-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
At What Point Will 94.7 WFME Be Sold?
- Thread starter DToTheJ
- Start date
Now, you see, that's where I would want to keep it.DToTheJ said:
When WINS does go to FM, wouldn't it be better to make the shift as easy as possible for the listener?
WINS is the place to go for news. most people will find it right away due to habits.
What gets lost in the PPM and micro-market trending world are the ancillary listeners. They get ignored because they are not quantifiable. In the meantime, radio listenership is declining and blamed on iPods and satellite.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
Everybody is assuming CBS gets WFME. What happens if CBS cannot get someone to take the 1010 AM signal at some kind of decent price? Do not count Cumulus out. Their President's family's cash cow (WCNN 680 AM) in Atlanta is about to get hammered buy CBS's 92.9 going sports-talk. If Cumulus can round up some cash and or lenders they could end up with 94.7. What would they put on 94.7? Sports talk just to mess with CBS's 670 as a pay back for Atlanta?
secondchoice said:
They put it into an independent trust until a suitable buyer is found. It would be similar to the Aloha Trust for over-the-limit Clear Channel stations.
The last thing the NY Market would need is an additional Sports Talk station to further divide that narrow, mostly male, audience, and make all station players less profitable, or possibly, into money losers.
If a major player like Cumulus gets WFME they would be wise to do a format that appeals to suburban women, because there are lots of them in that station's best signal area in New Jersey, and advertisers covet those demos the most.
It might make sense to move the WPLJ soccer mom friendly format to 94.7 and do something else with 95.5.
Personally I think it should go Country while 99.5 FM should go Dance or make 103.5 Dance and 99.5 FM go to AAA or Urban A/C or Sports. Maybe Cumulus or Merlin could buy 99.5 or Entercom or Greater Media or Pamal?
I doubt Pamal will be a contender for any of the NYC signals as James Morrel is concentrating on up-state New York, in particular the Albany and surrounding area, having recently sold his Florida station portfolio.
I don't see Merlin shelling out any additional "big bucks" for anything else until Randy Michaels can make WRXP pay off after Merlin took a big financial soaking when it attempted FM News in New York and Chicago. Cumulus, Entercom and Greater Media may be possible contenders since these are solid media companies with no NYC holdings with the exception of Cumulus.
I don't see Merlin shelling out any additional "big bucks" for anything else until Randy Michaels can make WRXP pay off after Merlin took a big financial soaking when it attempted FM News in New York and Chicago. Cumulus, Entercom and Greater Media may be possible contenders since these are solid media companies with no NYC holdings with the exception of Cumulus.
jmtillery said:
Would it be possible for a stand-alone FM, even if owned by an Entercom or a Greater Media, to bill well enough to survive in a market full of chain operations?
WNTIRadio said:
Jerry Lee's station has been a fixture in Philly for five decades. It has a long tradition of big numbers and has a place in buyers' minds. A new stand alone would have a challenge getting any kind of recognition... just look at stand-alone KXOS in LA.
Very true. But that's not to say it can't be done. If the format attracts a big audience, the buys will come. That's a tough hill to climb though, as one station, with a handicapped signal, that nobody has really paid much attention to for decades. It's similar to signing on a brand new class B, since a vast majority of the market has no idea it's there.
Best thing is to hire some sales reps that already have relationships with clients and agencies, which is smart business whether a start up standalone or not. A GM from the market would help too, not bringing in some guy who's "big in LA" or somewhere else.
Best thing is to hire some sales reps that already have relationships with clients and agencies, which is smart business whether a start up standalone or not. A GM from the market would help too, not bringing in some guy who's "big in LA" or somewhere else.
DavidEduardo said:
More to the point, Jerry's running it essentially debt-free. It's one thing to make a profit on a station you've owned since 1963. It's another thing entirely to try to make a profit while carrying $40 or $50 million in debt service, as any standalone new owner of 94.7 or 99.5 would likely be doing.
Mark Jeffries said:
Which, incidentally, is about to flip to 24/7 sports radio, using CBS Sports Radio...
I don't believe it was necessary to quote me incorrectly, but okay...ai4i said:
WNTIRadio said:
But reps at higher rated stations are not always sellers and closers. Or they may have become complacent. Having relationships is handy, but being able to sell a stand-alone underdog with a more limited signal requires a very different skill set.
And a GM with turnaround and startup experience from another market might be even better. The bigger successes I've witnessed have brought in outside the market, and thus outside the box, thinkers.
DToTheJ said:secondchoice said:
You mean, they're going to be turning 680 into a 24/7 feed of CBS Sports Radio Network? :
I doubt that. They have a little image voice over that state claiming 680 the fan is the most listened too sport station in the south. If I understood the press release, WCNN was going to use the "resources" of the CBS Sports Network. WCNN is not owned by Cumulus. According to the FCC Website, four people with the last name Dickey are on the ownership report. WCNN is not published on Arbitron, but when they were, they usually beat WQXI 6+. One of the worst kept secrets in the Atlanta market is that 790 WQXI The Zones bills around a million a month. WCNN should be more but for simple math figuing I assume a Million a month for WCNN too. Doing the math the Dickey's should be making around a a quarter to half a million a month profit (assuming the station has no long term debt). I am sure the Dickey's will not "enjoy" their personal ATM / Cash machine not generating as much cash. 92.9 will start sports this fall, and WCNN's tight directional pattern at night will not help them retain listeners that tune in at night to 92.9 and "forget" to switch back at night. They are lucky to have the 250 watt FM translator, unlike 790.
- Status