Columbus' Radio Crystal ball 2011

[OhioMediaWatch]

I'll eat a hat if tOSU LMAs 820 to ANYONE.

They are certainly abandoning the branding, but an LMA serves no purpose to the university.

They are not hard up for the cash by any stretch of the imagination. They don't want to hold onto the thing, but it's much easier just to let the thing sit there and repeat 89.7 than it is to hold the license for another group that could run out of money, could have programming issues that would make tOSU look bad as the licensee, etc.

Either the signal sits there ad infinitum as an unadvertised repeater of its former format, or it is sold outright.

And you're right, I don't know who buys the thing. Salem tried to get out of the market by trying to sell WRFD, and I don't think they have interest in moving to even a full-time signal (and again, they'd likely have to try to sell WRFD again!).

I think any eventual sale comes down to tOSU accepting a low-end price just to get the facility out of their hair. But there's no hurry to do so.

 

[knowbetter]

I'll eat a hat if tOSU LMAs 820 to ANYONE.

And you're right, I don't know who buys the thing. Salem tried to get out of the market by trying to sell WRFD, and I don't think they have interest in moving to even a full-time signal (and again,
I think any eventual sale comes down to tOSU accepting a low-end price just to get the facility out of their hair. But there's no hurry to do so.

which is why the tax dump might work

 

[del_griffith]

You've got to remember that Salem tried to get out of the market because WRFD was a stand alone entity in the market. By adding 820 to its portfolio, that would no longer be the situation. And they themselves tried to establish a market point by trying to sell WRFD for 4 million. Sure, that was a nutty number, but someone bit. And had financing been available, it would have closed.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I don't know if two AMs is enough for Salem, unless they put a conservative talker on one and their WRFD talk/teaching format on the other.

I think without an FM, they'd still like to get out of Columbus. (Notice I didn't say "a Fish outlet"...Salem does quite well with talk/teaching on FM in Pittsburgh, Dallas, etc.)

 

[del_griffith]

I don't know all the ins and outs of Ohio law, but I don't think that Ohio State can take seller paper for WOSU-AM. And others have mentioned the liability aspect of an LMA or seller paper. I do know Ohio law is very adverse against contingent liabilities. The same may hold true for a stock purchase.

If all that is correct, then that leaves only a cash buyer or someone who get and arrange loans to bring cash to the closing table. That significantly reduces the buying pool. The pool is further reduced by the number of people actively shopping AM facilities. So other than the obvious choice of Salem, the only other buyer of AMs that I'm aware of was Good Karma be interested in another Ohio facility and can they put together a cash deal?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

So other than the obvious choice of Salem, the only other buyer of AMs that I'm aware of was Good Karma be interested in another Ohio facility and can they put together a cash deal?

Depending on what tOSU asks for 820, Karmazin could probably swing the financing somehow.

I just don't see him doing it. Despite the fact 'KNR is the Cleveland market home for Buckeyes sports, I don't see Good Karma going into Columbus. (And besides, such a station would obviously not have the games, anyway.)

 

[gabigley1]

This organization http://publicradiocapital.org/ is selling WOSU-AM according to WOSU radio. Apparently tOSU is not directly involved in the sell of WOSU-AM? That organization says they are "pursuing" a buyer for the station. So, that organization dose want to sell the station.

 

[gabigley1]

Also, notice that organization, Public Radio Capital, also handled the WPAY and WPFB deal.
So, Public Radio Capital is a broker for public radio stations? How will this affect the potential future
buyer for 820 AM if tOSU is not directly involved in selling the station?

Why not throw CC Columbus into the mix of potential buyers for 820 AM?

http://publicradiocapital.org/news/index.php?id=88

Boulder, Colo. – Public Radio Capital today announced that it has brokered Northern Kentucky University’s plan to acquire 105.9 WPFB AM/FM and 104.1 WPAY FM as part of a network of stations that will broadcast the 89.7 WNKU public radio signal to more than 3.3 million people.

 

[talkers]

Also, notice that organization, Public Radio Capital, also handled the WPAY and WPFB deal.
So, Public Radio Capital is a broker for public radio stations? How will this affect the potential future
buyer for 820 AM if tOSU is not directly involved in selling the station?

Why not throw CC Columbus into the mix of potential buyers for 820 AM?

http://publicradiocapital.org/news/index.php?id=88

Boulder, Colo. – Public Radio Capital today announced that it has brokered Northern Kentucky University’s plan to acquire 105.9 WPFB AM/FM and 104.1 WPAY FM as part of a network of stations that will broadcast the 89.7 WNKU public radio signal to more than 3.3 million people.

CC is maxed out in Columbus. They would need to sell something to buy WOSU.

 

[gabigley1]

CC Columbus only owns two AM stations in town. They cannot own one more? That is news to me.

 

[del_griffith]

So other than the obvious choice of Salem, the only other buyer of AMs that I'm aware of was Good Karma be interested in another Ohio facility and can they put together a cash deal?

Depending on what tOSU asks for 820, Karmazin could probably swing the financing somehow.

I just don't see him doing it. Despite the fact 'KNR is the Cleveland market home for Buckeyes sports, I don't see Good Karma going into Columbus. (And besides, such a station would obviously not have the games, anyway.)

I don't either. But he seems able to raise capital. Which brings us back to the most logical potential buyer is Salem. Of course maybe CVCO could muster 4 million for a full time AM vs a daytime AM?

 

[xmusicmatt]

CC Columbus only owns two AM stations in town. They cannot own one more? That is news to me.

The market limits is based on total ownership of stations not AM vs FM. So if Clear Channel wanted to purchase someting in the Columbus Market they would have to sell something.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

CC Columbus only owns two AM stations in town. They cannot own one more? That is news to me.

The market limits is based on total ownership of stations not AM vs FM.   So if Clear Channel wanted to purchase someting in the Columbus Market they would have to sell something.

I thought a few years ago Columbus reached the signal threshold (45 signals??) that made owners here subject to an 8 station cap, no more than 5 of which can be in any single service (i.e. AM or FM).  If that's correct, than CC would still have room for one more AM here...though I'd be surprised if they wanted one.

 

[del_griffith]

I think Clear Channel will be disposing of properties instead of adding due to their financial mess. That is unless the addition is very strategic. Would WOSU-AM be strategic to them?

 

[Al Timiter]

If 820 ends up as Liberal...

I don't see that happening. It will either go a) religion b) foreign lang programmed of some sorts. or c) paid programming.

I don't see it happening either. That's why I wrote "If." And Thom Hartmann is a smart choice for any liberal talk station.

 

[Rusty Muck]

I think Clear Channel will be disposing of properties instead of adding due to their financial mess. That is unless the addition is very strategic. Would WOSU-AM be strategic to them?

I guess. Trading 1230 for 820 would look like a no-brainer at first blush, and is probably the ONLY way that CC could attain 820. Selling off any of their FMs just to buy 820 would be beyond ludicrous. And if they eventually do spin off huge clusters of stations, none of them would be in any buying spree of note.

IMO, it wouldn't really be worth it.

 

[gabigley1]

If that is the case, it would be hassle for CC to sell or donate 1230 in order to attain 820. Don't think CC Columbus is interested in the hassle, at least in this case.

 

[knowbetter]

If that is the case, it would be hassle for CC to sell or donate 1230 in order to attain 820. Don't think CC Columbus is interested in the hassle, at least in this case.

I don't know if i agree with you...CC has always been in the signal business, and an AM at 820 @ 5kw, is going to be better than a 1230...period...

if CC can't pick it up directly, they could donate 1230 to any number of local folks..they have done this in the past, and they pick up a better AM signal for what they want to do..

so it might be worth the hassle, the down side is that CC would want the land and stuff, but they certainly could pay top dollar, more so to keep the station out of someone else's hands who could potentially do them damage in the future.

 

[radiogeek07]

Would Radiohio be interested in picking it up and dumping 1460 so they had a better AM to complement The Fan?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

if CC can't pick it up directly, they could donate 1230 to any number of local folks..they have done this in the past, and they pick up a better AM signal for what they want to do..

Couldn't they throw 1230 into the MMTC pool? If they left it, that is...