beatles, Elvis and Sinatra.

Or he'd buy it to give WABC an FM simulcast, like WINS and WFAN have. But again, it's just a guess.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

I would give it a possibility. Since the Family Life Network (based in Bath NY) owns stations across much of Upstate NY and the Upper Hudson Valley, logic would say they'd love to have a NYC station as well. Look at the similar named Family Life Radio (based in Tucson). Who would have guessed that they'd spend $10 million to buy a poorly-rated Cumulus station in Detroit and flip it to their network?

I'd say EMF is not high on the list of possibilities. EMF already has WPLJ for K-Love and 96.7 in Westchester for Air 1. There really aren't a lot of places where EMF will spend significant money on a SECOND full power signal. They're OK with Air 1 being on a lesser signal.

My bet is on John Catsimatidis buying it, either as an Oldies station, an outgrowth of what 770 is doing on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Or to give WABC an FM simulcast, like WINS and WFAN. But again, it's just a guess.

FLN is a strong regional player, but I don't think they have the resources to move into market number 1.

 

[lanceventa]

So as likely as anyone wishing to match Emmis’s insane $50M asking price for the station?

Hence why I've been saying "a buyer paying between $35 and $50 million" for the station. If Emmis gets $50 million it seals Jeff Smulyan as the best CEO in radio history. But you have to start with an asking price somewhere. They will have a new operator ready to take over on August 26. There's still plenty of time. If by June 1 we haven't heard anything then I'd start raising the odds of your scenario, but I would think a filler music format of anything other than Gospel would be more likely.

 

[lanceventa]

I would give it a possibility. Since the Family Life Network (based in Bath NY) owns stations across much of Upstate NY and the Upper Hudson Valley, logic would say they'd love to have a NYC station as well. Look at the similar named Family Life Radio (based in Tucson). Who would have guessed that they'd spend $10 million to buy a poorly-rated Cumulus station in Detroit and flip it to their network?

Very slim chance. Family Life likes to have all their signals interconnected for a cohesive listening experience. The Tucson based Family Life is also doubtful.

I'd say EMF is not high on the list of possibilities. EMF already has WPLJ for K-Love and 96.7 in Westchester for Air 1. There really aren't a lot of places where EMF will spend significant money on a SECOND full power signal. They're OK with Air 1 being on a lesser signal.

EMF is happy with what they have. Budgets have been cut due to overruns at their new HQ build in Tennessee. They're being more selective with acquisition costs. If they want to expand Air 1, they'll wait for a Central New Jersey stick to pair with 96.7.

My bet is on John Catsimatidis buying it, probably as an Oldies station, an outgrowth of what 770 is doing on Saturday and Sunday evenings. He's the type of mogul who would think the music HE personally likes could be attractive to advertisers. I'm sure he'd say he has business leader friends who'd buy ads on Oldies 98.7 WABC-FM, home of The Beatles, Elvis and Sinatra.

Or he'd buy it to give WABC an FM simulcast, like WINS and WFAN have. But again, it's just a guess.

From what I heard back in the Fall, it was doubtful unless the asking price severely dropped. But at that price, other suitors would be more likely.

 

[djl]

Does anyone think of the possibility of WQXR returning to a full power station, rather than their 610 watt signal on 105.9? In fact, maybe their parent WNYC 93.9 could grab 98.7 at 6000 watts and put WQXR on 93.9 with its 5200 watt signal.

It would be a win-win for both stations, with a signal that bring WQXR back closer to its former full power signal, when they were on 96.3.

 

[TheBigA]

Does anyone think of the possibility of WQXR returning to a full power station

Much earlier in this thread it was pointed out that New York Public Radio is $10 million in debt, laying off staff, and in no position to afford $50 million to give them a better signal. Unless some generous benefactor picks up the tab.

 

[Weiserguy]

Your going down a rabbit hole based on a hypothetical statement of the type of potential buyers. There's no indication that MSG has interest in acquiring a radio station so there is no point in even considering it right now.

It also helps -- a lot!! -- to know who owns and controls MSG. Hint: it's the same family that owns (or owned) Cablevision. And Newsday.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

Those who like tropical (salsa, merengue, vallenato and the like) generally hate Regional Mexican. Spanish AC listeners (a genre that is almost dead as far as currents) don't like "Tropical".

Regional Mexican listeners like Regional Mexican.

"Hate" is such a strong word.

I guess I am biased because growing up we listened to music from everywhere in Colombia: Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela (Billos!), Puerto Rico and the Mexican rancheras were always a big thing in the bars.

 

[luperm]

It also helps -- a lot!! -- to know who owns and controls MSG. Hint: it's the same family that owns (or owned) Cablevision. And Newsday.

That's all well and good, but it still does not justify why they'd want to pay $30-$50 million to acquire a stand-alone FM signal...

 

[davideduardo]

"Hate" is such a strong word.

I guess I am biased because growing up we listened to music from everywhere in Colombia: Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela (Billos!), Puerto Rico and the Mexican rancheras were always a big thing in the bars.

If you had seen a format search research project to find the best Hispanic format in a mixed national origin market, you would be looking at a word that is stronger than “hate”.

One thing is to like a certain kind of music when drinking or when out dancing, but that often has no bearing on full time radio programming.

And Colombia today… and for the last four decades at least… has highly segmented and specialized radio formats.

 

[Weiserguy]

That's all well and good, but it still does not justify why they'd want to pay $30-$50 million to acquire a stand-alone FM signal...

My point was that the Dolans wouldn't.

 

[Deleted member 110116]

Those who like tropical (salsa, merengue, vallenato and the like) generally hate Regional Mexican. Spanish AC listeners (a genre that is almost dead as far as currents) don't like "Tropical".

Regional Mexican listeners like Regional Mexican.

Yea but that’s not everyone. I grew up in DR so of course like most Dominicans and other Caribbeans I’m into Tropical music, but a lot of us like myself grew up to love Spanish AC and Mexican music. We also have tons of Spanish AC stations would play Regional Mexican songs such the ones from Joan Sebastian, Vicente Fernández, Pepe Aguilar among others; the most popular AC station Intima FM from Santiago. Now maybe is a different story here in the U.S. and times has changed but it’s bias to say that Caribbean Latinos hate Regional Mexican music. I mean look at the newer artist and bands like Christian Nodal and Grupo Frontera they are pretty popular throughout Latin America.

 

[Rusty Muck]

That's all well and good, but it still does not justify why they'd want to pay $30-$50 million to acquire a stand-alone FM signal...

There is no justification for anyone to pay such a ridiculous amount of money for one station.

 

[TheBigA]

There is no justification for anyone to pay such a ridiculous amount of money for one station.

Keep in mind this is NYC. There are several stations in NY that bill over $30 million in one year.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Keep in mind this is NYC. There are several stations in NY that bill over $30 million in one year.

But those are all established and entrenched formats and most are in large clusters that play to economy of scale. There is no way a commercial broadcaster buys 98.7 as a standalone, launches a brand new format, and gets to $30M/year billing in the first year. (Especially in the pipedream scenario of running a niche format like country.) You might as well just set $30M–50M on fire.

 

[TheBigA]

There is no way a commercial broadcaster buys 98.7 as a standalone

Who says it's a standalone? You're putting your own restrictions on the buyer.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Who says it's a standalone? You're putting your own restrictions on the buyer.

Market realities and simple process of elimination. iHeart and Audacy are maxed out, Cumulus has checked out, Mediaco has a lot of issues, and EMF, Family Radio and Cats aren't reckless with their money. That completely depletes whatever pool had existed.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Market realities and simple process of elimination. iHeart and Audacy are maxed out, Cumulus has checked out, Mediaco has a lot of issues, and EMF, Family Radio and Cats aren't reckless with their money. That completely depletes whatever pool had existed.

Nice summary, but for the complete process of elimination add Univision, Spanish Broadcasting and New York Public Media. I believe all have been mentioned in this thread.

I don't know if MediaCo is selling but a three-way deal between MediaCo, Emmis and a new entry into the market wanting a NYC cluster would be an interesting wildcard.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't know if MediaCo is selling but a three-way deal between MediaCo, Emmis and a new entry into the market wanting a NYC cluster would be an interesting wildcard.

That idea has been around since this station went on the market. Urban One is the company that's been mentioned. They have $145 million from the sale of their stake in a DC casino. But that's just one idea. I think we'll see an announcement in June.

Urban One Sells Its Stake In D.C.-Area Casino | Radio & Television Business Report

A "put notice" has been delivered to MGM National Harbor LLC that requires it to purchase 100% of Urban One's interest in the property. It represents a huge payday for Urban One, which also revealed late Friday that it is unable to file its annual report by the March 16 deadline.

rbr.com