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Could WFME finally be for sale?

DToTheJ said:
As was reported in TRI this morning...

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

The real question should be, does Disney/ABC even WANT to bid on an FM stick, or are they happy with WEPN's current locale? (For all we know, they probably are.)
 
luperm said:
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.
Click to expand...

May seem unconventional, but Randy's love of AM radio may result in Merlin putting a bid for Family Radio's SF facility, the former KFRC/610...
 
IF WFME is truly now available...

Two possibilities I could see happening:

1. Being that the stick is in NJ, perhaps the owners of WKXW could buy it and use the signal to complement the NJ 101.5 brand by expanding their reach into Bergen, parts of Union and Hudson counties as well as the city. Having better access to the Bergen county households might make a lot of economic sense for them if they can justify the added cost.

2. Going with the conventional wisdom of FR wanting to swap stations, here's a possibility no one has mentioned: a trade between FR and Univision Radio for the 1280 signal. Radio Wado could move up to an FM signal, a bigger upgrade from their current signal. Univision would then have all of their NY/NJ stations on FM: 92.7, 94.7, 96.3. Eventually, they would be in a position to simulcast WADO on both 94.7 and 92.7 to get listeners living in Union and Essex counties, as well as Queens, Brooklyn and parts of Nassau county. Univision gets a Spanish-language news and talk format onto FM. If that ever happens it would be very intriguing.
 
@Nathan: Apparently, Disney must not be satisfied with their current stick on 1050, or else we wouldn't have heard them shooting the bull with Emmis over 101.9 earlier this year, now, would we? ::)

And speaking of New York City stations for sale...

MusicRadioUSA said:
is it offical, is WFME selling their station?
Click to expand...

Per today's edition of TRI... not so much. Says only "two East Coast" stations (Philly and Annapolis, MD) are on the market...

Nick said:
If I win the Mega Millions, say hello to Pulse 94.7!
Click to expand...

Also say hello to bankruptcy! :-\
 
DToTheJ said:
@Nathan: Apparently, Disney must not be satisfied with their current stick on 1050, or else we wouldn't have heard them shooting the bull with Emmis over 101.9 earlier this year, now, would we? ::)
Click to expand...

ESPN has now lost out on two class B NYC FMs. The Jets are one of only three NFL teams to not have an FM flag or co-flag and likely the only one on a directional AM! The other remaining non-FM teams are the Giants on 50 kW blaster WFAN and the Broncos on KOA, another 50 kW blaster. When WBBM Newsradio begins simulcasting on FM Aug 1, the Bears will have a 50 kW blaster and a full-market FM. The big, bad, smack talkin' Jets are on one of the worst signals in NYC! IMHO, the Jets had a lot to do with that but that's for another board.

If another sports station ends up on FM in NY, WEPN will be toast! :)
 
stationless listener said:
Here's a possibility no one has mentioned: a trade between FR and Univision Radio for the 1280 signal. Radio Wado could move up to an FM signal, a bigger upgrade from their current signal. Univision would then have all of their NY/NJ stations on FM: 92.7, 94.7, 96.3. Eventually, they would be in a position to simulcast WADO on both 94.7 and 92.7 to get listeners living in Union and Essex counties, as well as Queens, Brooklyn and parts of Nassau county. Univision gets a Spanish-language news and talk format onto FM. If that ever happens it would be very intriguing.
Click to expand...

Is there any successful news/talk station in Spanish on the US mainland? (WADO is more than half brokered shows and sports).

FM news talk was tried in Puerto Rico, and failed quite miserably.
 
Just last month, Family Radio made HUGE cuts to the programming output of WYFR, its international shortwave operation. While some of this is attributable to the general demise of shortwave radio, it is also apparent that Family Radio is in some financial distress.

With Harold Camping discredited and in poor health, those left in charge may be finally winding down operations, or focusing their efforts in a different direction.

I would keep a very sharp eye on WFME.
 
pjc1961 said:
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...
Click to expand...

It is no rumor as all information has been confirmed. Although there is no contract for sale pending at this time, Family Stations, Inc. has officially placed WKDN Camden, New Jersey (Philadelphia) and WFSI Annapolis, Maryland (Baltimore - Washington, D. C.) on the auction block going to the highest cash bidder. Expect a suitor for both stations to be announced within the coming weeks. Family is retaining WFME for now; However, I expect WFME to be offered to the highest bidder once the other two stations are sold.
 
It would be fitting for them to make the sales effective October 22. They'll get the most value out of those stations before the world ends on October 21.
 
I wonder if and when 94.7 WFME is put up for sale if WFME-TV will be unloaded as well.

Also I know many complain about how 94.7 isn't as strong being that it broadcasts from West Orange, NJ rather than the ESB but how does it really compare the rest singal wise on Long Island & NYC?....I know here in North Jersey & Rockland they are real strong......To the SW they do have issues with 94.5 WPST (Trenton) but so does 103.5 (b/c of 103.3 WPRB) and they get out pretty well.
 
radioguy39nj said:
DToTheJ said:
@Nathan: Apparently, Disney must not be satisfied with their current stick on 1050, or else we wouldn't have heard them shooting the bull with Emmis over 101.9 earlier this year, now, would we? ::)
Click to expand...

ESPN has now lost out on two class B NYC FMs. The Jets are one of only three NFL teams to not have an FM flag or co-flag and likely the only one on a directional AM! The other remaining non-FM teams are the Giants on 50 kW blaster WFAN and the Broncos on KOA, another 50 kW blaster. When WBBM Newsradio begins simulcasting on FM Aug 1, the Bears will have a 50 kW blaster and a full-market FM. The big, bad, smack talkin' Jets are on one of the worst signals in NYC! IMHO, the Jets had a lot to do with that but that's for another board.

If another sports station ends up on FM in NY, WEPN will be toast! :)
Click to expand...

O/T, but coming from an outsider perspective, I scratch my heads as to why 1050 and 1560 have never swapped formats/calls (not dissimilar to what Disney did in LA nearly a decade ago with their Radio Disney and ESPN O&Os).

I know that the high-band 1560 is obviously a far far cry from 660, 770 and 880, but it HAS to be better than 1050, no?
 
No. 1560's pattern is worse than 1050's, and at night is essentially a north/south station. It's tough to hear 1560 anywhere in NJ west of Bergen County. Part of that is due to the fact that Disney has the lowest, worst audio I've ever heard. Okay, AM will never be great, but more people may listen if it sounds at least on par with the other stations.
 
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