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amisdead
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Citadel flipped the struggling Platinum 96.7 in Dallas to a simulcast of News/Talk WBAP just yesterday, how long until they give up on The Edge for WMAL?
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Unfortunatly for Citadel, 105.9 is not the best FM signal around, and I seriously doubt they would flip WRQX to 105.9 so that WMAL could use 107.3, and they certainly don't have the cash to buy a better stick.
Limbaugh's numbers are probably helping to float WMAL, not the other way around. However, a powerful FM would certainly bolster anything that WMAL now has.
WMAL is not the only News-Talker in the area that could use an FM pick-me-up. Baltimore's WBAL has a tight North/South pattern that keeps it out of many of the more prosperous western suburbs after dark. So an FM simulcast would be a real boost particularly in winter months. Shamrock's cellar dwelling WZBA's Owings Mills stick would work quite nicely. But then rival WCBM could use the same boost, so the first one with an FM might end up as the single Baltimore News/Talk survivor.
Limbaugh's numbers are probably helping to float WMAL, not the other way around. However, a powerful FM would certainly bolster anything that WMAL now has.
WMAL is not the only News-Talker in the area that could use an FM pick-me-up. Baltimore's WBAL has a tight North/South pattern that keeps it out of many of the more prosperous western suburbs after dark. So an FM simulcast would be a real boost particularly in winter months. Shamrock's cellar dwelling WZBA's Owings Mills stick would work quite nicely. But then rival WCBM could use the same boost, so the first one with an FM might end up as the single Baltimore News/Talk survivor.
Since CC controls Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, AM Coast to Coast and a flock of other syndicated programs, a Clear Channel owned "Limbaugh" superstation on an FM stick similar to what they did in North Carolina is a possibility. Especially if they feel the AM stations currently clearing their programs are slipping. Such a station with a primarily syndicated talk format and local Morning Drive show with limited news content could be a money maker.
One other thing to consider is that while Citadel is currently tied up in their bankruptcy proceedings, at some point in the future, they will have a lot of premo properties to keep, sell or trade for other stations.
One other thing to consider is that while Citadel is currently tied up in their bankruptcy proceedings, at some point in the future, they will have a lot of premo properties to keep, sell or trade for other stations.
Dave Hughes must read this board. No sooner than the above two posts were posted, DCRTV.com posted a blurb that he hears "rumblings" that CC could transform 102.7 FM to "Rush Radio." He also points out that 102.7 has a good signal in DC, let alone Baltimore, and I'll take him at his word, since he lives in the DC area.
That's amusing DToTheJ. Since we have been talking about it, let me toss out an idea to think about: A "Super" Rush Superstation, or more correctly a pair of stations.
In both Baltimore and Washington the AM stations that carry CC's big talk shows (WMAL & WCBM) are in slow ratings decline. Also it has been widely reported that CC was not happy with WABC dropping the overnight AM Coast to Coast for a Citadel produced show (it's cheaper that way), so AM CtoC has been expected to disappear soon from WMAL and many of the other Citadel O&O's.
If CC has decided to be the master of their own destiny, then it would not be unreasonable to take one of the Clear Channel FM's that are at the bottom of the heap in Washington, WMZQ and WIAD come to mind. Take the 98.7 frequency (its footprint goes farther south than 94.7) and simulcast it with 102.7 in Baltimore, either with separate or a common shared Morning Drive program. WMZQ and WIAD can then fight for the 94.7 frequency. You would then have a program footprint from York, PA to Fredericksburg, VA. covering something like 13 million people.
It might not happen, but it is something to think about.
In both Baltimore and Washington the AM stations that carry CC's big talk shows (WMAL & WCBM) are in slow ratings decline. Also it has been widely reported that CC was not happy with WABC dropping the overnight AM Coast to Coast for a Citadel produced show (it's cheaper that way), so AM CtoC has been expected to disappear soon from WMAL and many of the other Citadel O&O's.
If CC has decided to be the master of their own destiny, then it would not be unreasonable to take one of the Clear Channel FM's that are at the bottom of the heap in Washington, WMZQ and WIAD come to mind. Take the 98.7 frequency (its footprint goes farther south than 94.7) and simulcast it with 102.7 in Baltimore, either with separate or a common shared Morning Drive program. WMZQ and WIAD can then fight for the 94.7 frequency. You would then have a program footprint from York, PA to Fredericksburg, VA. covering something like 13 million people.
It might not happen, but it is something to think about.
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