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Changes at WKVL-AM 850 Knoxville

jmtillery

jmtillery

Has WKVL been sold or LMAed to Tom Moffit, owner of WETR-AM 760? I've noticed on radio-locator.com that www.talkradio760.com is listed as WKVL's web address though no reference to AM 850 is listed on the WETR website. There were rumors a little over a year ago that Moffit was interested in buying WKVL and moving all AM 760 programming over to the 50kw signal.

Mark Tillery
[email protected]
 
WKVL and WLOD have been sold, but not to Tom Moffit. They have been sold to Jim Sexton, former owner of Sexton Avionics. The studios will be relocated to somewhere in Maryville. Don't know about programming yet.
 
AM talk is dead in Knoxville ever since WNOX moved to 100.3. I guess that's something else to whine about, but oh well.
 
jmtillery said:
Has WKVL been sold or LMAed to Tom Moffit, owner of WETR-AM 760? I've noticed on radio-locator.com that www.talkradio760.com is listed as WKVL's web address though no reference to AM 850 is listed on the WETR website. There were rumors a little over a year ago that Moffit was interested in buying WKVL and moving all AM 760 programming over to the 50kw signal.

Mark Tillery
[email protected]
Click to expand...

Mark,
I want to know, how does WKVL make any money? The last time I listen to it, it was an all talk, 50 KW, daytime only waste. I don't live in Knoxville, but I question how this station is making money with that kind of power, and only on during the day.
 
scottwmro said:
jmtillery said:
Has WKVL been sold or LMAed to Tom Moffit, owner of WETR-AM 760? I've noticed on radio-locator.com that www.talkradio760.com is listed as WKVL's web address though no reference to AM 850 is listed on the WETR website. There were rumors a little over a year ago that Moffit was interested in buying WKVL and moving all AM 760 programming over to the 50kw signal.

Mark Tillery
[email protected]
Click to expand...

Mark,
I want to know, how does WKVL make any money? The last time I listen to it, it was an all talk, 50 KW, daytime only waste. I don't live in Knoxville, but I question how this station is making money with that kind of power, and only on during the day.
Click to expand...

I have no direct knowledge regarding the specifics of WKVL. However, radio, as we all know, is essentially a "daytime" medium since this is when the highest number of listeners are actually listening to any given station. The ratings numbers drop off significantly after 7PM across the board with few exceptions.

Considering WNOX is a 24-hour 100kw News-Talk FM with all (or most) of the big name talk talent under contract, News-Talk 100 will be challenging to beat even if WKVL were a 24-hour operation. That isn't to say WKVL cannot be profitable and pull decent numbers with a strong second tier talk programming (or any format that fills a void in the market).

As for answering your question relating to how does WKVL make any money?, I have no direct answer as I have no direct inside knowledge of the station. My best hypothesis would be that WKVL isn't (or wasn't) making any money (or vey little), othewise I doubt the former owner would want to sell it unless he/she saw an opportunity to cash in on a cash cow. Cashing in or cutting losses are the most common reasons any seller sells a radio station. I believe Horne Radio, LLC previously owned WKVL along with several other AM stations and WFIV-FM 105.3.
 
At one time Horne Radio was running their radio stations independently but as they started cutting cost a few years ago WKVL 850, WGAP 1400, WATO 1290, WLOD 1140 and WMTY 670 started simulcasting the same talk formats. They have since sold off all the AM's except WMTY Farragut and WDEH in Sweetwater. The two FM's they still have are WLOD Sweetwater and WFIV Loudon. WFIV is serving Farragut not Loudon by the way. I have heard the Sweetwater and Farragut stations are for sale but they think they are worth in the millions so I don't see them getting sold anytime soon.
 
knoxbob said:
The two FM's they still have are WLOD Sweetwater and WFIV Loudon. WFIV is serving Farragut not Loudon by the way. I have heard the Sweetwater and Farragut stations are for sale but they think they are worth in the millions so I don't see them getting sold anytime soon.
Click to expand...

As if they ever were trying to serve Loudon with WFIV. When they put that thing on in '91, they never had intentions of trying to be a Loudon station. Having worked there myself at one time and experienced the woes of trying to sell advertising in Loudon first hand, I can tell you there's not enough business in that sleepy little town to support 105.3 FM. I always thought they had a good thing going being a West Knox/Farragut station.

They want millions of dollars for each station? Good luck with that. Based on what I bet 105.3 is billing and the fact that it's a rimshot into Knoxville, they'd be really lucky if they got a cool mil for that station. Considering WLOD-FM's billing is probably not much better than 105.3 and they're on a really short stick, the AM tower in Sweetwater, they'd probably be lucky if they got got $500 K for that station.
 
From what I have heard the Sweetwater stations are the only ones making any money. $500k sounds like a decent price for those stations.
 
I've always thought that 98.3 was always a frequency that could have been more. It's coverage is really not bad considering its antenna sits on WDEH-AM's tiny little tower in downtown Sweetwater. It could have been (or maybe still could be) a decent rimshot for the west side of Knoxville.

The only gripe about WFIV-FM I have is the poor signal east and northeast areas of West Knoxville. Seems more could be done with that. WNML-FM 99.1's tower is not far from WFIV's in Lenoir City, has the same height, but comes in much better. Yes, I know Citadel has more money to throw at 99.1's signal than Horne chooses to use on 105.3.

I just hope if Horne does sell 98.3 and/or 105.3 they don't become sports, country or talk. We're scattered, covered & smothered on those.
 
Can anyone tell me what WMTY-AM 670 is doing programming and billing wise? I understand Horne wants to sell that station in addition to the others.
 
From the same person who predicted a Sports Animal staff member would go to 106.3 in Sevier Co.. I firmly predict that 670 will be unloaded of its current format and flipped to religious programming.
 
And by the way, a shame that no one has noticed Michael Savage, Dennis Miller, Jerry Doyle, and Glen Beck on 670...
 
I will add one more thing. To answer your question, it is my understanding that Doug Horne will keep 670 in his portfolio for the time being. Just watch for that format switch. more preachers on the radio dial
 
When is WMTY going dollar-a-holler? Maybe when 670 gives up talk, their shows can find homes on one of the other talkers -- WKVL, WNOX, etc. I'd be a shame for those shows to disappear from Knoxville! Beck would be great fit on WNOX.
 
SchlitzBeer said:
And by the way, a shame that no one has noticed Michael Savage, Dennis Miller, Jerry Doyle, and Glen Beck on 670...
Click to expand...

Well, this is what happens when absolutely no time, effort or money is being put into promotion as it should be.

In order for potential listeners to know these shows are on, or even that the station exists, there MUST be promotion of some level.

I was in full time radio for 30 years and it's odd that we beat the bushes looking for advertisers. Telling them that in order to be recognized and to get business, you must advertise but when it comes to station promoting, somehow that message does not apply.

Nothing wrong with radio stations using other media to get the name out there. Television, print, billboards or whatever. Heck, even a decent website would help.

I suppose that station will meet the fate of WATO in Oak Ridge before Ann Walden resurrected it,which I might add is sounding pretty good now. Before Mrs. Walden, 1290 had No listeners, No advertisers and the facilities were willfully neglected to the point of disrepair. You know it gets bad when a tower falls.

670 has a heck of a good signal and sound quality and COULD be a ratings getter if it's owner / operator appeared to care.

Some licenses are just in the hands of wrong people. If I had the resources, I'd have one.
 
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