Could WFME finally be for sale?

[xmusicmatt]

With the talks of FR converting their Philly station WKDN, Camden (106.9) to a com license.. and rumors that the same thing would happen with Washington DC/Baltimore-area WFSI, Annapolis at 107.9... could WFME 94.7 be next in line..

Seems like May 21st may not have been the end of the world.. however it appears the end of Camping having Full Large Powered FM's days are numbered.. sooner than we all think.

 

[jmtillery]

According to my sources, all three remaining commercially licensed major market Family Stations FMs - WKDN, WFSI and WFME - are for sale!

 

[DToTheJ]

As was reported in TRI this morning...

Now, the question is: Will ESPN be the bridesmaid at the altar a second time this year?

 

[magicjellybeans]

I gotta ask why you all want ESPN radio so much ,isnt it on Am?This is yet another talk format,what is the corporate world giving up on music?

 

[luperm]

You would think that Merlin Media is aggressively pursuing those sticks.
Also a swap for WIP (with cash) with CBS would make sense in Philadelphia.

 

[Wbzfm2010]

I gotta ask why you all want ESPN radio so much ,isnt it on Am?This is yet another talk format,what is the corporate world giving up on music?

one answer jets jets jets

 

[uncamark]

I gotta ask why you all want ESPN radio so much ,isnt it on Am?This is yet another talk format,what is the corporate world giving up on music?

No one under the age of 65 listens to AM radio. RXP is gone. Deal with it.

 

[BJSteigner]

One answer to that...

DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! Dance could make a better marketing on those signals

 

[DToTheJ]

Well, we saw what it could do on 87.7... of course, I'm just stirring the pot here...

@LuperM: You think Merlin's not satisfied with three at this point, before two of them aren't even on the air with their newly groomed formats? Then again, in Chicago, they're keeping the rock format on one of the two stations they acquired, so, hey, you never know, they might bring (some) rock format back...

@JellyBeans: It's not so much the corporate radio folks "giving up on music," but moreover, meeting the bottom line.

 

[wprt949]

so if they are for sale how come the board of family radio has not asked for these stations to be turned off until a sale is reached?

 

[luperm]

It's not often that an opportunity comes up to acquire an FM signal in NYC (even if it's not quite on par with the ESB Class Bs). If you have the capital, you jump on it. Merlin is pouring a lot of money into infrastructure to run a standalone. Why wouldn't you pick up a second station if the situation presented itself?

If they do acquire the signal, I would not hold my breath for rock or dance. If rock was viable, Merlin might have tweaked (or left alone) what it already had acquired at 101.9. That did not happen.

 

[danikayser84]

I'm also doubting country or jazz if Merlin acquires 94.7... NYC doesn't have the audience to support a country format, and the jazz demographic isn't very desirable for advertisers

 

[TimeIsTight]

@LuperM: You think Merlin's not satisfied with three at this point, before two of them aren't even on the air with their newly groomed formats? Then again, in Chicago, they're keeping the rock format on one of the two stations they acquired, so, hey, you never know, they might bring (some) rock format back...

I suspect Merlin is NOT satisfied with three new stations at this point, and wants to expand into other major markets as soon as it can.

Whether it wants to build clusters in major markets is a question, but it looks like it is building a formula for reaching women of a certain age that could be easily duplicated in other major markets where it would also be unique, make use of programming produced at its sister Merlin stations, and draw in the big advertising dollars aimed at its target audience.

Merlin may have had to pick up that second Chicago station in order to make the total money package work for Emmis, which needed the cash to pay off debt due next month. For now it may just want one station per major market, with that exception.

It should be remembered that the investment organization funding Merlin has very deep pockets.

How come the board of family radio has not asked for these stations to be turned off until a sale is reached?

Why would they do that?????? The stations are for sale, the organization is not bankrupt. Do people move out of their houses the moment they put a for sale sign on the lawn?????

WRXP was put up for sale last year. Would it have made sense to just shut it off then????

 

[magicjellybeans]

I gotta ask why you all want ESPN radio so much ,isnt it on Am?This is yet another talk format,what is the corporate world giving up on music?

No one under the age of 65 listens to AM radio. RXP is gone. Deal with it.

I did deal with it Mark,however another women's format?We already have Lite-fm,Fresh,now 92.3,95.5 WPLJ to name a few and now the 101.9 trainwreck.I have Sattelite and mp3.
Doesnt Fm want to keep its Male listeners?I hate to say this with NY killing off RXP,what is left for the people who do not care for RAP and HIP HOP or spanish ? You tell me-

 

[R.D.P.]

If Family is selling off WFME, don't expect a Christian broadcaster to buy it out.

From what I was told recently, once Family sells off a station, they don't see a need to sell it to a Christian outfit. 

Just like in Philly, a secular outfit will take that station over and ditch the Gospel format altogether.

Whatever does happen to 94.7 FM, hope the new owner(s) will have success with it.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Good riddance to Family Radio. ;D  They need to go out business anyway.

 

[xmradiopro]

is it offical, is WFME selling their station ?

 

[nd2023]

I guess no matter how many times they say the world will end, it won't. People won't fall for their scam a third time, so Family Radio wants to cash in on their assets.

If I win the Mega Millions, say hello to Pulse 94.7!

 

[pjc1961]

Rumors, MusicRadioUSA, rumors. The only "official news" so far is that Family Radio has applied to change that status of its Philadelphia outlet from non-commercial to commercial, which leads to the possibility that they might want to sell the station to a commercial broadcaster or do some type of station/frequency swap with a current commercial broadcaster in Philly.

Of course this has led to wild speculation that Family Radio may be interested in making similar arrangements in other markets where they own stations, such as with WFME in New Jersey/(New York). Again, speculation, no cold hard facts, yet. Stay tuned...

 

[Rusty Muck]

I gotta ask why you all want ESPN radio so much ,isnt it on Am?This is yet another talk format,what is the corporate world giving up on music?

With a heavy influence via digital downloads (.mp3, iTunes), portable media players (iPods) and handheld computers (smart phones), the younger generation is drifting away from music on FM.

The conglomerate-driven and consultant-driven music formats can only go so far. Witness adult hits stations that claim to "play anything," music services like Jelli, and WRXP's failed attempt at modern rock. Each one of those attempts has something in common: trying to stop the slide away from FM music, and for one part or another, they don't work.

Already the CD has been rendered obsolete. In ten years, music radio could go the same way.

 

[Barry]

Just a thought. What if Merlin, or some other broadcaster outbid ESPN for WFME (if it actually is for sale) and put a sports format on it? Perhaps such a station, especially if they could get some big time teams like the NY Yankees, could give WFAN a real challenge, especially in attracting younger demos. It could also make WEPN irrelevant. I believe advertisers may be quite interested in supporting such a move, given its potential to attract lot of relatively young male listeners.