Could "The Harbor" Be A Stunt??

[raccoonradio]

@bostonradio sent interesting tweet to me--for all we know CBS could have been interested in 101.7 as well.
Put some form of WODS there if so and then start Amp. Instead WODS 60s-80s relegated to HD2 of 103.3.
(CBS has 4 FMs in town right? (98.5, 100.7, 103.3, 104.1. They could have added one more.)

 

[raccoonradio]

>>none of these require new studio space in Medford. Numbers 2 and 3 they already have, and number 1 is a Dell computer sitting in a closet

As for WFNX as I've said before I gotta think they'll vacate the Lynn studios. If they want to do a WFNX
webstream, and they are, do it from the Boston HQ and why bother with the 2nd floor of 25 Exchange St.

 

[jlehmann]

@bostonradio sent interesting tweet to me--for all we know CBS could have been interested in 101.7 as well.
Put some form of WODS there if so and then start Amp. Instead WODS 60s-80s relegated to HD2 of 103.3.
(CBS has 4 FMs in town right? (98.5, 100.7, 103.3, 104.1. They could have added one more.)

I don't think they can have any more, because of also owning WBZ-TV and WSBK.

 

[fmradio1]

I think the original plan for CC was to simulcast 1200 but a couple of things changed since they struck the deal with Minditch for 101.7. #1...WODS went away. There is no place in the market for 80's hits since Mike is also gone and the emergence of AMP made the hole for it a mile wide. It's a cheap format to run, so it's in the running. And as other people have noted, CC is all over the Adult Hits bandwagon in recent months in other larger markets like Miami.

Second, FM political talk seems to be plateauing in other markets. In Philly, Merlin just signed on WWIQ with much of the same talent that's on 1200..Beck, Rush, Levin, Coast To Coast...and it debuted with a 0.2. Unlike Boston, WWIQ has a city grade signal throughout nearly the entire market and has no direct competition on FM. They could still try it, but considering it's only 4 1/2 months to Election Day in a presidential year, talkers have not enjoyed their sizable ratings bounce they used to get during this period, particularly in blue states/cities.

CC has been down on Spanish formats on FM over the last year or two. I can't see them going that way, despite the signal's strength in many Hispanic heavy zips. I'm still thinking Adult Hits....

 

[raccoonradio]

And 1200 may not be so bad signal wise for conserv talk, at least it's OK for me here in Beverly--at night it allegedly points toward Boston. Agreed on your points

 

[pqgeorge]

I would not be surprised if 101.7 would go for Classic Hits (aka oldies) format when it is all said and done. With CBS literally throwing their audience for yet another Top 40 station, it would make sense. What do they got to lose? Let's see what comes of it.

 

[raccoonradio]

it launched with standells, aerosmith, madonna, bon jovi

To use one of the old WODS slogans "YOU KNOW ALL THE SONGS"

 

[blackgold]

Or will they go to an oldies format with the 50s through the 80s?

 

[DJbobo]

@bostonradio sent interesting tweet to me--for all we know CBS could have been interested in 101.7 as well.
Put some form of WODS there if so and then start Amp. Instead WODS 60s-80s relegated to HD2 of 103.3.
(CBS has 4 FMs in town right? (98.5, 100.7, 103.3, 104.1. They could have added one more.)

I don't think they can have any more, because of also owning WBZ-TV and WSBK.

A company can own 6 radio/2 TVs or 7 radio/1TVs if the market has at least 20 'media voices'/(TV/radio/newspaper/online news portals/cable systems/news blogs/local papers,etc). Boston has it covered.

 

[Mrtraveler01]

Second, FM political talk seems to be plateauing in other markets. In Philly, Merlin just signed on WWIQ with much of the same talent that's on 1200..Beck, Rush, Levin, Coast To Coast...and it debuted with a 0.2. Unlike Boston, WWIQ has a city grade signal throughout nearly the entire market and has no direct competition on FM. They could still try it, but considering it's only 4 1/2 months to Election Day in a presidential year, talkers have not enjoyed their sizable ratings bounce they used to get during this period, particularly in blue states/cities.

I agree. In "blue" cities like Boston, it would be absolutely pointless to have an FM simulcast of Talk 1200. You're not going to win over listeners in Boston just by having Rush Limbaugh on an FM signal.

Just look at how little WBEN's ratings in Buffalo improved when they axed The Lake (which I thought was a good station btw)

 

[raccoonradio]

Probably true. Well if Howie wants to go to an FM talk station in town his only option would be 96.9 (though 1200 does simulcast on 107.9-HD2)

 

[xyz]

May well be a stunt. I believe that when CC sees the 1st book after their commercial free til Labor Day, they will realize "The Harbor" is a low-tide stinker.

THEN they'll flush that phlegmatic format fast.

WFNX 101.7 had a faithful audience of P1s. The Harbor will garner a non dedicated, button-punching bunch of P0s (Pzeros).

-

 

[uncamark]

May well be a stunt. I believe that when CC sees the 1st book after their commercial free til Labor Day, they will realize "The Harbor" is a low-tide stinker.

THEN they'll flush that phlegmatic format fast.

WFNX 101.7 had a faithful audience of P1s. The Harbor will garner a non dedicated, button-punching bunch of P0s (Pzeros).

A faithful audience of P1s that advertisers aren't interested in outside of gentlemen's clubs and head shops.

 

[promixcuous]

May well be a stunt. I believe that when CC sees the 1st book after their commercial free til Labor Day, they will realize "The Harbor" is a low-tide stinker.

THEN they'll flush that phlegmatic format fast.

WFNX 101.7 had a faithful audience of P1s. The Harbor will garner a non dedicated, button-punching bunch of P0s (Pzeros).

A faithful audience of P1s that advertisers aren't interested in outside of gentlemen's clubs and head shops.

I have never heard an ad for a strip club on WFNX.

As a consumer who has spent half a million dollars in the last six months, I was surprised how few advertisers WFNX had that were relevant. Instead of debt negotiator ads, they should have had ads from mortgagors and car companies and furniture companies. Hey advertisers, you bought time on the wrong station.

 

[CTListener]

May well be a stunt. I believe that when CC sees the 1st book after their commercial free til Labor Day, they will realize "The Harbor" is a low-tide stinker.

THEN they'll flush that phlegmatic format fast.

WFNX 101.7 had a faithful audience of P1s. The Harbor will garner a non dedicated, button-punching bunch of P0s (Pzeros).

A faithful audience of P1s that advertisers aren't interested in outside of gentlemen's clubs and head shops.

I have never heard an ad for a strip club on WFNX.

As a consumer who has spent half a million dollars in the last six months, I was surprised how few advertisers WFNX had that were relevant. Instead of debt negotiator ads, they should have had ads from mortgagors and car companies and furniture companies. Hey advertisers, you bought time on the wrong station.

Apparently, the decision makers on Madison Avenue don't agree with your assessment (based on what -- people you know?) of the typical alternative rock listener.

 

[iyiyi]

So, basically you people are saying that CC doesn't have the wherewithal to bundle 101.7 with other CC Alts in national media buys?

My understanding is that the worth of a station is roughly 10 times the annual billings. If that's in the ballpark, then WFNX was billing about $1.45 million per annum. Not exactly small potatos.

When and if you can't sell a major market station with a cume of 200+ thousand P1s, it is time to blow your sales staff out the door and replace them with knowledgeable sales people. OR... Sell the station to somebody who can.

Does anyone really believe 101.7 - in it's current incarnation - will bill $1.5 million per year?

-

 

[tophour]

...then WFNX was billing about $1.45 million per annum. Not exactly small potatoes.

In Boston? That's incredibly small potatoes.

Does anyone really believe 101.7 - in it's current incarnation - will bill $1.5 million per year?

Absolutely.

 

[promixcuous]

May well be a stunt. I believe that when CC sees the 1st book after their commercial free til Labor Day, they will realize "The Harbor" is a low-tide stinker.

THEN they'll flush that phlegmatic format fast.

WFNX 101.7 had a faithful audience of P1s. The Harbor will garner a non dedicated, button-punching bunch of P0s (Pzeros).

A faithful audience of P1s that advertisers aren't interested in outside of gentlemen's clubs and head shops.

I have never heard an ad for a strip club on WFNX.

As a consumer who has spent half a million dollars in the last six months, I was surprised how few advertisers WFNX had that were relevant. Instead of debt negotiator ads, they should have had ads from mortgagors and car companies and furniture companies. Hey advertisers, you bought time on the wrong station.

Apparently, the decision makers on Madison Avenue don't agree with your assessment (based on what -- people you know?) of the typical alternative rock listener.

Most of the people posting dismay about WFNX's demise all over Twitter and Facebook are urban professionals. Look around. WFNX had a much more lucrative audience than you assume. Not only that, but like right wing talk radio, this audience believed in what they were listening to. What a great opportunity to sell to.

WHBA, being your awkward uncle's music, won't appeal to the urban audience in 101.7's coverage area. Not enough Irocs around. CC's corporate heads in Texas don't understand how to appeal to a New England urban professional audience. The guy programming it has only been in the market a year and lacks the experience to have a sense for what 80s music still resonates here. It ain't hair bands.

 

[Jimmy128]

They spent 14.5 million for this? This has to be a stunt. That way, no matter what they put on will sound good. This is beyond awful.

I like that. "Your awkward uncle's music."

 

[Granite Guy]

I was talking to one (unnamed) station owner that thinks the Harbor is in fact a stunt....Espanol after labor day???