Just look at it as an opportunity for a barely profitable AM station in NYC (are there any?) to flip to "All Caribbean all the time." It's Darwin at work, only the strong survive.
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Another Christian FM For New York
- Thread starter Barry
- Start date
If I may play devil's advocate (ironically enough)...
New York would benefit greatly from Vida Unida. The only option for Spanish Christian content on FM is Radio Cántico Nuevo, and that is mainly preaching. Vida Unida is like a Spanish K-Love, the more music-based CCM that is extremely popular in Puerto Rico to the point that a station doing the format in San Juan regularly makes the book despite its limited coverage.
New York would benefit greatly from Vida Unida. The only option for Spanish Christian content on FM is Radio Cántico Nuevo, and that is mainly preaching. Vida Unida is like a Spanish K-Love, the more music-based CCM that is extremely popular in Puerto Rico to the point that a station doing the format in San Juan regularly makes the book despite its limited coverage.
I think that may make sense, instead of trying to compete with K-Love.
"Christian" or "religious" is not a "format" as religious radio can run from highly sectarian preaching and teaching to non-denominational music of a variety of types.
So, if there is support for a variety of religious based stations in a market, that is no different than looking at the support potential for any number of different rock formats... many of which will not share listeners with other kinds of rock stations.
This is sort of like the occasional comments we see about "too may Spanish stations..." In fact, "Spanish" is not a format but, just, a language. And in that language there are as many or, probably, more different radio formats than there are in English.
The San Juan station, actually licensed to rural Cidra and covers about 70% of the Island population with its 60 dbu signal. It is generally in the 8th to 10th rank position in the single-station ratings and is very popular as it is well done and "sounds like" any of the good secular stations in production, music rotation and talent.
WNVM in Puerto Rico is quite like K-Love, but in Spanish. Same format, different language.
The WVIP hosts/producers were taken by surprise with this news.
According to one I listened to on the day following the announcement (Saturday), a WVIP representative informed the producers of the pending transfer by a phone call that lasted all of 45 seconds. The host stated he (and others) were told that WVIP was "transferring its broadcasting rights" to Hope Media Group–which would imply a lease and not an outright sale of 93.5. The phone calls offered no other details, so the producers are still in the dark about the other details.
The Afro-Caribbean community in the north Bronx and southern Westchester County is an engaged one, and they will most certainly speak out about this proposed transfer in the coming days and weeks.
According to one I listened to on the day following the announcement (Saturday), a WVIP representative informed the producers of the pending transfer by a phone call that lasted all of 45 seconds. The host stated he (and others) were told that WVIP was "transferring its broadcasting rights" to Hope Media Group–which would imply a lease and not an outright sale of 93.5. The phone calls offered no other details, so the producers are still in the dark about the other details.
The Afro-Caribbean community in the north Bronx and southern Westchester County is an engaged one, and they will most certainly speak out about this proposed transfer in the coming days and weeks.
Considering the sale has already been filed with the FCC, "Transfer of broadcast rights" meant selling the license.
Does New York even has any Catholic stations?
Sure. Relevant Radio 1430 (WNSW/Newark), WKBR-LP in Northern Westchester…plus I’m sure there are others.
As often happens, the kids and/or grandkids really aren't that interested in the family business and just want the money. We've seen at least a handful of companies do that in the last 20 years. I seem to remember hearing that only about 1/3 of family businesses are still in the family three years after the previous owner dies.
How many of these exorbitant sale prices have been paid since the Great Recession, though? The $250 million purchase of 96.3 in LA from Foursquare Gospel happened in the late-90's/early-00's as I recall. For stations to go for 10-15 cash flow wasn't rare at that time. If that's happened in the last 10 years, I don't remember seeing it.
I'm not sure I agree with the notion that noncommercial operators are habitually overpaying. From what I understand, they tend to have a set amount they're willing to pay per head in the primary signal contour. They won't go over that, but that's often more than what commercial operators are presently willing to pay. While I suppose that could constitute an overpayment, they wouldn't be paying that if they didn't think it was worth their while.
95.1 in Brooklyn,96.7,95.5,103.9 and 99.1 are Christian.I get all of these in Midwood,Brooklyn.93.5 comes in as well.
Welp...People of New York City and in the listening area are outraged that their station WVIP is flipping to a Christian station. I wonder how many more stations will flip to that very format. It is sad to see this go too.
Noooo, the people who are "outraged" -- that's probably too strong a word, "upset" is a better one -- are the folks who buy brokered time on the station, produce and/or host shows, and their advertisers and listeners. The producers/hosts lose a channel for their businesses, the advertisers lose an outlet to reach customers or potential ones, and the listeners in (predominantly) the Caribbean community lose a source of information, entertainment and connection to said community.
If you're in the station's footprint but not in one of the aforementioned groups, it's just another spot on a dying dial for stuff you care not a whit about.
I doubt that even within the local Caribbean community, the sale of WVIP will be regarded as much of a loss. Much of their (brokered) programming consists of infomercials for such products as herbal supplements.
When I’ve visited local Caribbean neighborhoods, I’ve heard radios tuned to pirate stations; never WVIP.
BTW, the HD2 has been carrying Talkline. It is the only full-time station oriented towards the large local Jewish community.
When I’ve visited local Caribbean neighborhoods, I’ve heard radios tuned to pirate stations; never WVIP.
BTW, the HD2 has been carrying Talkline. It is the only full-time station oriented towards the large local Jewish community.
As previously speculated... it looks like it has been confirmed to be for their spanish-language Vida Unida format.
www.hisair.net
Hope Group Media Group Buys NYC Signal - HisAir.Net
Hope Media Group is purchasing WVIP/New Rochelle, NY (93.5 FM in New York) for its Spanish Christian Vida Unida network.
www.hisair.net
Nothing yet on either the Hope Media Group or Vida Unida websites about this, but no reason to doubt that report.As previously speculated... it looks like it has been confirmed to be for their spanish-language Vida Unida format.
Hope Group Media Group Buys NYC Signal - HisAir.Net
Hope Media Group is purchasing WVIP/New Rochelle, NY (93.5 FM in New York) for its Spanish Christian Vida Unida network.
HMG appears to be in expansion mode, perhaps picking up anything EMF passed over or didn’t need.
English version of the VU website: en | Vida Unida
HisAir is a pretty reputable Christian radio trade site. I doubt he is speculating. Ted does a lot of interviews, most of which are on the non-com music side and likely he heard it first hand.
Will be a good fit, the signal covers the Bronx and South Werstchester very well where there are many Spanish language speakers. No need to take on EMF on 95.5 with an English language format.
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