Citadel going talk on FM????

[ThePickleReport]

A little blurb in the Radio-Info e-mail this AM sez that Citadel could be going FM talk with one of its stations. It also says a former personality in Syracuse will be doing afternoons.

My first thought was Bill Baker, and I didn't realize that he's at WCNY!!! How long has he been back in town?

IMO, I would have beat Galaxy to the ESPN franchise and put it on 105.9. Too late now.

 

[theradiokid]

The question is what talk shows could a third talk station air? Citadel won’t go libtalk, and all the big conservatalk hosts are taken nationally by the other 2 talk stations?

Also, what about 1260? Hmmm.

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected]

 

[BobRoss]

It's funny, I thought the blurb on Radio-Info (saw it in Tom Taylor's column) was based on something already posted right here on this board. So I was surprised to come here and see the first post was about the blurb. Someone "inside" must have leaked it directly to Radio-Info. Either that or they're tossing out fake info to throw off the competition.

Good points though, was thinking the same thing myself. After WSYR and WFBL, what's left for another talk station to run?

 

[Element9]

It's funny, I thought the blurb on Radio-Info (saw it in Tom Taylor's column) was based on something already posted right here on this board. So I was surprised to come here and see the first post was about the blurb. Someone "inside" must have leaked it directly to Radio-Info. Either that or they're tossing out fake info to throw off the competition.

Good points though, was thinking the same thing myself. After WSYR and WFBL, what's left for another talk station to run?

Could be there's a synergy brewing with Imus and other Citadel squawkers nationwide. WSYR appears to have the 'Cuse talk market cornered while WFBL gets the crumbs. Could be Chapter 11 Communications is considering syndicating Shredd & Ragan, a vibrant pair of FM talkers that holds court in afternoon drive at The Edge in Buffalo and gets solid numbers, Men 18-34. Citadel also has the Buffalo Bills Radio Network which might figure into the equation, although Syracuse seems to lean more to the New York Giants and Jets courtesy of the many students at SU. The question is, does Radio Free Farid have the stones or stamina to be successful with talk radio on FM in Syracuse?

 

[ThePickleReport]

Yeah, its kinda curious isn't it.

Comparing WFBL and WSYR here are some of the "bigger" traditional talk names that are available; Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, Dave Ramsey, Imus. Hmmmmm.

I can't see them making a go of it unless we're missing a big part of the story.

 

[TheBigA]

I still don't understand how a company that syndicates the ESPN franchise lost it to a competitor in Syracuse. No wonder this company went bankrupt. That's like a CBS O&O losing it's own network affiliation.

Unless, of course, there's some strategic plan at work. Then again....

 

[BobRoss]

I still don't understand how a company that syndicates the ESPN franchise lost it to a competitor in Syracuse.

Actually, that's not entirely true. As its explained on ESPN Radio's entry on Wikipedia (and there are links to sources backing this up), ESPN was not part of the sale of ABC Radio Networks. Even though Citadel Media sells for ESPN Radio, Citadel Broadcasting doesn't own ESPN Radio -- Disney still does.

So yes, in a way, Disney gave Citadel Syracuse a kick in the teeth by making this move, but it's probably a better move for both companies on the corporate level because the Galaxy incarnation of ESPN Radio will include more stations (theoretically helping to improve ratings) and they also clear ESPN Deportes, which is not currently airing in the market. Sure, it's WSCP in Sandy Creek, but a rimshot affiliate's still better than no affiliate at all. The folks at corporate don't seem to care how this impacts the local Citadel cluster -- they just want to improve the audience numbers for network ad buys.

What puzzles me the most is that Citadel Syracuse may have been able to prevent this by launching some HD Radio subchannels. If ESPN was sold with Galaxy because Galaxy is offering FM translators... Citadel should have offered to simulcast WNSS on an HD2 channel of 95X or 93Q. Put ESPN Deportes on another HD2, or put it on the HD3 of the same station. I could use this to segue into a rant about how HD Radio is grossly underutilized in this market, but I don't have the time and my humble opinion isn't going to change anything anyway.

 

[TheBigA]

ESPN was not part of the sale of ABC Radio Networks. Even though Citadel Media sells for ESPN Radio, Citadel Broadcasting doesn't own ESPN Radio -- Disney still does.

I didn't say Citadel "owns" ESPN Radio. I clearly said it "syndicates" it. Big difference.

But I now see that the affiliate sales director for ESPN Radio has a Disney email address. Highly unusual situation for a company to pay a rights fee for content, and sell the audience to advertisers, but has no control over the affiliates. Citadel Media has a different relationship with ABC News Radio.

 

[TheBigA]

What puzzles me the most is that Citadel Syracuse may have been able to prevent this by launching some HD Radio subchannels.

The way to prevent it is in the contract. Citadel should have a right of first refusal clause in its contract with ESPN. The rules of engagement between two companies are spelled out in contract.

 

[theradiokid]

Hey guys,

The other radio website has discovered a couple of domanes of interest here. Citadel registered 1059bigtalker.com at the end of January, as well as score1260.com. This clearly means that Citadel is going talk on 105.9 here, and that 1260 will still stay sports.

I still must wonder where the programming will come from on both stations. Looks like I think maybe SNR for 1260? Huh. Dunno…

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[Element9]

CNYRadio breaks the news. The FM line-up looks like it came out of a blender. The AM line-up? Imus the Clown and Brent. What's this line-up supposed to do for Citadel? WSYR yawns.