• 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

BREAKING NEWS!...Star 102.5 sold in Buffalo

Thanks to youse guys, the news got out. I heard from someone who knows someone that the staff got the news yesterday...EMF has traditionally taken over the signals with an LMA almost immediately. But sometimes (as in the case of Los Angeles) the station took some time to say "goodbye" before the switch.
Did someone say they get good ratings with "K-Love"?
New York - don't see WPLJ listed.
Los Angeles -KKLQ not listed
Chicago- WCKL pulls a 1.9
San Francisco -KLVS- no show.
Dallas-no signal. Closest is Bowie, TX
Houston- no signal....
Washington DC-The K-Love Map shows 4 possible signals..none are listed in Nielsen ratings.

I could go on, but it's looking like Nielsen and EMF don't really work together. K-Love and Air1 have other ratings:

K-LOVE AND AIR1 FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND FOR THE SUPPORT OR BENEFIT OF, TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF, OR TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES PRIMARILY OF EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION AND OTHER EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH SUPPORT AND PROMOTE CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM, EDIFICATION, AND VALUES.

This charity's score is 95%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.


I'd suggest K-Love and Air1 don't NEED ratings. They ask their faithful to contribute-the faithful contribute. EMF's overhead is miniscule - running 500 stations from one location (now Nashville) - and rolling in the dough so they can spend $15million in Buffalo and Memphis.
 
Oh, the intrigue and speculation. TB Junkie 12 made an interesting observation earlier in this thread, regarding WWKB. Don't be surprised if Audacy takes 1520 dark if a buyer comes through on the Big Tree Road land. Two former employees confirm that WGR years ago reportedly scoped out a move to the WBEN site on Grand Island. As to 107.7 ... keep in mind that its 104.7 translator is arguably the best "metro signal" in the market.

And in further speculation, might Townsquare bid for the IP of Star and move it to 96.1 replacing the Breeze. Star is trending up. The Breeze seems to be stifled, at least according to the latest Persons 12+ (understood, P12+ is not a true indicator.)
 
As a follower of Buffalo radio since I was a ten-year-old in 1965, this really saddens me. 102.5 is a heritage frequency. As a kid, I remember the hour ID during the Clint Beuhlman show. This is “WBEN and WBEN-FM, Buffalo.” The “Accent Is On Variety.” Yet, very few listened. That is, until “Rock 102” was launched! It was Buffalo’s first truly successful automated station. It boomed into Olean. I did my thesis at St. Bonaventure in 1976 on the listening habits of Bona students. “Rock 102” dominated with 45 percent. The rest, including my college station, WSBU, paled in comparison. Just this week, my friend Larry White shared an audio file of Buffalo radio in the 1980s. I had totally forgotten that Taylor and Moore had left WPhD for Magic 102. I still have a “Magic 102” sticker on my garage wall that’s been there for at least 33 years! (Right next to a 97 Rock sticker.) I am way outside the Star 102.5 demo now. But I would tune in the frequency during Christmas week while traveling in my car. Don’t think I’ll be interested in CCM. I’ve been following this story tonight on this board. I’ve seen some interesting speculation about what the future holds for Audacy in Buffalo. As Van Miller once said, “Fasten your seatbelts!”
 
chriscervantez said:
Well, I guess when you have 5 K-Love frequencies in a single market, that might be a way to pull in listeners. I also guess that the 6+ PPM ratings in certain markets aren’t too bad (I haven’t seen demographic breakdowns).

With financials, EMF stations aren’t on the same playing field as other formats. They’re non commercial, so they rely on money from their listeners. I’m not sure about EMF, but when fundraising drives don’t meet their goal, they’ll definitely let their listeners know. I don’t really think CCM lovers have a devotion to their music, but rather a devotion to their religion. K-Love to most is a ministry of the church. Often times you’ll hear listeners call during fundraising drives, saying that they had little to no money during a previous fundraiser, but they put their trust in God, donated and they’ve since been rewarded.

WNED is similar, because it’s also a non-comm and a niche format. Heck, put Channel Q on a primary signal (not an HD2 or HD3), make it non-comm, fundraise from the LGBTQ+ community and I think you’d see similar results.

Again, I think you’re comparing apples to oranges.
Click to expand...
We have 6 here, playing the same stuff. But the transmitter sites are all over the map, although in parts of the town you'll get all 6.
 
lanceventa said:
Not a chance. KRBE may be in play for a swap but it would be for a much bigger market than stations in Buffalo.
Click to expand...
To put it in perspective, the Buffalo market has total broadcast billings in the low 20 million range, while Houston is estimated to be around $240 million. And Houston has quite a few smaller ethnic and religious stations that don't report to Miller-Kaplan, so the real number may be closer to $250-$300 million a year.
 
TheBigA said:
Typically EMF doesn't subscribe to the ratings.
Click to expand...
They do, but only a few "representative" markets at a time.

One person I know who had direct contact with the group said that they looked at not only larger and smaller markets, but different geographical area that have different percentages of religious persons.
 
DaveMasonsd said:
EMF has traditionally taken over the signals with an LMA almost immediately.
Click to expand...
Very rarely does EMF do that. They need to wait for FCC approval for their conversion to non-commercial status...

I've been accumulating a lot of information regarding the deal that has not been addressed and will have a story by Monday. A couple more dominoes to fall.
 
Deleted by user.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TheBigA said:
Typically EMF doesn't subscribe to the ratings.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think @DavidEduardo has mentioned that they only subscribe in certain markets. I think the reasoning was to get somewhat of an idea of how their stations are doing.

Edit: Sorry, I was catching up with this thread in order and I didn’t realize this had already been addressed. I don’t have the option to delete.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
To add to what Dave Mason said earlier: I would not be surprised if the staff of Star 102.5(what on-air staff there IS, of course)had the time to say their goodbyes before the switch to K-Love happens, much like what happened with WPLJ in New York.
 
Oh yeah does anyone remember Mix 107 in DC? Jack Diamond was back and they were putting up stellar ratings! Not only that their closest competitor another Hot AC threw in the towel and left Mix all alone. Anyone care to explain what happened with that station? And does DC have a Hot AC station now? And you can say Baltimore would fill the void but would t Toronto do the same here? Ok maybe WGR gets back in the same ownership of its FM sister station and goes to 103.3 while Kiss also comes with the deal. I know I’m not as bright as the rest of you but I love radio and Im Rather heartbroken by this sale! Since 102.5 has been my go to station my whole life. Hence Majic 102 Rock 102 Star 102 which is my name majic rock star my name! So forgive me I’m a little upset! I’m a radio fan!
 
ckg279 said:
I would not be surprised if the staff of Star 102.5 (what on-air staff there IS, of course) had the time to say their goodbyes before the switch to K-Love happens.
Click to expand...
That wouldn't take long. Rob Lucas and Sue O'Neil. It would be more gracious if Audacy invited former jocks and personnel to send in a two minute audio file recalling their work to memorialize (eulogize) the station.

It will be most interesting to hear how this transition is handled by the seller and buyer. Will EMF will make a big production out of it. Where, if any, EMF will have a downlink point and/or office and studio here with a more powerful facility ... as if an office/studio are necessary under present day FCC Rules & Regs.

Seeing that EMF already is in the Buffalo market, it probably will be business as usual, same lawn, bigger dog.
 
CassChopper96 said:
What happens to star 102.5
Click to expand...

tbolt909 said:
It apparently has been sold to EMF and the format goes away. I suppose a similar format could resurface after everything plays out.
Click to expand...

Isn't there a certain classic rock station at 92.9 that has been roundly ridiculed on this board for its bland programming and poor ratings? Maybe Townsquare can seize the opportunity to finally turn it into something and fill the void.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom