ALOHA 96.5

[kentuckymedia]

I thought it was a catch subject line

Anyhow, a lot of speculation is rising because of the large sales coming soon to the Cleveland radio landscape.

Aloha Trust is required to sell 96.5 WAKS - FM. The signal is a strong contender in the market for ratings, however it is licensed to Akron. So here are some possibilities.

(Option A) Good Karma purchases the station

(Option B) Rubber City Radio Group purchases the station

WAKS does well for CC-Cleveland. So here comes a little history lesson. Do you remember when Jacor had everything ready (down to the jingle package, logo and new voicework) ready for 100.7 KISS FM? At the last minute they scrapped everything and decided to go with 104.9 Kiss FM. Well, that should have been some sort of pre-mature announcement.

WAKS could very easily slide over to 100.7 KISS FM. Thus dropping the WMMS brand completely. Or shifting that over to WMVX. Either is a viable option. However, my gut is telling me that we will soon hear 100.7 KISS FM.

The Good Karma option comes into play here very well. Good Karma could launch a new Rocker on 100.7. Or they could place their successful WKNR on the FM Band as well.

Second option - Rubber City Radio Group. While this may come as a strange bit of vision, it makes a lot of sense. Rubber City would love a 3rd FM to take the air-waves in their building on West Market. 96.5 would fit perfectly. They could really do 2 options. Simulcast 1590 and 96.5 (which most likely wont happen). Or they could launch a 3rd music FM. Initially I would assume some sort of Gold AC that would compete with WDOK / WKDD / WMJI. However when WKDD was Top 40 and focused on Akron, they were untouchable. And with the old WKDD Programming king in the building, it could make sense for them to launch a Adult CHR and make KDD focus on Canton. Anything is possible.

 

[Rusty Muck]

First, 100.7 was to become KISS-FM back in 1998. Period. VODood validates this right down the letter. CC only bought WZLE/104.9 from Vernon Baldwin just TWO WEEKS after renegging on WMMS' format.


Let me play Devil's Advocate here:

Now, If Good Karma wants to even think of stealing the Browns rights away from CC, they will need an FM signal. Pretty much standard within the NFL, as most major flagships exist on the FM dial. And with all other PBP contracts locked up in the 6200 Oaktree Deathstar, the Browns would be the earliest to expire, right?

But, does Craig really want to buy such a signal? Yes, I'd see it as a "filler," extending WKNR-AM's coverage area (especially at night) to Sandusky and Akron/Canton. And that's a BIG plus. 96.5 is not a class-A signal... the extent of which are the other two signals in GK's profile (both are move-in's into the Madison market.)

So that's unchartered territory for them if they decided to bite. Even by buying WKNR, it was the largest, full-time AM station in a Top 30 market purchase to date. And they were finally able to upgrade their flagship station in Milwaukee, WAUK-AM, thanks to another Salem divesture.


I can't see RCRG trying to get 96.5 at all. CC already engineered the signal onto the WTAM tower in Brecksville as a move-in. Trying to promote it as an Akron station again, and with a new format to boot, wouldn't work. RCRG doesn't impress me as a company that would do this...


Or, does Salem buy 96.5 and move the WHKW intellectual property onto there, prompting a format/frequency sale of sorts? Highly doubtful.


EMF? with a 103.7-Tiffin/96.5-Akron tandem as a possiblity, they might go for it. But, God (ha!) you'd hope not.


CC may as well be stuck in the same situation as Radio One and Emmis in Los Angeles. Each has a stand-alone FM signal that they each are desperate to sell, but no one's biting. (In Radio One's case, they may have shot themselves in the foot by setting the bar too high at $100M!)

- nate81 -

 

[1sttimecaller]

I can't see CC selling to Rubbercity. While they may have to sell it, it won't be to somebody who can cause issues for an existing CC Cluster. Same goes for Radio-one or CBS.

Best Bet's:

WCLV - Ever since Robert Conrad said he was "forced" to sell 95.5 in order to keep classical on the air in Cleveland, the art community has and shame on them, turned their back on him. He's sitting on enough cash to pull off a purchase and give the orginal oldies back to Cleveland on a full market signal.

WKNR - This could happen. Craig is buying big signals. CC has made it known they won't be staying in the game of paying big $$ to keep the big teams. I'm guessing WTAM could lose one of the big three in the next year or two. Craig could end up with an FM and the cavs, browns or indians.

Spanish - Cleveland has a growing latino community, but it's still under 10%. If you sell the station to a spanish broadcaster, they won't put on a format that could force the ratings to drop for one of your stations, at least in the near future.

Cumulus -They have been making swaps with CC in other markets. Perhaps there was a wink and a promise to get them into the Cleveland Market.


Just my two cents. WHo knows.

 

[kentuckymedia]

So say that RCRG doesnt buy the stick. Possibilities do inclue EMF. The other one that most people like is Good Karma.

So here are two other options (if you take RCRG out of the Mix)

GOOD KARMA

Good Karma buys the stick. With 100.7's Rock Format possibly being displaced by Kiss FM, He could end up building a similar HOG station here in Cleveland. And for all intentional purposes...it could work! So you have 96.5 The Hog - Everything That Rocks. You get rid of the emotional WMMS baggage and you could eventually steel away the Browns rights to be carried on both 850 and 96.5. I really like this idea, and it very well might work!

ELYRIA LORAIN

Ah, but yes...The most silent group of people in Cleveland Radio. They may be silent for a very good reason, maybe they are banking away cash to buy this stick. My initial thought is to place some kind of AAA format on there (similar to LKR). This way they could own the 2 niche stations in the Cleveland Market. 107.3 The Wave and 96.5 The Lake.

 

[VODood]

First, 100.7 was to become KISS-FM back in 1998. Period. VODood validates this right down the letter. CC only bought WZLE/104.9 from Vernon Baldwin just TWO WEEKS after renegging on WMMS' format.


Let me play Devil's Advocate here:

Now, If Good Karma wants to even think of stealing the Browns rights away from CC, they will need an FM signal. Pretty much standard within the NFL, as most major flagships exist on the FM dial. And with all other PBP contracts locked up in the 6200 Oaktree Deathstar, the Browns would be the earliest to expire, right?

But, does Craig really want to buy such a signal? Yes, I'd see it as a "filler," extending WKNR-AM's coverage area (especially at night) to Sandusky and Akron/Canton. And that's a BIG plus. 96.5 is not a class-A signal... the extent of which are the other two signals in GK's profile (both are move-in's into the Madison market.)

So that's unchartered territory for them if they decided to bite. Even by buying WKNR, it was the largest, full-time AM station in a Top 30 market purchase to date. And they were finally able to upgrade their flagship station in Milwaukee, WAUK-AM, thanks to another Salem divesture.


I can't see RCRG trying to get 96.5 at all. CC already engineered the signal onto the WTAM tower in Brecksville as a move-in. Trying to promote it as an Akron station again, and with a new format to boot, wouldn't work. RCRG doesn't impress me as a company that would do this...


Or, does Salem buy 96.5 and move the WHKW intellectual property onto there, prompting a format/frequency sale of sorts? Highly doubtful.


EMF? with a 103.7-Tiffin/96.5-Akron tandem as a possiblity, they might go for it. But, God (ha!) you'd hope not.


CC may as well be stuck in the same situation as Radio One and Emmis in Los Angeles. Each has a stand-alone FM signal that they each are desperate to sell, but no one's biting. (In Radio One's case, they may have shot themselves in the foot by setting the bar too high at $100M!)

- nate81 -

Salem is selling off quite a few stations, and Radio One is hurting for $$$ as well.

 

[VODood]

I can't see CC selling to Rubbercity. While they may have to sell it, it won't be to somebody who can cause issues for an existing CC Cluster. Same goes for Radio-one or CBS.

Best Bet's:

WCLV - Ever since Robert Conrad said he was "forced" to sell 95.5 in order to keep classical on the air in Cleveland, the art community has and shame on them, turned their back on him. He's sitting on enough cash to pull off a purchase and give the orginal oldies back to Cleveland on a full market signal.

WKNR - This could happen. Craig is buying big signals. CC has made it known they won't be staying in the game of paying big $$ to keep the big teams. I'm guessing WTAM could lose one of the big three in the next year or two. Craig could end up with an FM and the cavs, browns or indians.

Spanish - Cleveland has a growing latino community, but it's still under 10%. If you sell the station to a spanish broadcaster, they won't put on a format that could force the ratings to drop for one of your stations, at least in the near future.

Cumulus -They have been making swaps with CC in other markets. Perhaps there was a wink and a promise to get them into the Cleveland Market.


Just my two cents. WHo knows.

having a stand alone in Cleveland would be tough from a competitive stand point. You'd get squeezed by many a station(s).

If you had at least two, one to flank, then you'd be okay.

I don't see Cumulus buying into Cleveland.


While we're on topic... what about the Cumulus Stratus Trust that includes two Toledo stations, WTWR/Tower 98-3 (licensed to Monroe MI) and classic rock WXKR/94-5, licensed to Port Clinton? WXKR is heard loud n proud in counties West of Cleveland. I get it to North Olmsted.


Elyria-Lorain? Possibly. It would be a LARGE chunk of cash for them.

 

[VODood]

Oh... and then there's the whole Carl Hirsch idea again.

Since WAKS is an Akron signal, technically, that would reduce the price compared to it being a "Cleveland signal", yes?


I think Carl may be ready to get back in NE Ohio radio.

 

[JohnboyCrenshaw]

WAKS 96.5 is licensed to Akron (Summit county, Akron metro), but is "above the line" in the Cleveland book.

WQMX 94.9 is licensed to Medina (Medina county, Cleveland metro), but is "above the line" in the Akron book.

I was under the impression that a station's sale price was related to trailing 12-month cash flow, and a multiple.

JbC

 

[1sttimecaller]

Johnboy Crenshaw-

A slight correction - WAKS is listed above the line in Akron. Started that way with the Winter Book 2006.

I assume it was an attempt to fall under the cap in Cleveland, prior to the market coverage rulings.

 

[YEKIMI]

KYMedia, I don't think Elyria-Lorain can afford to buy much of anything right now, in addition to their stations they also own the Lorain Journal [or whatever it's called] & the Medina Gazette and they just spent $12,000,000 installing new printing presses. So I have a feeling they may be out of the running.

 

[Rusty Muck]

KYMedia, I don't think Elyria-Lorain can afford to buy much of anything right now, in addition to their stations they also own the Lorain Journal [or whatever it's called] & the Medina Gazette and they just spent $12,000,000 installing new printing presses. So I have a feeling they may be out of the running.

Here's how it really is:

Since 1958, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting has been owned by Lorain County Printing & Publishing, which owns both the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette. So it's kinda the other way around.

I doubt that they would make a play for 96.5, and if they did, it very well would have to be shoehorned into the current WEOL/WNWV studios in downtown Elyria. (Just think: a station licensed to Akron that targets the Cleveland market with studios in Elyria? Wow.) The asking price might be a tad too steep for them, considering if CC really ups the price.

- nate81 -

 

[HHH]

I don't know how these things really work, but here is my 2 cents from a "wishful" standpoint mixed with a dose of reality.

Clear Channel will probably not want to sell anything to someone who will go up against them. So, if 96.5 is spun, they may cut a deal with (as mentioned) Bob Conrad (hooray!) or some religious group (boo!). Both would keep 96.5 off their back. By the way, if Conrad goes to 96.5, the 104.9 present WCLV frequency would make a perfect Hispanic station. 104.9 is a smaller, class "a" frequency that has no prayer of doing anything but a niche format, and--if you look at the coverage map--covers exactly where the Hispanic audience is (Lorain and west side-city Cleveland).

WAKS, for all practical purposes, is a Cleveland station, I don't care what their (well hidden) ID says. They broadcast from the same tower that Cleveland's WZAK does. Also: Regardless of what someone posted, they ARE a full market signal.....just not one of the very best like
WMJI.

Not impossible that Carl Hirsch may be lurking somewhere. But, a lot has changed since he was involved in Cleveland. Radio listenership and appeal is down, the stations (even at fire sale prices) are still priced way overboard, and he would have rough going unless he puts together a cluster, not a single stand-alone. More money. More investment. Lots of risk. Would be cool, though, but not a slam dunk financial model these days by any means.

 

[kentuckymedia]

Ah, but this could make sense. So per-se Conrad purchases 96.5 and spins off 104.9 to Elyria Lorain!

 

[Rusty Muck]

I'm trying to remember here... if WCLV may have to have their Foundation (which owns the 104.9 license and LMA's to Radio Seaway in perpetuality) make the move.

Given its status as a small class A signal, the original arrangement called for WCLV to relay their signal from 1420 onto 104.9, the former of which Seaway was to own outright (and did until 2004). Only Salem's annouced execution of WRMR weeks before the 2001 switch prevented that arrangement from happening in the original configuration.

Yes, I agree. CC would really want to get 96.5 off their back. The only way that doesn't happen is if they are sorely pressed for time to sell the station with the feds breathing down their backs. If there are no takers for the initial asking price (as what has happened with Radio One in LA; they are REALLY hurting as a result), they may have no choice but to give it away. That's only if Radio Seaway didn't enter the picture.

- nate81 -

 

[HHH]

<<<<Ah, but this could make sense. So per-se Conrad purchases 96.5 and spins off 104.9 to Elyria Lorain!>>>>>

......who takes it Spanish. Perfect fit for various reasons.

 

[david9396]

lessee now, if i remember correctly in the great frequency swap of 2001---

640 salem solid gospel went to cc to resume newstalk
850 wrmr standards went to 1420 to become wclv junior
1220 wknr was bot by salem, moved to 850
95.5 wclv classical moved to 104.9
96.5 wkdd cc moved to 98.1 canton as wkdd
98.1 wtof/whk-fm moved to 1220 by salem
104.9 hot hits became 96.5 kiss for cc

so now cc has to sell off 96.5 and conrad is unhappy with 104.9. can anyone say 2008 great frequency swap reversal??

lessee--
wclv would move from 104.9 to 96.5
wknr would move simulblast on 104.9 and 1220
salem would move 1420 to 850 for newstalk
salem 955 and cc 981 would trade frequencies


nah, just like all the other speculation here, nothing makes sense....

just my .02

david9396 formerly david5258

 

[SonoSational18]

Unlikely that Conrad would buy 96.5. Most of the proceeds of their sale of 95.5 went into the foundation that was to provide for Classical radio in greater Cleveland. Otherwise, Conrad/Seaway would have hung on to 95.5 in the first place and not make the move. Although I don't think station prices in Cleveland would rival those back a few years when the "stupid" money was flying around, I don't think Conrad would be able to pick it up at fire sale prices. WCLV's best shot at improving coverage would be to acquire 104.7 in Geneva and either simulcast or take it off the air and upgrade 104.9's stick (remember, WKKY was originally on 104.9).

For many of the same reasons I doubt that Good Karma or Rubber City would shell out the money for "waterfront" property. Both operate leaner operations. Why pay upwards of $50 million for a stick to move it back to Akron?

Don't rule out Radio One. WAKS' present urban-leaning CHR format has good synergy with WZAK and WENZ. If Kiss is cashflowing, Radio One could find the money. They might swap WERE back to Clear Channel in lieu of some cash. Also don't rule out a stand-alone operator. WNWV is doing ok as a stand-alone... and stand-alones in places like Philadelphia (WBEB), Washington (WHUR), Columbus (WBNS), Kansas City (KPRS), Dallas (KKDA), and others are all doing well. Also, don't rule out another group coming in and buying WAKS and WNWV (or even one of those Rubber City properties that are potential Cleveland move-ins.

 

[1sttimecaller]

640 WHLO was not involved in the 2001 Freq Swap, that happened a year later.

 

[david9396]

640 suffered thru 6 months as asimulcast of wkdd before going newstalk with bill hall, clark howard, dr.laura and rush. that 6 months began july 2001.--david9396 formerly david5258

 

[InsertNameHere]

David my friend, you are mistaken. WHLO simulcasting began on December 31, 2001. Thats the first time I recall hearing the "640 WHLO Akron" snuck in the WKDD legal ID.

Simulcasting ended on June 7, 2002 when WHLO stunted thru the weekend with a loop of old 'HLO Hello Radio clips from the 60's and 70's.
News Talk 640 was born at 6am on Monday June 10, 2002.