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No Sale Looming, ESPN 98.7 expected to pivot to Music

Most of us are just having some fun with this situation. (Ignore the ones that aren't.) With all due respect, you need to chill.
This, however, is more like the "fun" at a sports bar after everyone is on their 5th brew...
 
Wouldn’t it make more sense to simulcast a sports or talk format temporarily as playing music incurs royalties with no offsetting revenue?
 
A long shot …. WQXR moves back to a full power station to re-gain the coverage they lost when they moved from 96.3 to 105.9
 
Who would pay for it? Emmis isn't donating it.
You are right. Those who have the money and motivation should be the focus.

The WQXR New York Public Radio has just undergone rather severe cutbacks. I certainly can't see them in the running, but I do see Cats, EMF, those folks who sold their transmitter site in Queens for $51 million are more likely.
 
The most realistic is probably alternative, though I know this board generally disapproves of it, it’s kicking butt in some markets and failing horribly in others, but when it does well, it seems to hold well in demographic breakdowns.

If this station is seeking a buyer, it wouldn’t be a terrible format to pipe in.

Let’s be clear, I don’t see any format succeeding when the owner is running it solo in a market without any staff.
 
If a station "goes silent" they have a period of time to notify the FCC. You don't have to get approval previously.

For example, if a station is taken off the air due to a natural disaster (forest fire, quake, flood, hurricane) or local issue (car knocked down tower, building foreclosed on, owner's death, etc) they must later notify the FCC, but you don't need "approval" for going off due to a fire or other calamity.

Going off temporarily does not mean license cancellation. There have been cases of stations being off for years due to trouble finding a new site, getting zoning, etc.
I needed to put a wink or smile emoji on my post that triggered this. I was just as serious about the license being turned in -- let alone being turned in by dropping it in a mailbox -- as the posters of most of the suggestions on the past couple of pages have been.
 
The most realistic is probably alternative, though I know this board generally disapproves of it, it’s kicking butt in some markets and failing horribly in others, but when it does well, it seems to hold well in demographic breakdowns.

If this station is seeking a buyer, it wouldn’t be a terrible format to pipe in.

Let’s be clear, I don’t see any format succeeding when the owner is running it solo in a market without any staff.
Alternative has only had brief success in NYC (when Z100 was a de facto Alt in the mid-90’s) but it would probably be the best chance for a placeholder format. The other alternative (ha ha ha) is country and that has never had even brief success in NYC. Alternative is a format where you don’t need a lot of DJs present to make work with the right music mix, though personality can and does help. The question is whether the right music mix for Alternative is even possible in NYC. Z100 was the only station that got it right even briefly, and WNYL’s attempt to update the 90’s Z100 approach fell flat on its face in the late 10’s/early 20’s.

There is the route of simulcasting an AM signal but I’m not sure if that would help Emmis’ case for a sale. A music format at least fills a niche in the market and you never know, maybe it’ll hit on something and make enough money that a sale isn’t necessary.
 
A music format at least fills a niche in the market and you never know, maybe it’ll hit on something and make enough money that a sale isn’t necessary.

Except that Emmis doesn't have any staff in NYC. So they can't sell spots without staff or ratings to sell.
 
Alternative has only had brief success in NYC (when Z100 was a de facto Alt in the mid-90’s) but it would probably be the best chance for a placeholder format. The other alternative (ha ha ha) is country and that has never had even brief success in NYC. Alternative is a format where you don’t need a lot of DJs present to make work with the right music mix, though personality can and does help. The question is whether the right music mix for Alternative is even possible in NYC. Z100 was the only station that got it right even briefly, and WNYL’s attempt to update the 90’s Z100 approach fell flat on its face in the late 10’s/early 20’s.

There is the route of simulcasting an AM signal but I’m not sure if that would help Emmis’ case for a sale. A music format at least fills a niche in the market and you never know, maybe it’ll hit on something and make enough money that a sale isn’t necessary.
What if a new alt station went the K-Rock route with more hard rock, metal, and less of the pop stuff like Post Malone and Machine Gun Kelly? Also, New Rock 101.9 (the 2012 version) had a good mix and I believe it was getting really good ratings that summer!!!
 
Except that Emmis doesn't have any staff in NYC. So they can't sell spots without staff or ratings to sell.
Depending on where Emmis is in negotiations for a potential sale, and the format of the station, they could in theory do a deal with MedaCo to sell spots on the "New 98.7" using the sales staff of Hot 97 and WBLS. Then again, it might be more trouble than it's worth.
 
Then again, it might be more trouble than it's worth.

It costs money, which is contrary to the goals set by Emmis. The goal is to sell, not to remain in broadcasting.

They own an AM in Indianapolis that has no tower property. They filed silent authorization with the FCC saying they're negotiating with a buyer. They can do the same thing here. All of these format ideas are based on an unsourced article from Inside Radio. No one else is reporting the station will "pivot to music."

 
What if a new alt station went the K-Rock route with more hard rock, metal, and less of the pop stuff like Post Malone and Machine Gun Kelly? Also, New Rock 101.9 (the 2012 version) had a good mix and I believe it was getting really good ratings that summer!!!
I suppose it would fail terribly…just like previous iterations. Probably worse this time, actually, considering your suggested minimal use of “pop” stuff.
 
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