Clear Channel New Home to Hannity & Limbaugh?

[jfrancispastirchak]

Clear Channel could land both:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...ty-rush-limbaugh-could-be-moving-radio-homes/

 

[FredLeonard]

Clear Channel has both. It has long been "home" to both.

 

[KeithE4]

Clear Channel could land both:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...ty-rush-limbaugh-could-be-moving-radio-homes/

Clear Channel syndicates both, so they've already "landed" them.

Trouble is, they don't own big AM stations in a few large cities, notably Chicago, Washington, and (I think) Detroit, so they'll either have to blow up an FM they own or put them on somebody else's station. The only possibilities in Chicago are Salem's WIND or one or more low-powered suburban sticks, since I think it's highly unlikely they'll blow up black-gospel WGRB 1390, or take back WVON 1690, which is LMA'ed to Midway Broadcasting.

And why would CC dump a profitable FM music format for shows that cater to the almost-room-temperature crowd?

 

[RadioTalker101]

Clear Channel could land both:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...ty-rush-limbaugh-could-be-moving-radio-homes/

Clear Channel syndicates both, so they've already "landed" them.

Trouble is, they don't own big AM stations in a few large cities, notably Chicago, Washington, and (I think) Detroit, so they'll either have to blow up an FM they own or put them on somebody else's station. The only possibilities in Chicago are Salem's WIND or one or more low-powered suburban sticks, since I think it's highly unlikely they'll blow up black-gospel WGRB 1390, or take back WVON 1690, which is LMA'ed to Midway Broadcasting.

And why would CC dump a profitable FM music format for shows that cater to the almost-room-temperature crowd?

Money, if they can make money with it then they will.

 

[KeithE4]

Clear Channel could land both:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...ty-rush-limbaugh-could-be-moving-radio-homes/

Clear Channel syndicates both, so they've already "landed" them.

Trouble is, they don't own big AM stations in a few large cities, notably Chicago, Washington, and (I think) Detroit, so they'll either have to blow up an FM they own or put them on somebody else's station. The only possibilities in Chicago are Salem's WIND or one or more low-powered suburban sticks, since I think it's highly unlikely they'll blow up black-gospel WGRB 1390, or take back WVON 1690, which is LMA'ed to Midway Broadcasting.

And why would CC dump a profitable FM music format for shows that cater to the almost-room-temperature crowd?

Money, if they can make money with it then they will.

But will they make more with geezer-friendly talk on FM than music? I find it highly unlikely.

And how much does CC really make on Limbaugh and Hannity after those high salaries and other expenses are paid? I can't believe they charge all that much for advertising to an aging audience. How many people in The Sacred Sales Demo listen to AM talk radio? I'll guess that it's a small percentage of the total audience.

 

[FredLeonard]

But will they make more with geezer-friendly talk on FM than music? I find it highly unlikely.

And how much does CC really make on Limbaugh and Hannity after those high salaries and other expenses are paid? I can't believe they charge all that much for advertising to an aging audience. How many people in The Sacred Sales Demo listen to AM talk radio? I'll guess that it's a small percentage of the total audience.

Bain Channel makes money from the rip-off fees they charge stations to carry these shows. Cumulus is finally realizing they aren't making enough money from having the shows to justify the cost of getting the show.

 

[TheBigA]

It's funny to me how one weak story from an anonymous source gets picked up by real news services and becomes a story. Even though there are no real facts other than what was said two months ago.

If Dickey says something tomorrow when he talks about quarterly earnings, then it's a story.

 

[umfan]

It's a story now. Clear Channel has two poorly performing FMs in Chicago. Look for one of them to flip to talk.

I don't think this would've broken if it wasn't going to happen. I bet CC leaked it ahead of Dickey's earnings call to put him on the spot.

I look for a final decision to be made by early October, if not sooner. CC will want the time to start promoting the new locations.

Cumulus covers less than 10 percent of Limbaugh's outlets. Admittedly, many are in the largest markets so it's far more than 10 percent of his audience, but CC has more than enough stations to ensure he gets coverage where a non-CC station doesn't pick up the show.

Of course, then they aren't getting a fee to air the program, so they'll have to sell local ads to make up that revenue. Cumulus will get the shorter end of this. This time next year, Dickey will be trying to explain why overall revenue has dropped by double digits as well as a drop in net profit. He may get dumped shortly thereafter.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't think this would've broken if it wasn't going to happen.

You don't think someone is just trying to drive public opinion? That never happens, does it?

It's a pretty common negotiating ploy. Politicians do it all the time.

CC isn't going to blow up an FM in Chicago that's 40% minority for a format that appeals to over 60 year old white men. Cumulus did in DC, and it didn't work. Rush & Hannity got better ratings on an AM station in Philly than when they moved to an FM station. Did losing Rush & Hannity in Philly destroy CBS? Are their revenues down? You tell me.

"Coverage" doesn't matter. They need to make money. Just getting "coverage" won't have the impact of a 50K blowtorch.

This time next year, Dickey will be trying to explain why overall revenue has dropped by double digits as well as a drop in net profit. He may get dumped shortly thereafter.

Wow, talk about wishful thinking. He already held that press conference a few months ago, trying to explain why revenues fell even WITH Rush & Hannity. The fact is that Rush isn't the revenue attraction he once was. Everyone knows this except the ditto heads. Everyone can see the instructions from national advertisers not to place their spots in any controversial talk shows. That costs money.

Cumulus has already written off conservative talk. So have several other companies. The demos are old, and the controversies are bad for sales. There are three sports networks to choose from, and that's where the money is going.

 

[umfan]

Big A, do you think before you type?

Cumulus has already written off conservative talk. So have several other companies.

This is why they've put a great deal of effort into developing Huckabee's radio show, right? This is why they syndicate Mark Levin, right? If that's writing off a format by your definition, then you're using a language other than English.

Wow, talk about wishful thinking.

I think this applies to you. You clearly have a problem with conservative talk. Limbaugh and Hannity will end up on a CC FM station in Chicago if an agreement with Cumulus isn't reached. Period. We'll know one way or the other in a few months.

 

[stevensonair]

Putting those shows on an FM won't expand the demographic or the viability of the format in the long term.

 

[FredLeonard]

There's more than enough wishful thinking to go around.

Clear Channel owns seven FM and one (weak stick) AM in the Chicago market. The FMs are doing as well or better in their current formats as WLS, which now carries Rush-Hannity. That leaves Clear Channel's Black gospel station, which does not put a good signal into the suburbs.

Some people here seem to assume that big corporations act as monolith. No, they don't. Clear Channel has a number of operating units, each is run by individuals who are expected to make money. Premiere is expected to make money. The radio station division is expected to make money. Individual market clusters and and stations are expected to make money. That means often one corporate unit is acting against the interests of another corporate unit. So, don't expect a Chicago Clear Channel station to roll over for Premiere and pick up Rush-Hannity.

If I were going to bet on where Rush ends up, I'd go with Merlin's low-rated Hot AC FM, WIQI. It already has IQ in the calls, just like Merlin's Philly station which takes Clear Channel's Beck-Rush-Hannity line-up.

I'd also expect WLS (and other Cumulus stations) to counter with a mostly local line-up.

 

[umfan]

Two of the FM's cume at 0.5 or less, this is doing well how? They can, and will, be sacrificed if necessary.

Merlin might pick it up but they'd need to be willing to pay. I'm not sure they are.

 

[FredLeonard]

Two of the FM's cume at 0.5 or less, this is doing well how? They can, and will, be sacrificed if necessary.

Merlin might pick it up but they'd need to be willing to pay. I'm not sure they are.

What are you looking at? WLS currently has a 2.1 AQH share. Clear Channel's Spanish-language ESPN station currently has a 2.0 All their other FMs have larger shares.

 

[TheBigA]

If that's writing off a format by your definition, then you're using a language other than English.

Conservative talk clearly isn't a priority for Cumulus. Compare it to the investment they've made in the CBS Sports Radio Network and NASH. Read what Dickey has already said about conservative talk. I don't see a whole lot of effort going into any of their talk properties when compared to their other programming initiatives: Sports and country.

You clearly have a problem with conservative talk.

It's not about me. I have no problem with conservative talk. We're talking about Cumulus. My observation is about them.

 

[umfan]

I'm looking at WFXF and WGRB. I don't see them flipping anything else. They have 0.3 and 0.9 respectively. What are YOU looking at?

Cumulus is heavily invested in conservative talk. Far more so than they are in Country. If they weren't, they wouldn't be trying to cover their bases with Huckabee, Savage and continuing to syndicate Levin. I agree, it's about the money. They wouldn't contemplate this if they thought that the programming they are getting from Premiere wasn't worth the money or if they didn't think they could get a lower rate by taking this stand. That said, they'll still be heavy in conservative talk even if this shift takes place.

 

[TheBigA]

Cumulus is heavily invested in conservative talk. Far more so than they are in Country.

They own more country stations than talk. They've been flipping stations to country, while they've been flipping talk stations to sports or all news. They had an opportunity to have an FM talk station in NYC, and instead launched a country station. What does that tell you?

No they're not abandoning talk. But it's success or failure is not going to determine the future of the Dickey brothers.

 

[fybush]

I'm looking at WFXF and WGRB. I don't see them flipping anything else. They have 0.3 and 0.9 respectively. What are YOU looking at?

WFXF isn't owned by Clear Channel. It was NextMedia and is currently in a divestiture trust. And in any event, it's a far northwest suburban rimshot A that can't be heard in Chicago proper at all.

 

[FightingIrish]

There's more than enough wishful thinking to go around.

Clear Channel owns seven FM and one (weak stick) AM in the Chicago market. The FMs are doing as well or better in their current formats as WLS, which now carries Rush-Hannity. That leaves Clear Channel's Black gospel station, which does not put a good signal into the suburbs.

Some people here seem to assume that big corporations act as monolith. No, they don't. Clear Channel has a number of operating units, each is run by individuals who are expected to make money. Premiere is expected to make money. The radio station division is expected to make money. Individual market clusters and and stations are expected to make money. That means often one corporate unit is acting against the interests of another corporate unit. So, don't expect a Chicago Clear Channel station to roll over for Premiere and pick up Rush-Hannity.

If I were going to bet on where Rush ends up, I'd go with Merlin's low-rated Hot AC FM, WIQI. It already has IQ in the calls, just like Merlin's Philly station which takes Clear Channel's Beck-Rush-Hannity line-up.

I'd also expect WLS (and other Cumulus stations) to counter with a mostly local line-up.

Guess I'm not the only one who thought of WIQI. And Merlin may just be demented enough to switch that signal to conservotalk.

Though, judging by their ratings as of late, they really should just bite the bullet and bring back Q101. It's doing far better on a Franken FM than WIQI currently is.

 

[FredLeonard]

I'm looking at WFXF and WGRB. I don't see them flipping anything else. They have 0.3 and 0.9 respectively. What are YOU looking at?

Cumulus is heavily invested in conservative talk. Far more so than they are in Country. If they weren't, they wouldn't be trying to cover their bases with Huckabee, Savage and continuing to syndicate Levin. I agree, it's about the money. They wouldn't contemplate this if they thought that the programming they are getting from Premiere wasn't worth the money or if they didn't think they could get a lower rate by taking this stand. That said, they'll still be heavy in conservative talk even if this shift takes place.

As Mr. Fybush mentioned, Clear Channel doesn't own WFXF and WGRB is the weak stick AM currently running Black Gospel I mentioned earlier.