Did Entercom go shopping at The Phoenix on Black Friday?

[BRNout]

If true, this would be a brilliant move on the part of Entercom. Given the fact that the 'EEI network is on 103.7 from the Providence market (a signal that comes in well in the southwestern portion of the Boston DMA), the 93.7 frequency would be the perfect compliment to that infrastructure.

As for 101.7, could be Mike or it could be flipped to something else. The twin 92.1's could go to Entercom or they could be spun off. Basically, the sky's the limit as far as options are concerned with respect to what would become of all three FNX signals. But one thing is for sure: short of selling to zombie-maker EMF, pretty much anything else on those signals would do better with listenership than what's there now.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Wait the proposed change would mean 6 Boston properties--680, 850, 93.7, 97.7 101.7, 107.3. Is that legal for Boston? CBS, CC, and Greater Media have 5 or less, I believe.

Yes, it would be legal. In a large market (Boston is market #10), the limit is eight radio stations, no more than five of which may be on either band (AM or FM). Since 680, 850, and 1440 in Worcester (you omitted 1440 but you should have counted it) are AMs, Entercom would still be one station short of the limit--unless 103.7 also counts as a Boston-market station. Since it's licensed to Westerly and not to Providence, I don't think 103.7 counts as a Boston-market station, however. Even if it were, though, the addition of 101.7 would not put Entercom over the limit.

 

[raccoonradio]

Somehow the "5 stations on one band limit" stuck in my head from when Greater had to shed 99.5 to pick up 102.5, IIRC. Nassau bought it and later sold it to WGBH. Yes I and other did forget 1440


BRNout is right, a good move to cover Boston & points north and I would hope that if it does
come to pass I could hear Red Sox clear as a bell at work. Heck, I would have been happy
if they kept Mike on 93.7 and just carried Sox games as well on that freq. 'FNX fans will not be
happy, as I have seen on some re-tweeted messages (and of course nothing is official, other
than word that they have been trying to work out a deal). "Really hope this @wfnx rumor isn't true."
"Whaaaat? WFNX (Boston) going to talk radio too??? " (As I pointed out to that person, tech.
from what we hear it'd be sports talk on 93.7, then Mike to 101.7) Another: "WFNX to be a victim of sports talk radio? That is the ONLY good music station left in the US!"

 

[KarsonWithaK]

I'm not sure it matters if EEI moves to FM. The reason people left EEI for the Sports Hub has to do with which station has more relevant content, right? Doesn't EEI still win during middays? Aren't the midday guys on EEI using the same signal that is losing in mornings and afternoons?

Just a thought. ???

 

[RockRoll360]

Thois shows you that rock is dying at a pretty fast pace .........

 

[WBIMDJ]

Hope this isn't true. First, Entercom buys out one of the better formats to hit Boston in recent years, the Urban formatted "Hot 97.7" (which was great compared to the lame 94.5). Now they may be buying out one of my favorite stations of all time (WFNX and it's alternative programming I grew up with) so that they can put their WEEI on an FM signal. Not sure I'm a big fan of them...

 

[Wbzfm2010]

i would have to agree i think they should leave fnx be and upgrade thier signal i cant hear them down here in se mass i remember 103.7 was fnx south and weei bought them out too and put thier eei on thier which at the time was great cause i could hear them in fm but i would rather them put fnx back on 103.7 since there putting weei on 93.7 anyhow i can get them loud and clear down here most day. and why wouldnt they axe waaf and put wfnx's format on one of thoses signals??? thoughts

 

[DJbobo]

Hope this isn't true. First, Entercom buys out one of the better formats to hit Boston in recent years, the Urban formatted "Hot 97.7" (which was great compared to the lame 94.5). Now they may be buying out one of my favorite stations of all time (WFNX and it's alternative programming I grew up with) so that they can put their WEEI on an FM signal. Not sure I'm a big fan of them...

It's not. End of story.

 

[Kodos]

From @BostonTweet on Twitter:

A quote from the legendary @HenrySantoro of WFNX, "Calm down kiddies, you heard it hear first, the music continues on 101.7" (via @wymer)

 

[Don Juannn]

Hope this isn't true. First, Entercom buys out one of the better formats to hit Boston in recent years, the Urban formatted "Hot 97.7" (which was great compared to the lame 94.5). Now they may be buying out one of my favorite stations of all time (WFNX and it's alternative programming I grew up with) so that they can put their WEEI on an FM signal. Not sure I'm a big fan of them...

It's not. End of story.

And we are supposed to take your word for it? Do you have a source?

 

[aaronread]

Could be a smart move on Phoenix Media's part because, let's not forget, CBS really doesn't want WEEI getting on an FM signal in Boston. The lack of an FM signal for WEEI is no small part of the reason behind the Sports Hub's success on 98.5.

Which means that suddenly any financial problems Boston's alt-weekly has could suddenly disappear as CBS and Entercom get into a bidding war for 101.7FM. Despite its small(er) signal, and that the market has been depressed hard by the $14mil sale of 99.5 to WGBH last year...I could easily see the price for 101.7 creep up and up and up and up as Mr. Mindich plays both sides off each other.

That said, I think this rumor is just that: a rumor. If I had a dollar for every time I'd heard that WFNX was going to be sold over the last ten years? Well, I could afford to buy WFNX! :

 

[JustinT]

From @BostonTweet on Twitter:

A quote from the legendary @HenrySantoro of WFNX, "Calm down kiddies, you heard it hear first, the music continues on 101.7" (via @wymer)

A WFNX personality says that WFNX is not for sale? I'll wait until either Entercom or Phoenix Media corporate denounces the rumors before I believe that it's all fiction.

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

Perhaps CBS tries to scoop 101.7 up and throw WBZ-AM on it. Just sayin...

 

[JustinT]

Perhaps CBS tries to scoop 101.7 up and throw WBZ-AM on it. Just sayin...

Aren't they maxed out? Two TV stations, four FMs, and one AM - would they need a waiver to go to five?

 

[RockTheGlobe]

From @BostonTweet on Twitter:

A quote from the legendary @HenrySantoro of WFNX, "Calm down kiddies, you heard it hear first, the music continues on 101.7" (via @wymer)

A WFNX personality says that WFNX is not for sale? I'll wait until either Entercom or Phoenix Media corporate denounces the rumors before I believe that it's all fiction.

Brad Mindich denied the rumor in this morning's RAMP. See the 2nd story:

http://app.e2ma.net/app2/campaigns/archived/1401332/8a6a4b07449a646c881e3287cf5b0c4c/

 

[Deleted User]

Brad can deny it all he wants, he does not OWN the station.

All sorts of things can be going on without him knowing about it

We'll know it's over when the fat lady sings, until then it's business as usual

 

[RockTheGlobe]

Brad can deny it all he wants, he does not OWN the station.

All sorts of things can be going on without him knowing about it

We'll know it's over when the fat lady sings, until then it's business as usual

Seriously? He's President of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which owns the station. If a deal is on to sell WFNX, it's extremely doubtful that he doesn't know about it.

 

[raccoonradio]

But for all we know they may be talking but he's keeping quiet about it. It probably is a dead end
but you never know

 

[Deleted User]

Seriously? He's President of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which owns the station. If a deal is on to sell WFNX, it's extremely doubtful that he doesn't know about it.

but possible.

 

[RockTheGlobe]

Seriously? He's President of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which owns the station. If a deal is on to sell WFNX, it's extremely doubtful that he doesn't know about it.

but possible.

It's also possible he's an alien who's assumed human form as part of an advance party to evaluate humanity for potential conquering. Brad is the President of the company and the son of the Chairman. The chances that he doesn't know about a deal to sell WFNX are extremely slim. Are you arguing because you honestly believe there's a good chance he could be in the dark about a major deal involving a big part of his company's holdings (and if so, what makes you think that), or are you just trying to be a contrarian?