WNTIRadio said:
That wouldn't give enough coverage in the northern part of the state to make it worthwhile for Townsquare. WDHA's signal in much of Bergen county is no better than 101.5's fringe signal already (barely) reaching those areas.
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At What Point Will 94.7 WFME Be Sold?
- Thread starter DToTheJ
- Start date
That wouldn't give enough coverage in the northern part of the state to make it worthwhile for Townsquare. WDHA's signal in much of Bergen county is no better than 101.5's fringe signal already (barely) reaching those areas.
While WBAI is certainly worth more than WFME, it might not be a "ton of cash" more. That said, WBAI would be better off getting away from the high rent at the ESB, and might be able to pay down its debts with the difference in station values.
As to WABC buying an FM to counter Clear Channel's WOR, it doesn't need an FM to do that, and to simulcast low rated, and possibly money losing talk programming would be a true waste of an FM and a big waste of money. WABC doesn't bill what most of the NYC FMs do, putting it on FM too would only dilute its relatively small piece of the advertising pie and potential audience.
w9wi said:
It's been said countless times that Family Radio will NOT sell to another religious broadcaster.. so I don't ever see EMF buying any of their stations.
FWIW, the column Taylor on Radio-Info.com is stating "there is serious talk behind closed doors" that WFME could be purchased for WBAI to move to (along with some cash of course), and WFAN would be brought to 99.5.
The piece does not mention what CBS Radio would do with WFAN's current 660 AM frequency, or what station CBS would sell off to be allowed to own an additional FM station in this market.
Thus this scenario seems far-fetched.
The piece does not mention what CBS Radio would do with WFAN's current 660 AM frequency, or what station CBS would sell off to be allowed to own an additional FM station in this market.
Thus this scenario seems far-fetched.
Barry said:
With CBS starting a new sports radio network starting, you'd think WFAN would be a decent "mothership" for it. Bird-feed, yes, but at least it would be NYC-originated bird-feed.
Barry said:
It's not like Tom to overlook an obvious detail like that, and it sounds like he has an inside track on the deal proceedings. Thus I wonder if CBS would spin off 660 or WLNY-TV, whichever is less worth keeping, so they could have their FM frequency for FAN.
I suppose they could also sell 1010 and move WINS to the better 660 signal, but that would be a pretty bold move considering the impact it would make on the ubiquitous "1010 WINS" brand.
No way CBS Corp. is going to spin off a top market TV station just to buy an FM, and it is also doubtful it would want to part with one of the best AM signals in the country, like 660, at this stage, either.
1010 WINS is a valuable brand, but CBS also owns its only competitor in all-news, so it could only lose to itself in an all-news move, while in a sports format move, it could lose listeners to ESPN.
If CBS is looking toward the future and is really interested in WBAI for the long haul, WINS goes to 660.
To answer the question posed as the title of this thread, I think we'll see a sale of WFME-94.7 announced by the end of the year.
ESPN LMAed a FM and the ratings are going backwards:
http://www.radio-info.com/stations/wepn-fm
WFME will command a hefty price. Can CBS financially justify putting the FAN on FM just for the sake of being on FM and then having to sell something too? If you look at the 6 + for the fan:
http://www.radio-info.com/stations/wfan-am
ESPN on FM did not hurt (6+) the Fan.
What else could they put on 660 and make as much money?
IMHO:
CBS has a vested interest in keeping good programming on AM in NYC with WCBS and WINS both on AM.
http://www.radio-info.com/stations/wepn-fm
WFME will command a hefty price. Can CBS financially justify putting the FAN on FM just for the sake of being on FM and then having to sell something too? If you look at the 6 + for the fan:
http://www.radio-info.com/stations/wfan-am
ESPN on FM did not hurt (6+) the Fan.
What else could they put on 660 and make as much money?
IMHO:
CBS has a vested interest in keeping good programming on AM in NYC with WCBS and WINS both on AM.
TimeIsTight said:
Another board said CBS wants 99.5 for WFAN. That makes no sense. WFAN on 99.5 would put it next to ESPN at 98.7. Also, 99.5 has signal issues in parts of Central NJ from WJBR at 99.5 in Wilmington, DE. If WFAN is going to FM, it will land on 92.3 or 102.7, both of which are current CBS properties. CBS would want 660 AM for its new sports network.
CBS' other dilemma is that there are few if any opportunities to acquire a class B NYC FM. 1010 WINS is a very valuable brand, the granddaddy of all-news radio. WINS superserves NYC on directional 1010 AM. If WINS were to land on a class B FM or 660 AM, "You Give Us 22 Minutes, We'll Give You The World" wouldn't do as well IMHO on a signal that offers much wider coverage than 1010.
The only way CBS can acquire 99.5 FM is to sell one of its NY AMs, most likely 1010, the weakest signal of the three. If WINS lands on 99.5 FM, the format could be morphed into a news-intensive talk format, offering news blocks in AM Drive, Noon and PM Drive and talk programming the rest of the day. This is similar to the style of classic KGO and simlar to KSL in Salt Lake City.
This scenario allows WINS to remain true to its news legacy, while offering NY area centric talk programming. WINS definitely has the news infrastructure to make this happen. I'm sure most of their news anchors could also do talk. The all-news format would go to WCBS (880). They could re-brand it "All News 880". WINS could be re-branded "News Talk 99.5 WINS-FM" or in keeping with CBS' news/talk stations "NewsRadio 99.5 WINS-FM".
"All News 880 WCBS" would not be a sports overflow station to WFAN AM or FM. 880 would be true to its moniker, ALL NEWS. FAN-FM would be the mother ship, 660 AM the primary backup and 99.5 FM the third backup.
Speculation is fun! CBS will have to make some hard decisions in the near future.
Actually, that report started with radio columnist Tom Taylor on this website. The WBAI signal problem with the station in Delaware, is actually a better situation than both WCBS and WHTZ have with their co-channel stations that are in Philly. The WBAI signal is good within the confines of Arbitron's New York Radio Market and that is all that matters for ratings and spot sales. Listeners outside the defined market aren't counted, and don't help the bottom line.
But you do make a good point, perhaps CBS would swap one of its FM music formats with 99.5 just to get WFAN-FM farther away from WEPN at 98.7. Still, the point of all this is that CBS may be thinking about moving WFAN to FM while it has the chance to get another Class-B on the ESB. Those opportunities don't happen very often, and the long-term handwriting is on the wall for AM in general. CBS has moved several of its sports talk stations to FM fairly recently. While WFAN-AM might have respectable ratings it may not have the younger listeners that the future depends on, and that may be pushing sports talk to FM.
WINS seems to be the AM signal to unload, and the format could be moved to 660.
I believe that the post above from Time is Tight makes some good points.
But it would appear very difficult to make a deal like this happen, due to timing issues.
WFME would apparently need to be bought rather soon, to avoid having it go to another buyer. But even if WBAI is eventually available for purchase, it could easily take months or even years, due to the messy infighting that the station and Pacifica are famous for.
So if CBS purchased WFME 94.7, they would need to sell an AM to be within ownership limits. In the meantime, WBAI may not be available for quite some time, if ever. So the format on the AM station that is sold would probably need to be on 94.7 for a while. And of course its coverage is not as good as on 99.5.
Perhaps a way out of this dilemma would be if a separate party had an arrangement with CBS to buy WFME and operate it for awhile. Then they would sell it to CBS if/when WBAI became available. Could that work?
But it would appear very difficult to make a deal like this happen, due to timing issues.
WFME would apparently need to be bought rather soon, to avoid having it go to another buyer. But even if WBAI is eventually available for purchase, it could easily take months or even years, due to the messy infighting that the station and Pacifica are famous for.
So if CBS purchased WFME 94.7, they would need to sell an AM to be within ownership limits. In the meantime, WBAI may not be available for quite some time, if ever. So the format on the AM station that is sold would probably need to be on 94.7 for a while. And of course its coverage is not as good as on 99.5.
Perhaps a way out of this dilemma would be if a separate party had an arrangement with CBS to buy WFME and operate it for awhile. Then they would sell it to CBS if/when WBAI became available. Could that work?
Even with its signal issues, 94.7 is still a decent facility. Many large markets have one or more Class A FM stations that are doing well. Washington, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Columbus come to mind. Other markets have successful Class B or higher rimshots that do well. Some of those markets include Atlanta and Charlotte. If you put the right programming on, mindful of your signal limitations you can find an audience.
Hmm...so many possibilities. Very intriguing. Yet, most of the more interesting ones involve a possible sale of 99.5. I don't know if that can be done.
There may not be a swap at the end of the day. I could see Cumulus buying 94.7 & 660, while CBS gets 99.5. CBS switches 92.3 and 99.5. NOW would go to 99.5, with The Fan to 92.3. 660 becomes an affiliate of CBS Sports Radio. 94.7 and 103.9 would pair up to become news-talk or PLJ goes to 94.7/103.9 and 95.5 becomes news-talk.
There may not be a swap at the end of the day. I could see Cumulus buying 94.7 & 660, while CBS gets 99.5. CBS switches 92.3 and 99.5. NOW would go to 99.5, with The Fan to 92.3. 660 becomes an affiliate of CBS Sports Radio. 94.7 and 103.9 would pair up to become news-talk or PLJ goes to 94.7/103.9 and 95.5 becomes news-talk.
What if Greater Media buys it, then moves Magic from 98.3 to 94.7 to go head to head against Lite FM, then simulcasts WDHA on 98.3.
Of course, I would love it if 94.7's new format begins with the letter "d" and ends with "ance" but unfortunately I did not win the Powerball tonight.
Of course, I would love it if 94.7's new format begins with the letter "d" and ends with "ance" but unfortunately I did not win the Powerball tonight.
The newsletter, Taylor on Radio-Info.com speculates on the possibility that instead of WBAI being part of a station swap, SBS may get involved, as they own two class B FM's in New York. One of them, WPAT FM, has been getting mediocre ratings for quite some time. Perhaps it would be available for sale or trade.
If CBS was to move WFAN to 93.1, unlike 99.5 it would not be close to WEPN FM on the radio dial. And I believe that SBS is not doing too well financially.
If CBS was to move WFAN to 93.1, unlike 99.5 it would not be close to WEPN FM on the radio dial. And I believe that SBS is not doing too well financially.
With its tight format of headlines and fast moving stores, 1010 WINS is the "ALL NEWS ALL THE TIME" station. They even brand as such. Why would CBS dilute or change a winning brand and format????
With their longer stories and more conversational approach, 880 is better suited to programming interruptions from Yankee games than 1010.
You've got it backwards here. And I'll bet that if CBS winds up with an FM, it's either WFME (doubtful as they would have to unload 1010 or another AM signal for an inferior FM) or some kind of two way swap with SBS for 93.1.
Those boneheads at WBAI/Pacifica will fight among themselves until the station is worth less and less. True to their roots, Pacifica has no clue about how to conduct and/or run a business. One look at WBAI's financials tells everything. Also, the CPB wastes money with a grant to WBAI every year too. I could think of 100 other more deserving public stations than WBAI.
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