ALOHA 96.5

[Rusty Muck]

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

Here's my timeline of how the swap played out:

WCLV 95/5 was traded by Radio Seaway to Salem to become WFHM/95.5 "The Fish"
WKDD/96.5 assumed WAKS' intellectual property as WAKS/96.5
WHK/98.1 was traded by Salem to Clear Channel to become WKDD/98.1
WAKS/104.9 was traded by Clear Channel to Radio Seaway/WCLV Foundation as WCLV/104.9

WRMR/850 assumed WKNR's intellectual property as WKNR/850
WKNR/1220 assumed WHK's intellectual property as WHK/1220
WHK/1420 was traded by Salem to Radio Seaway, assuming WRMR's intellectual property as WCLV/1420

The transactions were made official at 12:01AM on July 3, 2001.

WCLV's primary signal all along was supposed to have been 1420, with a west side relay on 104.9 given 1420's nighttime signal pattern (and the other oddities of the AM dial). Only when Salem announced that WRMR would be silenced did Radio Seaway make the deal to purchase WRMR's intellectual property for an undisclosed amount. Because they registered the call sign change for 1420 to WCLV calls with the FCC prior to the move, IIRC, that's why they became "Classic Pops" WCLV/1420 before taking back the WRMR calls in January 2003. Today, it's WHK/1420 again, with a cellar-dwelling sattelite-fed conservatalk format.

The following moves were not connected to the frequency swap at all:

WRBP/1440 Warren facility was purchased by Salem from Star Communications in March of 2001. It first took the WHKW calls, fell silent for a month or so while taking the WFHM calls as a placeholder for 95.5 (when it technically held the WHK-FM calls) before becoming WHKW again. Today WHKZ/1440, it's a semi-simulcast of today's WHKW/1220, breaking away nightly to air Warren native Hugh Hewitt.

WHLO was just a small divesture by Salem to Clear Channel in November 2001, maybe as a small condition of the swap but would be nearly impossible to verify. WHLO and WHK-FM were the two Akron-Canton properties in the Salem portfolio, which in early 2001 included WHK/98.1, WHLO/640, WRMR/850, WCCD/1000, WKNR/1220 and WHK/1420. WHLO dropped the satellite-fed "Solid Gospel" format to simulcast WKDD before adopting the current news/talk format.

- nate81 -

 

[Rusty Muck]

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.

I'm not sold on Radio One. Yes, the CHR format would be a fit for them. But CC will almost assuredly moving the whole WAKS kit-n-kaboodle to either 100.7, 105.7 or 106.5. Radio One would have to create a brand-new station to replace WAKS. I can't see that.

- nate81 -

 

[kentuckymedia]

I guess this brings back the overall option to have Good Karma as the taker. He could eventually replace the lost "Rock" format on 100.7 (after Kiss moves there) and bring in:

96.5 THE HOG - EVERYTHING THAT ROCK'S - Browns too!

 

[Lehos]

I hope WMVX stays as is, although many say to give it the boot, it's a perfect mix between Hot AC and Variety Hits that I just always seem to enjoy having on. I hate the voicetracking, but I think it has soooo much potential. Add a few more Hot AC currents, and let Daune & Jay talk a little bit more.

 

[VODood]

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 -

nathan

what do you think about Carl Hirsch possibly making a play? It's well known in radio circles he wants back into Cleveland. An Akron licensed station like 96.5 is essentially Cleveland.

Hmmm...maybe G-Man gets back in the "game" then. How that would rock!



I dont see CC putting CHR on 105.7, even with Lanigan retiring. The classic hts format on that signal is too successful. It would take some time, without Lanigan & Co, for the station to sink so low in revenue to need a flip. In today's short sightedness, WMJI as it stands brings in too much revenue for the cluster to blow that away for a "newer" format on that stick. The cost of lost revenue, plus marketing the new format on 105.7 is extreme. See WCBS.

 

[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 -

nathan

what do you think about Carl Hirsch possibly making a play? It's well known in radio circles he wants back into Cleveland. An Akron licensed station like 96.5 is essentially Cleveland.

Hmmm...maybe G-Man gets back in the "game" then. How that would rock!

Chuck, I'd love the possibility. Carl did leave NextMedia some time ago; and while he was rumored to buy WKNR back in '06, this would be a far more logical option. It is a full-market FM signal without the programming limitations that WKNR has, given no major local sports PBP. If he bought a standalone signal, this would be it. (And just the thought of G-Man coming back as PD... !)

Most thought Carl was crazy in 1985 when he bought KJOI in LA for a very steep price... but lightening CAN strike twice. Even with a 23-year difference, mind you. And he shouldn't have a problem getting other investors to back him up, no?

I dont see CC putting CHR on 105.7, even with Lanigan retiring. The classic hts format on that signal is too successful. It would take some time, without Lanigan & Co, for the station to sink so low in revenue to need a flip. In today's short sightedness, WMJI as it stands brings in too much revenue for the cluster to blow that away for a "newer" format on that stick. The cost of lost revenue, plus marketing the new format on 105.7 is extreme. See WCBS.

That I totally agree with. WMJI is a far cry from its former glory, but it would be ridiculous to blow it up. Even though when Lanigan retires, the morning slot will be a gigantic hole to fill. Would be wise for them to be music-intensive after the retirement for a few months, then decide what to do. (And while I've written otherwise in the past, personally, I've never been sold on Brian & Joe. Like when they were on WMMS, it wouldn't fit at all.)

Placing a CHR on there will be a PR nightmare for CC. Worse than what WCBS incured with the "JackFM" disaster. Why remove one of your strongpoints?

WMJI is already at the 60s/70s/80s route, and if WAKS moved over to 106.5, the caniballization between "Majic" and "Mix" would end. After all, 106.5 has ALWAYS leaned heavily on 80s music ever since the Randy James years. The listeners would likely scoot over to 105.7.

- nate81 aka Myron -

 

[kentuckymedia]

What about the possibility of getting Carl and Craig in the same room. Yes he likes to run things on his own, but the Good Karma radio empire could expand with Carl as a partner. Maybe have him come in and shore things up in Cleveland, and then once Clear Channel spins clusters off like Toledo and Akron in 2009 or 2010, Good Karma could snatch some of those markets up. Maybe become a Great Lakes empire.

 

[kentuckymedia]

Can imagine it now...

GOOD KARMA CLEVELAND

850 WKNR - AM "ESPN 850 WKNR"
1540 WWGK-AM "1540 KNR-2"
96.5 WKNR-FM "96.5 THE HOG"

With Clear Channel not being allowed to renew a lot of contracts, GK could walk in and offer a nice price-tag for The Browns at the end of the year. Eventually grab Cavs down the road too.

GOOD KARMA JANESVILLE - BELOIT

1380 WTGK-AM "ESPN 1380 WTGK"
105.9 WKPO-FM "105.9 THE HOG"

GOOD KARMA BEAVER DAM

1430 WBEV-AM "1430 WBEV - Your Hometown Station"
1580 WTTN-AM "1580 THE GOOSE"
95.3 WXRO-FM "95.3 WXRO Country"

GOOD KARMA MADISON

100.5 WTLX-FM "100.5 WISCONSIN RADIO"

GOOD KARMA MILWAUKEE

540 WRRD-AM "ESPN MILWAUKEE 540"
1510 WAUK-AM "ESPN MILWAUKEE-2 WAUK"

 

[Speaker of Truth]

For those of you wishing a return of Carl Hirsch, his money is tied up in the GoodRadio operation based in Florida, with a bunch of small market properties in Missouri and Iowa to show for it....how much money he was able to collect out of the NextMedia safe is up for any educated guess, but he saw a significant wad of cash go up in smoke..how much he would have left for any Cleveland purchases is anyone's guess, but watch your back if you want to work for the SOB..

 

[VODood]

For those of you wishing a return of Carl Hirsch, his money is tied up in the GoodRadio operation based in Florida, with a bunch of small market properties in Missouri and Iowa to show for it....how much money he was able to collect out of the NextMedia safe is up for any educated guess, but he saw a significant wad of cash go up in smoke..how much he would have left for any Cleveland purchases is anyone's guess, but watch your back if you want to work for the SOB..

I'm sure Carl, and former partners like Dean Thacker, could get together monies.


Doesn't Hirsch also own a lot of towers?

 

[jessejames44]

Seems to me, Spanish and Urban won't be targets...people meters will come to Cleveland someday soon and, with those formats, you're just setting yourself up to be mediochre at best. Hispanic population is TINY and Cleveland already has several urban options...

 

[VODood]

Seems to me, Spanish and Urban won't be targets...people meters will come to Cleveland someday soon and, with those formats, you're just setting yourself up to be mediochre at best. Hispanic population is TINY and Cleveland already has several urban options...

Agreed young Jesse :0)

Hispanic pop in Cleveland is nil. Why target the illegals anyway? :0)

There's room for another country in Cleveland. Strong 25-54's. Don't have to win in ratings, just take 3-4 shares from WGAR, and more importantly revenue.

 

[Rusty Muck]

For those of you wishing a return of Carl Hirsch, his money is tied up in the GoodRadio operation based in Florida, with a bunch of small market properties in Missouri and Iowa to show for it....how much money he was able to collect out of the NextMedia safe is up for any educated guess, but he saw a significant wad of cash go up in smoke..how much he would have left for any Cleveland purchases is anyone's guess, but watch your back if you want to work for the SOB..

I'm sure Carl, and former partners like Dean Thacker, could get together monies.


Doesn't Hirsch also own a lot of towers?

He should still own the WFHM/WKRK tower (adjacent to the WCLV studios in Warrensville Hts) under the OmniAmerica name. I remember he bought them in 1998...

- nate81 aka Myron -

 

[david9396]

nate--whats with the myron alias?

david9396

 

[HHH]

VoDood:

You wrote:

"Hispanic pop in Cleveland is nil. Why target the illegals anyway? :0)"

I know that you were probably kidding, but I will point out that:

a) Not everybody that speaks Spanish is illegal.

b) There were thousands and thousands of German illegals tracked in the USA last year, but nobody ever talks about them.

 

[jessejames44]

Nobody ever talks about them and you have to point it out and it shocks people to hear it...because they're not being a visible drain on society. (BTW...I'm part hispanic, speak spanish, used to date one of the aforementioned "illegal germans," know several "illegal hispanics," and live in NYC...so I kinda know the subject and, as "mean" as my statement is, it's true)


BUT...social commentary is not the point of this board. The point is, there is no viable hispanic market in any city in Ohio.

 

[VODood]

the smiley face usually means kidding.

 

[Rusty Muck]

nate--whats with the myron alias?

david9396

Well, there is a reason... it is my "radio name." The myspace page link should explain.

- nate81 aka Myron -

 

[Rusty Muck]

Seems to me, Spanish and Urban won't be targets...people meters will come to Cleveland someday soon and, with those formats, you're just setting yourself up to be mediochre at best. Hispanic population is TINY and Cleveland already has several urban options...

Agreed young Jesse :0)

Hispanic pop in Cleveland is nil. Why target the illegals anyway? :0)

There's room for another country in Cleveland. Strong 25-54's. Don't have to win in ratings, just take 3-4 shares from WGAR, and more importantly revenue.

The Hispanic population base is just limited to the west side of Cleveland and Lorain. So it never was a shock that WDLW was the only such station in Cleveland that played a Hispanic format. Their problem all along was the night signal, which totally drops off everywhere outside of Lorain County, and severly limited the listener base to just West and South Lorain. It's no wonder, really, that Vernon Baldwin finally gave up after four years and sold it.

Honestly, there is no realistic station around - not even 104.9 - that would want to try again with Hispanic music. The revenue just doesn't exist for it to survive. Period.

- nate81 aka Myron -

 

[VODood]

Seems to me, Spanish and Urban won't be targets...people meters will come to Cleveland someday soon and, with those formats, you're just setting yourself up to be mediochre at best. Hispanic population is TINY and Cleveland already has several urban options...

Agreed young Jesse :0)

Hispanic pop in Cleveland is nil. Why target the illegals anyway? :0)

There's room for another country in Cleveland. Strong 25-54's. Don't have to win in ratings, just take 3-4 shares from WGAR, and more importantly revenue.

The Hispanic population base is just limited to the west side of Cleveland and Lorain. So it never was a shock that WDLW was the only such station in Cleveland that played a Hispanic format. Their problem all along was the night signal, which totally drops off everywhere outside of Lorain County, and severly limited the listener base to just West and South Lorain. It's no wonder, really, that Vernon Baldwin finally gave up after four years and sold it.

Honestly, there is no realistic station around - not even 104.9 - that would want to try again with Hispanic music. The revenue just doesn't exist for it to survive. Period.

- nate81 aka Myron -

Quite a big latino contingent in Geneva/Geneva-on-the-Lake. Lots of chopped chevy's and dudes in headbands.


Jesse..please pass along to "Uncle Buck" that it's time for his e-n-e-m-a