Emmis Reiterates They Are Open to Selling One of their NYC Stations

[TheBigA]

Emmis seems to be a company that not only tolerates failure - they also seem to embrace, celebrate, and reward it.

Some critics believe smaller companies do a better job of running radio stations. Emmis is much smaller than CC, Citadel, or CBS. They do a great job with the other stations in NYC, but this one has been a puzzle.

 

[davideduardo]

But for NYC stations, half their audience comes from people in suburban NJ, LI, NY and CT. I'm sure spanish(sic) stations like 96.3, 93.1 and 97.9 have little, if any, following in the suburban areas, yet they always seem to survive.

Nearly half the audience of the Spanish language stations ("Spanish stations" are stations in Spain) is outside of Manhattan and the Boroughs.

Suburban audience is important if the "suburbs" are inside the New York MSA. The counties in the MSA are Fairfield, CT (Only part of the county), Bergen, NJ, Essex, NJ Hudson, NJ Middlesex, NJ, Monmouth, NJ, Morris, NJ Passaic, NJ, Somerset, NJ Union, NJ Bronx, NY Kings, NY, Nassau, NY, New York, NY, Putnam, NY, Queens, NY, Richmond, NY, Rockland, NY, Suffolk, NY, and Westchester, NY.

 

[stationless listener]

Im guessing the only Format thats left is "Country".
i dont think that would survive in nyc

I know the topic of country not surviving in NYC has been beaten to death. But a couple points to consider:

1. Country music is much more mainstream today than it was 10 years ago when Y-107 tried country. I know more people now than ever that are listening to country, because the newer stuff is more "pop" and seems to appeal to a larger audience.


2. People say that country can't survive in NYC because people in the city won't listen. But for NYC stations, half their audience comes from people in suburban NJ, LI, NY and CT. I'm sure spanish stations like 96.3, 93.1 and 97.9 have little, if any, following in the suburban areas, yet they always seem to survive.

They could LMA to Press Communications LLC, who runs Thunder 106.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Im guessing the only Format thats left is "Country".
i dont think that would survive in nyc

I know the topic of country not surviving in NYC has been beaten to death. But a couple points to consider:

1. Country music is much more mainstream today than it was 10 years ago when Y-107 tried country. I know more people now than ever that are listening to country, because the newer stuff is more "pop" and seems to appeal to a larger audience.


2. People say that country can't survive in NYC because people in the city won't listen. But for NYC stations, half their audience comes from people in suburban NJ, LI, NY and CT. I'm sure spanish stations like 96.3, 93.1 and 97.9 have little, if any, following in the suburban areas, yet they always seem to survive.

They could LMA to Press Communications LLC, who runs Thunder 106.

I doubt Emmis would LMA 101.9 to Press. Not when ESPN could offer so much more. Press probably couldn't afford Emmis' price.

 

[TheBigA]

Press probably couldn't afford Emmis' price.

It's going to be a lot, and that's probably why it hasn't happened yet. They're very smart at the mouse, and they don't like owning towers and transmitters, so an LMA is exactly what they want. I'm sure they've done the math, comparing what they make now from 1050, and what they could make with an FM getting a 3 share, and they know the exact number it would take to make such a deal happen. And this possible deal could include other markets. Hmmm. Know what I mean?

 

[Barry]

It's interesting that the one commercial station in New York that plays contemporary rock is struggling, while Clear Channel has 3 in the Denver Colorado area. In that market, they run active rock KBPI, modern rock KTCL, and AAA KBCO. All have had their formats for decades, with AAA or something similar to it on KBCO since the 1960's. CC also has classic rock KRFX, The Fox, on 103.5. They are all in the top 10, in the overall Denver/Boulder ratings.
Of course with all these rock stations in the cluster, each can focus on its particular sub-genre, instead of being a mixture of these, like 'RXP. Naturally, New York is a very different market from Denver.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Press probably couldn't afford Emmis' price.

It's going to be a lot, and that's probably why it hasn't happened yet. They're very smart at the mouse, and they don't like owning towers and transmitters, so an LMA is exactly what they want. I'm sure they've done the math, comparing what they make now from 1050, and what they could make with an FM getting a 3 share, and they know the exact number it would take to make such a deal happen. And this possible deal could include other markets. Hmmm. Know what I mean?

I get it! ESPN on FM in NY would be competitive with WFAN. If WEPN on 101.9 FM gets a 3 share, CBS would have to at least consider simulcasting WFAN on FM.

Slightly off topic, but since we're talking about Emmis, keep an eye on Chicago. Emmis is supposedly open to selling two stations there. Disney has WMVP (ESPN 1000) which has a better signal than WEPN. ESPN is looking to go to FM in as many markets as possible. Emmis in New York and Chicago could bear watching!

 

[radiolives]

Press probably couldn't afford Emmis' price.

It's going to be a lot, and that's probably why it hasn't happened yet. They're very smart at the mouse, and they don't like owning towers and transmitters, so an LMA is exactly what they want. I'm sure they've done the math, comparing what they make now from 1050, and what they could make with an FM getting a 3 share, and they know the exact number it would take to make such a deal happen. And this possible deal could include other markets. Hmmm. Know what I mean?

I get it! ESPN on FM in NY would be competitive with WFAN. If WEPN on 101.9 FM gets a 3 share, CBS would have to at least consider simulcasting WFAN on FM.

Slightly off topic, but since we're talking about Emmis, keep an eye on Chicago. Emmis is supposedly open to selling two stations there. Disney has WMVP (ESPN 1000) which has a better signal than WEPN. ESPN is looking to go to FM in as many markets as possible. Emmis in New York and Chicago could bear watching!

I don't see CBS flipping WCBS-FM, Fresh, or NOW FM if ESPN did get on FM. As they are doing well.

Could CBS put WFAN on 101.9 in a LMA with Emmis?

 

[frozenfiresb]

ESPN would be more logical to put on FM, since 'FAN's signal is very strong compared to 'EPN's. And, don't forget that for the first month of the season, Giants games get bumped to FM because of conflict with the Mets, so this leaves very few options for Jets fans who would want to listen to the game on air.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't see CBS flipping WCBS-FM, Fresh, or NOW FM if ESPN did get on FM. As they are doing well.

Could CBS put WFAN on 101.9 in a LMA with Emmis?

CBS likes to own things.

CBS has an AM sports station in Philly. It's competing against an FM sports station. They are not in any rush to flip their AM to FM, as they're currently beating the FM. So I don't expect CBS to flip WFAN to FM.

 

[MoldaMania182]

Personally I think Sports is being over hyped on FM, particularly in the NY Market...it's not like you're gaining Yankees or Mets on FM.

 

[ansky212]

Personally I think Sports is being over hyped on FM, particularly in the NY Market...it's not like you're gaining Yankees or Mets on FM.

I agree. If people want to listen to certain programming they're not going to care if the station is on AM or FM. I know plenty of "young" people that listen to sports talk on AM 660 and 1050, plus Yankee games on 880. I actually prefer this stuff on AM because the signal gets out further. I can listen to Yankee games on 880 all the way from Boston to Baltimore. I also know people in south Jersey near Philly that listen to WFAN every day. That would never be possible with an FM signal. I think the "AM is dying" mentality is not nearly as bad as people think.

 

[TheBigA]

If people want to listen to certain programming they're not going to care if the station is on AM or FM.

There are fewer and fewer radios with AM in them.

But you can't ignore the quality difference between AM and FM. Especially with 1050's limited signal.

 

[mets18]

Would it make sense for ESPN to approach WBAI about a frequency swap for some cash? Something similar to what SBS did with WEVD back in the 80s? I agree WRXP is far from perfect but would hate to lose a rock outlet in favor of talk on FM. I never understood why Disney kept 1050 instead of 770. They could have moved ESPN to 770 and sold 1050 to Citadel.

 

[wprt949]

and if 101.9 flips from rock guess wich station will have to come back

92.3 k rock

 

[ansky212]

and if 101.9 flips from rock guess wich station will have to come back

92.3 k rock

Geez, how many times can K Rock come back??

 

[BiggieFats]

and if 101.9 flips from rock guess wich station will have to come back

92.3 k rock

Who says they HAVE to come back? They had over 20 years to try and later on it wasn't working out. Let it go, already.

 

[radiolives]

Why would K Rock come back? 92.3 Now FM is doing better

 

[WRXPinsider]

FYI, folks - lots of great ideas here and on the dentist's site about what Emmis should and could do with 101.9, but the reality is that Emmis will do what's convenient and comfortable, which is absolutely nothing.

There's no pressure coming from Indianapolis for Cameron (VP and GM) to do anything other than what she and her boy D'Aurelio are doing with 101.9, which is keep trying to find a way to make the station work. And there's no heat or fury from the sales department about the income (and bonuses) that have been lost as a result of the RXP failure. So...

Expect no changes (sales, LMA's, format flip) in the near future.

BTW, here's an interesting statistic: pre-NY Chill, CD101.9's revenue was averaging $25MM per year. RXP's revenue for '10 is estimated to be $7MM. Amazingly, the brass here still considers RXP to be a success, and are seeking (and receiving!) industry recognition for their innovative work:

http://www.allaccess.com/digital-onair-online/archive/8030/a-chat-with-brian-d-aurelio#disqus_thread

Unbelievable.

 

[davideduardo]

BTW, here's an interesting statistic: pre-NY Chill, CD101.9's revenue was averaging $25MM per year. RXP's revenue for '10 is estimated to be $7MM. Amazingly, the brass here still considers RXP to be a success, and are seeking (and receiving!) industry recognition for their innovative work:

Billing peaked at $26 million in '03, and then with the demographic issues that hit all such stations, it fell to around $14 before the format change to rock. It reportedly did $12 last year, which means, indexed against the big loss in revenue for the market as a whole, the station was up! (NY peaked at about $975 million in billing and 2009 was between $550 and $575, off about 30%.

Except for a couple of exceptions like Phoenix and San Diego, there is not a top 25 market commercial station in that format today.