HOT 97.5 Sold to Good News Broadcasting

[101tm]

The idea would be to dump KOAI and "The Wow Factor," on 95.1 and replace it with KMVA and its hot AC format. The reasons Zeelus might do this are as follows:

1) Wow's audience is too old.
2) There are quite a few younger listeners living in the areas now served by KOAI who were unable to receive KZON well.
3) There is at least one oldies alternative (KAZG) that (sort of) covers the area, plus another (KSCW-LP, at 103.1 mHz) that serves a smaller concentrated area around Sun City.

I agree with your assessment, @ted chittenden - 95.1 would cover the area left behind by 97.5. I could definitely see a 103.9/95.1 simulcast in the future.

95.1 has already lost the more in-city 94.9 simulcast.

 

[Marcos_C]

The following article provides a short but insightful analysis about Zelus' sale of KMVA to Good News Broadcasting Network. It tells us what we know, what's at stake, what remains unclear, and what it means.

Zelus Media Sells Phoenix Hot AC Station for $1.5M

"This sale appears to be about portfolio optimization, not retreat."

barrettmedia.com

 

[EricStein]

I agree with your assessment, @ted chittenden - 95.1 would cover the area left behind by 97.5. I could definitely see a 103.9/95.1 simulcast in the future.

95.1 has already lost the more in-city 94.9 simulcast.

Theoretically, 95.1 has the same main license contour as 97.5. But, as mentioned elsewhere, they might be running from their auxillary permit location on the White Tank Mountains (there are no filings anywhere of them moving the primary signal to the White Tanks). If The Wow Factor was going to be the sacrificed format to keep a simulcast for Hot, why could have they just sold 95.1 and not cause listener confusion?

The following article provides a short but insightful analysis about Zelus' sale of KMVA to Good News Broadcasting Network. It tells us what we know, what's at stake, what remains unclear, and what it means.

Zelus Media Sells Phoenix Hot AC Station for $1.5M

"This sale appears to be about portfolio optimization, not retreat."

barrettmedia.com

I disagree with the article's conclusion. Zelus is running on borrowed time. If Power's ratings stay low (and lower than The Bounce), that "heritage billing" will dry up.

 

[K.M. Richards]

ASU had KASR-AM in the early 90s, I worked there for a semester doing news while getting my Broadcasting degree. Musically speaking, I think it was an alternative station (I lived off campus so could not hear it).

KASR (now KASC) is the carrier current station referenced in @Sammi Brie's post above. As such, it was limited to the dorms at ASU due to the transmission mode (which is, as you said, why you couldn't hear it).

 

[K.M. Richards]

.If The Wow Factor was going to be the sacrificed format to keep a simulcast for Hot, why could have they just sold 95.1 and not cause listener confusion?

Most likely answer: K-Love approached Zelus specifically about 97.5 and were not interested in 95.1.

 

[EricStein]

Most likely answer: K-Love approached Zelus specifically about 97.5 and were not interested in 95.1.

Still, Mr. Cutchall could have steered GNBN toward purchasing 95.1 instead. I guess some things aren't supposed to make sense to everyone.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Still, Mr. Cutchall could have steered GNBN toward purchasing 95.1 instead. I guess some things aren't supposed to make sense to everyone.

Sure, he could have. He may well have, for all we know. But in general, K-Love knows what it wants (covets) and has enough money to get what it wants 99% of the time.