Good Karma To Lease 880; WCBS News Programming To End

[Rollo-Smokes]

Wouldn't WCBS-TV become WCBS? Recall that, under Tribune's ownership, 101.9 MHz was WPIX-FM, while the television station was, and remains WPIX (not WPIX-TV).

No. If Paramount Global/CBS wanted to drop the "-TV" suffix from WCBS-TV, they would have to file with the FCC. Same for Audacy with WCBS-FM.

The impending change in 880's call sign will not trigger a change with an associated FM or TV; that's not how it's ever worked.

As far as WPIX goes, that station has never had a suffix. When WPIX, Inc. (the Daily News) purchased 101.9 FM in 1963 and it became WPIX-FM, they were not required to add a suffix to Channel 11's call sign. Broadcasting magazine would refer to the station as WPIX (TV) at times.

 

[TheM1ghtyBear]

Audacy is at the FM cap for New York. It can't acquire another FM without divesting one or without some cap relief from the FCC, the latter of which isn't going to happen in the next couple months. I suppose a divestiture and purchase isn't completely out of the question, but you usually have to have money to do that, and Audacy doesn't have that right now.

Wouldn't it make more sense just to put it on an HD Subchannel? GKB does this with Hubbard in Chicago on 100.3.

 

[NYRadioFan22]

Someone just posted this about CBS-FM 101.1 in the "We Live in Bergen County" Facebook group!!
An editorial from a Bergenite:
I, as one, am very saddened and disappointed to hear the news that one of our staple radio stations, WCBS FM 101.1, will be no more as of August 26th. You see, I grew up listening to the likes of Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram.....and we can't leave out "The Cuz", Cousin Brucie. I began listening to those guys in the days of WABC Musicradio 77 (remember that station?) When WABC went to talk radio in 1982, I found my favorite DJs over at CBS FM, playing the oldies but goodies! CBS FM has changed their format in the last few years - not as many oldies - but now the station will become part of ESPN Sports talk radio, with new station call letters, as will sister station WCBS AM News 880.
If you were a listener to CBS FM, it's definitely the end of an era in local radio.

And then later he posted an update comment
UPDATE: CBS-FM will continue playing music for a time; WCBS 880 will transition as of Midnight August 26. Both stations have been acquired, and while FM will continue with music for a while longer, it will eventually transition to talk (date TBD). But there will be no more oldies after a time. Audicy, the company that owns both stations, will be changing 880s call letters also.

 

[sjs1959]

Someone just posted this about CBS-FM 101.1 in the "We Live in Bergen County" Facebook group!!
An editorial from a Bergenite:
I, as one, am very saddened and disappointed to hear the news that one of our staple radio stations, WCBS FM 101.1, will be no more as of August 26th. You see, I grew up listening to the likes of Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram.....and we can't leave out "The Cuz", Cousin Brucie. I began listening to those guys in the days of WABC Musicradio 77 (remember that station?) When WABC went to talk radio in 1982, I found my favorite DJs over at CBS FM, playing the oldies but goodies! CBS FM has changed their format in the last few years - not as many oldies - but now the station will become part of ESPN Sports talk radio, with new station call letters, as will sister station WCBS AM News 880.
If you were a listener to CBS FM, it's definitely the end of an era in local radio.

And then later he posted an update comment
UPDATE: CBS-FM will continue playing music for a time; WCBS 880 will transition as of Midnight August 26. Both stations have been acquired, and while FM will continue with music for a while longer, it will eventually transition to talk (date TBD). But there will be no more oldies after a time. Audicy, the company that owns both stations, will be changing 880s call letters also.

Um, no, there has been NOTHING about WCBS-FM, unless we have all badly misread the press release. 101 is NOT affected by this at all, is it?

 

[Theater of My Mind]

60+ years down the drain. It’s garbage like this that almost makes me glad I’m retired - almost!

And yet we still have people on this site celebrating the kind of insane corporate consolidation where big, bloated, dead bankrupt companies have killed competition, killed this once-great heritage brand, killed the jobs, killed the creativity, homogenized programming, driven audiences down the drain, need I go on? Congratulations on your retirement, you are beyond lucky to be out of it.

 

[exdjted]

Someone just posted this about CBS-FM 101.1 in the "We Live in Bergen County" Facebook group!!
An editorial from a Bergenite:
I, as one, am very saddened and disappointed to hear the news that one of our staple radio stations, WCBS FM 101.1, will be no more as of August 26th. You see, I grew up listening to the likes of Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram.....and we can't leave out "The Cuz", Cousin Brucie. I began listening to those guys in the days of WABC Musicradio 77 (remember that station?) When WABC went to talk radio in 1982, I found my favorite DJs over at CBS FM, playing the oldies but goodies! CBS FM has changed their format in the last few years - not as many oldies - but now the station will become part of ESPN Sports talk radio, with new station call letters, as will sister station WCBS AM News 880.
If you were a listener to CBS FM, it's definitely the end of an era in local radio.

And then later he posted an update comment
UPDATE: CBS-FM will continue playing music for a time; WCBS 880 will transition as of Midnight August 26. Both stations have been acquired, and while FM will continue with music for a while longer, it will eventually transition to talk (date TBD). But there will be no more oldies after a time. Audicy, the company that owns both stations, will be changing 880s call letters also.

 

[oldvnewschool]

Wow, this is amazing. The irony is that Audacy just added NBC News Audio content to their platform. Also WFAN replaced WNBC AM 36 years ago.

 

[TheBigA]

And yet we still have people on this site celebrating the kind of insane corporate consolidation where big, bloated, dead bankrupt companies have killed competition, killed this once-great heritage brand, killed the jobs, killed the creativity, homogenized programming,

Wow. Where were you in 1997 when Westinghouse bought CBS? This is all old, old news. These two stations were kept alive artificially for 25 years. An entire generation of people have come along during this time, and NONE of them ever listened to all news radio. This is all about keeping boomers happy. Those of us who work in the business congratulate Craig Karmazin, another 2nd generation broadcaster, who has found a way to keep local radio alive on AM. You think creativity is playing records owned by foreign conglomerates.

In the meantime, how's the computer you're using? You like your smart phone? Do you ever thing that those two devices are the things that killed those jobs, killed that heritage, and killed that creativity? The audiences left long before iHeart and Audacy. The people killed news radio because they prefer getting their news on their personal devices. I get lectured about that every day. "Don't you know we can get traffic information on our phone? It's much better than what they do on the radio." Yes I know. That's why WCBS is going away.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Those of us who work in the business congratulate Craig Karmazin, another 2nd generation broadcaster, who has found a way to keep local radio alive on AM. You think creativity is playing records owned by foreign conglomerates.

In the meantime, how's the computer you're using? You like your smart phone? Do you ever thing that those two devices are the things that killed those jobs, killed that heritage, and killed that creativity?

The thing is, is Craig Karamzin "keeping AM alive" by using these AM transmitters to simulcast his digital platforms? Because that's essentially what is happening to 880, it's simulcasting "ESPN New York", based on the same ESPN digital property he also manages ad sales for. And Audacy only needs to pay the power bill at the transmitter site and file the bare minimum of FCC paperwork.

The tail is wagging the dog, and very loudly at that.

 

[TheBigA]

The thing is, is Craig Karamzin "keeping AM alive" by using these AM transmitters to simulcast his digital platforms?

You obviously don't listen. It's the other way around. The digital platforms are running his two local stations.

But as I said, the people are driving that action. It's been heading that way for 25 years. For years I've been told about how there's all this local news on smart phones. Nobody needs news on the radio anymore. OK.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

Good Karma is a diverse company. Obviously the focus is radio, digital media (Particularly ESPN) but they also owned Verizon stores and furniture stores. Craig also has ownership in the Milwaukee Bucks.

And yes, AM radio is where it got it's start, and it was not an ESPN or Sports station. It was a local small town full service station and it still exists on FM. The AM signal went to ESPN

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

The thing is, is Craig Karamzin "keeping AM alive" by using these AM transmitters to simulcast his digital platforms? Because that's essentially what is happening to 880, it's simulcasting "ESPN New York", based on the same ESPN digital property he also manages ad sales for. And Audacy only needs to pay the power bill at the transmitter site and file the bare minimum of FCC paperwork.

The tail is wagging the dog, and very loudly at that.

Wasn't the FCC recently bandying about no longer allowing two separate stations on the same band to simulcast?

1050 and 880 would be duplicating a lot of programming, even with the daytime local stuff, correct?

 

[DrJerry]

We Have Sooo many Questions

When I lived in the NY area years ago, I was always a Newsradio 88 fan. My dad listened to it... my grandfather listened to it. So a bit sad to see it go, but hardly unexpected. For me, the writing was on the wall as soon as WINS went to FM.

 

[TheBigA]

Wasn't the FCC recently bandying about no longer allowing two separate stations on the same band to simulcast?

1050 and 880 would be duplicating a lot of programming, even with the daytime local stuff, correct?

That only applies to FM.

FCC: Simulcast Limits On FMs Are ‘Useful Guardrail’ As It Revives Rules.

In a 3-2 party line vote, the FCC has partially reversed a 2020 decision to eliminate the simulcast rule for FMs while leaving it alone for AMs. The order says

www.insideradio.com

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Wow. Where were you in 1997 when Westinghouse bought CBS? This is all old, old news. These two stations were kept alive artificially for 25 years. An entire generation of people have come along during this time, and NONE of them ever listened to all news radio.

If there's an entire generation of people not listening to all news radio they're not listening to anything else on the radio either. Because guess what, the people heading these companies are all 65+ themselves.

Those of us who work in the business congratulate Craig Karmazin, another 2nd generation broadcaster, who has found a way to keep local radio alive on AM.

Congratulations to Craig Karmazin for pulling his station off the best FM signal in Market number one and putting it on the internet... with a couple of AM signals tagging along to retain the contractual obligations for carrying play by play sports. Yeah, a real hero for radio, sure. I'll tell you what, there are a lot of people besides you in the business who frequent this forum and I'll bet most of them are not here to cheerlead for Craig Karmazin over this.

You think creativity is playing records owned by foreign conglomerates.

Don't tell me what I think.

 

[TheBigA]

If there's an entire generation of people not listening to all news radio they're not listening to anything else on the radio either. Because guess what, the people heading these companies are all 65+ themselves.

Craig Karmazin is 49

Congratulations to Craig Karmazin for pulling his station off the best FM signal in Market number one and putting it on the internet...

He would have loved to keep it on 98.7, but the price was too high. More people have access to the internet.

Don't tell me what I think.

You want what you want and you want it for free with no commercials.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

You want what you want and you want it for free with no commercials.

When have I ever said such a thing? And who are you to suggest I did?

Also, why do you feel such a need to dominate every thread on this site with your endless gaslighting? Do you think people here want to see Big A in every third post of every thread? Do you believe people here will actually believe what you say if you talk enough, like what a great day this is for radio in New York? Maybe step back a bit and take the temperature of the room. No one here thinks that. In fact, I'll bet most of us think it's a pretty dark day for radio.

 

[exdjted]

Wasn't the FCC recently bandying about no longer allowing two separate stations on the same band to simulcast?

1050 and 880 would be duplicating a lot of programming, even with the daytime local stuff, correct?

No. That was about commercial FMs. 880 and 1050 will different in enough ways anyway, with 1050 carrying the national ESPN feed.

From Radio Insight June 10:

FCC Reinstates FM Duplication Rule For Commercial FMs

In July 2020, the FCC stated its intent to vote on eliminating the duplication rule for AMs to allow AM

radioinsight.com

101 is NOT affected by this at all, is it?

Nope. Nada. 880 is being leased. WCBS-FM, if it WERE sold, would be subject to the bankruptcy court and creditors getting a say. Besides, if GKB had wanted to stay on FM, they could have made a better deal with Emmis.

To recap:
1. WEPN 98.7 still doesn't have a buyer.
2. GKB is leasing 880, where the 98.7 programming is going.
3. WCBS-AM programming is going bye-bye, as Audacy concentrates on WINS.

What will happen to 98.7? Will John Catsimatidis realize his name is too long to work into threads and start going by "The Big Cats"? Will Rock and Sheila live happily forever now that Rock's wife Essence has been deported for practicing liposuction without a license?

Join us tomorrow for more rampant speculation on "As The Turd Turns" on most of these stations...

 

[AceBiscuits]

Someone just posted this about CBS-FM 101.1 in the "We Live in Bergen County" Facebook group!!
An editorial from a Bergenite:
I, as one, am very saddened and disappointed to hear the news that one of our staple radio stations, WCBS FM 101.1, will be no more as of August 26th. You see, I grew up listening to the likes of Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram.....and we can't leave out "The Cuz", Cousin Brucie. I began listening to those guys in the days of WABC Musicradio 77 (remember that station?) When WABC went to talk radio in 1982, I found my favorite DJs over at CBS FM, playing the oldies but goodies! CBS FM has changed their format in the last few years - not as many oldies - but now the station will become part of ESPN Sports talk radio, with new station call letters, as will sister station WCBS AM News 880.
If you were a listener to CBS FM, it's definitely the end of an era in local radio.

And then later he posted an update comment
UPDATE: CBS-FM will continue playing music for a time; WCBS 880 will transition as of Midnight August 26. Both stations have been acquired, and while FM will continue with music for a while longer, it will eventually transition to talk (date TBD). But there will be no more oldies after a time. Audicy, the company that owns both stations, will be changing 880s call letters also.

Sounds like someone is misunderstanding the news about WCBS 880 and conflating it with WCBS-FM.
Audacy's desperate, but they're not that desperate.

 

[TheBigA]

Do you think people here want to see Big A in every third post of every thread?

Obviously you do.