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CBS SELLS W.P.B. CLUSTER

D

DDV49

Guest
CBS has announced its selling their Wes Palm Beach cluster to Dean Goodman of WRMF fame for 50 Mlilion
 
Well, given that WPBZ, WRMF, and WEAT are all within the AC realm (since both WPBZ and WRMF are Adult CHRs), one can see WPBZ and WEAT being the ones to go. Another possibility could involve Rhythmic Top 40 WMBX and Urban AC sister WHFS being put on the selling block. As for being safe under the new owners, WIRK would be the candidate they might want to retain.
 
only1moore said:
Well, given that WPBZ, WRMF, and WEAT are all within the AC realm (since both WPBZ and WRMF are Adult CHRs), one can see WPBZ and WEAT being the ones to go. Another possibility could involve Rhythmic Top 40 WMBX and Urban AC sister WHFS being put on the selling block. As for being safe under the new owners, WIRK would be the candidate they might want to retain.
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Having been in the Florida broadcasting observer for many years, because of their ratings and revenue potential, I would think WEAT (AC), and WIRK (Country) are automatically the first two you keep. Then they keep either WPBZ or WMBX, depending on who the new owners feel has the most potential.
 
The only chance WEAT-FM goes is if the DOJ forces it. It's the top station 6+ and #1 in 25-54 women. Putting it with WIRK and WRMF means you have the top-3 both 6+ and 25-54. All three are licenses to print money.

Goodman will have 4 of the top 5 stations if he keeps WEAT, WIRK, WRMF and WHFS 106.3. If the DOJ requires him to divest one of those four, he'll try to make it B-106.3, and WPBZ is likely to be the low rated station he keeps because of the sales synergies.
 
I think they need to bring the Buzz back. Ever since it was replaced by NOW in December, there are too many pop stations competing on the air and we lost our only rock station. The funny thing is, NOW's ratings are terrible, and they thought it would make a better profit than the Buzz. The Buzz has kept a strong following despite going to HD2, and the Bakesale has always been a South Florida staple. At this point, the Buzz could stand alone on HD2 or move back to fm. But I will be happy to see 103.1 NOW go bye-bye.
 
The Buzz performed poorly at the end of its life, but Now is faring just as badly if not slightly worse. It's definitely the weak link in the cluster. However, if B-106.3 becomes a sacrificial lamb courtesy of appeasing the DOJ, I think it's more logical to keep Now than 102.3. I could see how Goodman could make money off of it by forcing advertisers who want to buy WRMF or WEAT to buy Now, too.
 
There are a number of scenarios that could play out here (obviously).

I could see him jockeying around formats on a few of the sticks before disposing of two. This way, he would be able to keep the strongest formats on the strongest signals.

Another possibility: he divests 102.3 and 106.3 to someone such as Radio One, keeps everything else, and either ditches "Now" completely are transitions it to more of a pure CHR position to further distance it from WRMF musically.

Personally, I'd love to see a rock format on 97.9! Not gonna happen, though.
 
A rock format anywhere would be great! I heard from someone on staff that the Buzz will continue to go on. No word on whether it will come back to FM, but at least if they trash 103 NOW, the buzz hd2 won't go down with it.
 
What will Happen to the CBS radio Employees in west palm beach ? Will they lose there jobs ? and is CBS radio leaving West Palm Beach?
 
Flybird said:
What will Happen to the CBS radio Employees in west palm beach ? Will they lose there jobs ? and is CBS radio leaving West Palm Beach?
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Yes, since CBS is selling their cluster in WPB, their intention IS to leave. It's no secret that CBS feels the greatest return on their investment lies in their major markets. When the deal is finalized, the most likely scenario is that some positions will be eliminated, both in sales and programming, and probably in upper management, as the buyer merges WRMF with the new stations.
 
One has to think that Now 103.1 is the most obvious candidate for a sell-off. Its format, while struggling, is too close to WRFM. Moreover, its signal strength is along the Treasure Coast and northern Palm Beach County. The signal starts to fade a bit in places such as Delray Beach and Boca Raton. As for the other station? While it apparently bills well, B106.3 also has a relatively weak signal, doing well in northern Palm Beach County, with some limitations to the south.
 
Pure speculation (FUN!):

WEAT-FM and WRMF stay as is. Two strong C's. I say B moves to 102.3, WIRK moves to 103.1 (a stronger C1 that covers WPB and the Treasure Coast and takes on WAVE 92.7 to the north), X goes to 107.9, NOW goes to 106.3.

I think 106.3 and 107.9 get sold off, regardless of format.
 
107.9's signal, on the whole, is far better than 103.1's. The most important part of the market is Palm Beach County, not the Treasure Coast. First, 107.9's signal covers the entire county, without problems. The same cannot be said for 103.1. In addition, 107.9 has good coverage in a good chunk of the Treasure Coast. 107.9 has been targeting Wave for a while; in one of WIRK's "local" liners, the voiceover says, "The Treasure Coast's Country Station, 107.9 WIRK."

I would still bet on 103.1 and 106.3, the stations with the two weakest county-wide signals, being sold off.
 
ScottBurns said:
107.9's signal, on the whole, is far better than 103.1's. The most important part of the market is Palm Beach County, not the Treasure Coast. First, 107.9's signal covers the entire county, without problems. The same cannot be said for 103.1. In addition, 107.9 has good coverage in a good chunk of the Treasure Coast. 107.9 has been targeting Wave for a while; in one of WIRK's "local" liners, the voiceover says, "The Treasure Coast's Country Station, 107.9 WIRK."

I would still bet on 103.1 and 106.3, the stations with the two weakest county-wide signals, being sold off.
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Yes, WIRK isn't going anywhere, it's been very successful at 107.9, both in ratings and revenue. Anyone know why 107.9 was never upgraded to one of the taller towers in Palm Beach County back when they could have done so? Was it ever technically possible?
 
DDV49 said:
According to Radio Ink,Goodman plans to spin off WEAT and WHFS
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Interesting. They plan to sell the two highest rated stations. Hmmm. ??? I guess he can get the most money for them? Personally, I would have kept WEAT and then worked to try to slowly separate the two formats of WEAT and WRMF and hold onto the top ratings.
 
If he really intends to sell WEAT, I expect he's selling it because there's a possibility of moving it into Miami (which TRI mentioned in this morning's newsletter). Unless the DOJ mandates otherwise, I'd expect the "Sunny" format and WEAT calls to simply pack up and move to 102.3 or 103.1. That station makes way too much money to just offload outright.
 
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