Could the End be near for WWCD ?

[OhioMediaWatch]

It's interesting...that Roger set this whole thing up, gave his alma mater a good deal on the 101.1 frequency, set up the LMA on 102.5, and...is out of the picture entirely now, apparently.

The problem with finding out about the LMA deal is that the paperwork, IMHO, is not online anywhere at the FCC website. You have to go to wherever 102.5's public file is...is there a public library in Baltimore? Is it at the WWCD LMA studios in Columbus?

Someone has to make that request. The Other Paper should have.

One would have to ASSUME that Mr. Malloy has secured better protection in the revised LMA deal...or, perhaps, is living with whatever limitations he has to live with. As long as 102.5 is "up for sale", he may have no choice, his only protection being that no one is willing to pony up the price the folks in Zanesville are asking.

 

[knowbetter]

It's interesting...that Roger set this whole thing up, gave his alma mater a good deal on the 101.1 frequency, set up the LMA on 102.5, and...is out of the picture entirely now, apparently.

yep, he took his money, and left, good for him.

The problem with finding out about the LMA deal is that the paperwork, IMHO, is not online anywhere at the FCC website. You have to go to wherever 102.5's public file is...is there a public library in Baltimore? Is it at the WWCD LMA studios in Columbus?

it would have to be in the public file for both.

Someone has to make that request. The Other Paper should have.

if they are serious about their article, they should have, but it's fairly clear they don't understand the public file rules, point is, anyone can go see it, with no explanation, or any other information given. While it's usually intimidating to the station to have someone to walk in and ask for the public file, that's life, and how it works. The interesting thing is the hows and whys the stations screw it up, and yes, I have been on both sides of this process.

Overall, it's simple, walk in, ask for it, and hopefully have it handed to you without question, although most stations will normally keep someone there with you while they inspect it, for their (and your) protection. You can also request copies of stuff, they can charge you a nominal rate...(ten cents a page might not be abnormal, but they can't charge an excessive amount). Hint, if they want to charge an excessive amount, go ahead, and pay it, and make sure you get a clear receipt. You can guess who to send a copy of the complaint, and receipt to!

One would have to ASSUME that Mr. Malloy has secured better protection in the revised LMA deal...or, perhaps, is living with whatever limitations he has to live with. As long as 102.5 is "up for sale", he may have no choice, his only protection being that no one is willing to pony up the price the folks in Zanesville are asking.

One would hope, but it's a deal that is likely to be problematical over time!

 

[borderblaster]

Would the LMA docs have to be filed in court? Just curious. WNOX in Knoxville had an LMA with Citadel until the Citadel bankruptcy, that LMA was searchable in court records online but since there was ongoing litigation that's understandable

 

[Rusty Muck]

from, the other paper..

The big change at the office? Malloy had taken over as the majority owner of the station under the umbrella of his new company, WWCD Ltd. That shift in ownership required drafting new documents and scrubbing Fun With Radio, the former ownership entity, from all of the station's contracts and materials.

None of this has anything to do with the Commission, and are simply local business transactions...It's NOT radio till you file with them. Radio Licenses cannot be transferred with encumbrances...period. The holder of teh license can do anything they want with in, in the long run!

Sorry Randy, until you get another license, you have a nice content production company business, but not a radio station.

That trumps everything else being said.

Until Mr. Malloy has the money to buy the actual signal, the fate of WWCD still rests in the hands of people from Zanesville. And if WHIZ Media Group is able to get an even better deal; well, it's curtains for WWCD. They can't operate online-only (for obvious reasons), they NEED a terrestrial signal in order to stay in business.

In short, what happened last week is nothing short of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. WWCD is still a sinking ship - this only staved off an immediate execution, but they will be in the same boat at this time next year. (And don't think Salem is taking this lightly... it's clear they are lusting after 102.5 [do pardon the pun], and I wouldn't be shocked to see them forcing a hostile purchase.)

 

[knowbetter]

Would the LMA docs have to be filed in court? Just curious. WNOX in Knoxville had an LMA with Citadel until the Citadel bankruptcy, that LMA was searchable in court records online but since there was ongoing litigation that's understandable

most likely, not, unless there is some local court intervention. (like a lawsuit)

 

[gabigley1]

That change in ownership of the LMA partner could void the LMA if Salem does indeed take over.

Most all of us agree Salem will not purchase the 102.5 frequency because the asking price is not to their liking. The only way Salem will appear
on 102.5 is if they LMA the 102.5 frequency. Could that still happen anytime soon?

 

[Rusty Muck]

That change in ownership of the LMA partner could void the LMA if Salem does indeed take over.

Most all of us agree Salem will not purchase the 102.5 frequency because the asking price is not to their liking. The only way Salem will appear
on 102.5 is if they LMA the 102.5 frequency. Could that still happen anytime soon?

I actually will play devil's advocate.

Salem's attempt to LMA was a damn serious one, and possibly had an intent to buy from WHIZ. They don't set up a functioning website for "News Talk 102.5" just because they had nothing else to do. Salem is obviously consigned to staying in Columbus after their attempt to shed WFRD to CVCO fell apart. So why not attempt to buy one or two more signals to improve their position in the market? True, a conservatalk format on 102.5 wouldn't draw anything for ratings, but clearing all of their in-house syndicated shows, and brokering out weekends, will bring in a lot of revenue for them. For doing very little, Salem gets a whole lot in return.

I think it is safe to say that Salem is seriously fuming over the stunt that WWCD did to save their LMA. Wouldn't shock me to see Salem seriously up the ante with another LMA attempt, or force a purchase of the station outright - cutting out the middleman and calling WWCD's bluff at the same time. And at this current juncture, the nanosecond 102.5 is sold to ANYONE, the intellectual unit of WWCD simply ceases to exist.

Why? Because WWCD can't afford a webstream, let alone the license to a physical radio station!

Radio can be a cruel, cruel creature, indeed...

 

[knowbetter]

I actually will play devil's advocate.

Salem's attempt to LMA was a damn serious one, and possibly had an intent to buy from WHIZ. They don't set up a functioning website for "News Talk 102.5" just because they had nothing else to do. <snip> True, a conservatalk format on 102.5 wouldn't draw anything for ratings, but clearing all of their in-house syndicated shows, and brokering out weekends, will bring in a lot of revenue for them. For doing very little, Salem gets a whole lot in return.

agreed, but the question is, is hte local guy who put up the website, still with them?, and I agree, program clearance does work, look at clear channel!

I think it is safe to say that Salem is seriously fuming over the stunt that WWCD did to save their LMA. Wouldn't shock me to see Salem seriously up the ante with another LMA attempt, or force a purchase of the station outright - cutting out the middleman and calling WWCD's bluff at the same time. And at this current juncture, the nanosecond 102.5 is sold to ANYONE, the intellectual unit of WWCD simply ceases to exist.

Why? Because WWCD can't afford a webstream, let alone the license to a physical radio station!

Again, seems rather simple, IF Salem really wants to buy 102.5, and it's for sale, I see it happening mid to late next year, after the renewal cycle. I don't get why WWCD doesn't stream, overall, with their target audience being what it is, the streaming is likely very important, It's got to be more than a simple cost factor.

I sense a lot of ego in this deal, there is simply no other real explanation!

 

[gabigley1]

This Columbus Alive has a little more info on the LMA “WWCD, Ltd.” has with Southeastern. They say it's extends into 2018!!

http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2011/11/24/feature-cd101-after-andyman.html

Feature: CD101 after Andyman
Tuesday November 22, 2011 7:20 PM
By Chris DeVille
Columbus Alive

The likely cause for any mumbo-jumbo is a change in ownership for CD101. Malloy became majority owner this year, purchasing CD101 from Roger Vaughn. The 102.5 signal was leased to Fun With Radio, Vaughn’s company. Malloy has been renegotiating the lease to replace “Fun With Radio” with Malloy’s “WWCD, Ltd.” and extend the duration of CD101’s lease to 2018. Malloy signed the new agreement Tuesday.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

And the quote I put in the WOSU 820 thread:

One more big change is coming: The name CD101 will be changing soon, either to “CD102.5” or “102.5, The Alternative Station.”

“It’s very hard to rebrand something that we don’t really want to rebrand,” Malloy said. However, “102.5 — that’s what we are. Let’s just call ourselves what we are and stop screwing around.”

 

[Rusty Muck]

And the quote I put in the WOSU 820 thread:

One more big change is coming: The name CD101 will be changing soon, either to “CD102.5” or “102.5, The Alternative Station.”

“It’s very hard to rebrand something that we don’t really want to rebrand,” Malloy said. However, “102.5 — that’s what we are. Let’s just call ourselves what we are and stop screwing around.”

Wow! It took them 18 months to figure THAT out?!?

Maybe Malloy will realize in 10 years that the only way WWCD can survive is if he actually stops this LMA nonsense and BUYS the license.

Or, in 20 years, he gets the idea that streaming WWCD online will take the station out of the 19th century.

Or, in 30 years, they could extend the morning show to a start time of 6AM instead of 7AM.

Unbelievable. An impatient EIGHT YEAR OLD could figure this stuff out!

The gist I get from the article is; WWCD deliberately wanted to permanently memorialize Andyman, so they kept all antiquated branding intact and left the website out-of-date on purpose. It's far more likely that WWCD was SO strapped for cash that they couldn't afford any of that, so Andyman's death gave them cover.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

The gist I get from the article is; WWCD deliberately wanted to permanently memorialize Andyman, so they kept all antiquated branding intact and left the website out-of-date on purpose. It's far more likely that WWCD was SO strapped for cash that they couldn't afford any of that, so Andyman's death gave them cover.

Look, I get the sentimental thing about Andyman. But why call your station "CD101" when it isn't at 101.1 FM anymore?

Heck, keep the charity name "CD101 For The Kids". Or even call it "Andyman's CD101 For The Kids". Run a tribute to him at legal ID time.

But it makes about as much sense calling the entire station "CD101" after the move to 102.5 as it does using your old house address as your mailing address long after you've moved. Or for that matter, in the case of WWCD, your studio address

And unlike the post office, there's no automatic forwarding service when you hit 101.1 FM on the radio in Columbus...you hear classical music now, with no redirection for alt-rock fans...

 

[xmusicmatt]

Do they really think a LMA is gonna last until 2018. to be honest I would be shocked if they are still on 102.5 in 5 years.

 

[jakej]

And unlike the post office, there's no automatic forwarding service when you hit 101.1 FM on the radio in Columbus...you hear classical music now, with no redirection for alt-rock fans...

You'd think that after misdirecting them for over twenty years, the least they could do is redirect them now.

 

[Rusty Muck]

The gist I get from the article is; WWCD deliberately wanted to permanently memorialize Andyman, so they kept all antiquated branding intact and left the website out-of-date on purpose. It's far more likely that WWCD was SO strapped for cash that they couldn't afford any of that, so Andyman's death gave them cover.

Look, I get the sentimental thing about Andyman. But why call your station "CD101" when it isn't at 101.1 FM anymore?

Heck, keep the charity name "CD101 For The Kids". Or even call it "Andyman's CD101 For The Kids". Run a tribute to him at legal ID time.

But it makes about as much sense calling the entire station "CD101" after the move to 102.5 as it does using your old house address as your mailing address long after you've moved. Or for that matter, in the case of WWCD, your studio address

And unlike the post office, there's no automatic forwarding service when you hit 101.1 FM on the radio in Columbus...you hear classical music now, with no redirection for alt-rock fans...

Again, my theory is that they were unable to afford a proper re-brand, and clearly used Andyman's death as a crutch to keep the "CD101" brand. Said article now basically confirms that as a fact for all to see.

Sad. Really sad.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Do they really think a LMA is gonna last until 2018. to be honest I would be shocked if they are still on 102.5 in 5 years.

Nope. I'll be surprised if WWCD lasts through 2012.

 

[gabigley1]

Saw a show on WSOU-TV where WWCD was nominated for a CAP award. Some people say
WWCD dose contribute to civic community projects and that would be a shame if WWCD left the air.

http://www.gcac.org/community-arts-partnership/community-arts-partnership-nominees.php

Community Arts Partnership Awards

Small Business:

Brainstorm Media Inc.
City Scene Magazine
Electronic Commodity Corporation
Formation Studio
New Harvest Urban Arts Center
Outlook Columbus
SBC Advertising
WWCD CD101 @ 102.5FM