Entercom to Buy KUFX/ San Jose from Aloha Trust

[Madmansam]

My vote would also go to a simulcast of KRXQ Sacramento. For the following reasons:

1. Both stations are short-spaced. KRXQ bleeds over KUFX once you hit Sunol Pass. This would eliminate competing stations on the same frequency...listeners traveling in fringe areas would be less apt to change the dial due to reception loss. And KSAN is spotty in the south bay.

2. KRXQ pulls in huge numbers...#1 FM station in Sac for some time now. That's crazy for a rock format in a Top 30 Market. History has proven that active rock (KOME, KSJO) has done well in SJ when programmed correctly. Sacramento and San Jose demographics are similiar.

3. KRXQ's morning show is already syndicated in other markets...no adjustments needed for the bay area.

4. 98-Rock positions themselves as "California's Rock Station". This also could work in multiple-markets (not just Sacramento).

5. Entercom wants a bigger piece of the pie, and potential is there.

Just my 2 cents!

That is what I was thinking. At the very least, I can see Entercom putting "The Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show" for mornings on KUFX. They could always move Greg Kihn to afternoons.

 

[suburbandj]

My vote would also go to a simulcast of KRXQ Sacramento. For the following reasons:

1. Both stations are short-spaced. KRXQ bleeds over KUFX once you hit Sunol Pass. This would eliminate competing stations on the same frequency...listeners traveling in fringe areas would be less apt to change the dial due to reception loss. And KSAN is spotty in the south bay.

2. KRXQ pulls in huge numbers...#1 FM station in Sac for some time now. That's crazy for a rock format in a Top 30 Market. History has proven that active rock (KOME, KSJO) has done well in SJ when programmed correctly. Sacramento and San Jose demographics are similiar.

3. KRXQ's morning show is already syndicated in other markets...no adjustments needed for the bay area.

4. 98-Rock positions themselves as "California's Rock Station". This also could work in multiple-markets (not just Sacramento).

5. Entercom wants a bigger piece of the pie, and potential is there.

Just my 2 cents!

That is what I was thinking. At the very least, I can see Entercom putting "The Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show" for mornings on KUFX. They could always move Greg Kihn to afternoons.

1. Power ratio for Classic Rock is larger than Active Rock because of demo composition.

2. KUFX's intellectual property is a stronger brand in the Bay Area than 98 Rock. There are huge marketing costs in rebranding.

3. San Francisco orientation trumps Sacramento and San Jose in revenue potential. Classic Rock is a better complement to KOIT (AC); KDFC (Classical) and KBWF (Country).

4. Mark and Brian have a stronger syndication success than Rob, Arnie and Dawn. Successful at the Eagle in Sacramento and KGON, Portland.

5. Why risk cash flow with a top 5 station in San Jose with the Classic Rock format to go Active Rock with its lower power ratio?

 

[Madmansam]

My vote would also go to a simulcast of KRXQ Sacramento. For the following reasons:

1. Both stations are short-spaced. KRXQ bleeds over KUFX once you hit Sunol Pass. This would eliminate competing stations on the same frequency...listeners traveling in fringe areas would be less apt to change the dial due to reception loss. And KSAN is spotty in the south bay.

2. KRXQ pulls in huge numbers...#1 FM station in Sac for some time now. That's crazy for a rock format in a Top 30 Market. History has proven that active rock (KOME, KSJO) has done well in SJ when programmed correctly. Sacramento and San Jose demographics are similiar.

3. KRXQ's morning show is already syndicated in other markets...no adjustments needed for the bay area.

4. 98-Rock positions themselves as "California's Rock Station". This also could work in multiple-markets (not just Sacramento).

5. Entercom wants a bigger piece of the pie, and potential is there.

Just my 2 cents!

That is what I was thinking. At the very least, I can see Entercom putting "The Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show" for mornings on KUFX. They could always move Greg Kihn to afternoons.

4. Mark and Brian have a stronger syndication success than Rob, Arnie and Dawn. Successful at the Eagle in Sacramento and KGON, Portland.

But I heard that Mark & Brian wasn't successful the last time they were in San Francisco on the old KRQR-97.3 in the mid 1990's. They also flopped in Modesto and was replaced by the syndicated "Bob & Tom Show". Plus Entercom dropped them in Seattle. So they aren't a total success. Just in certain markets.

 

[Mediaace]

Wouldn't mind if Clear Channel Moved Greg Kihn and the entire KUFX airstaff up to San Francisco from the Aloha Trust Group and rebranded the K-Fox imaging including mirroring the 98.5 playlist onto 103.7 and let Entercom rebuild 98.5 San Jose as they see fit. It would compliment CCU's current #4 cluster and already established programming. Additionally, San Francisco could afford a straight Classic Hits station similar to KRTH in Los Angeles, if done right - meaning someone who grew up in the area connected to the market instead of consultant from out of town. CBS really dropped the ball; however that could be to the advantage of another station group..uh hum Entercom, Clear Channel or Radio One??? Do we really need duplicated programming on 98.1 and 102.9 or 94.9 and 106.1 or 93.3 and 98.9?

 

[bobgowa]

Wow, could we see a format change?

Say "Howdy," y'all!

 

[weav]

More like "say 'so long, pardner'"...

KUFX will be heard on 95.7 (or maybe on 102.1 with classical moving to the former).

 

[suburbandj]

Wouldn't mind if Clear Channel Moved Greg Kihn and the entire KUFX airstaff up to San Francisco from the Aloha Trust Group and rebranded the K-Fox imaging including mirroring the 98.5 playlist onto 103.7 and let Entercom rebuild 98.5 San Jose as they see fit. It would compliment CCU's current #4 cluster and already established programming. Additionally, San Francisco could afford a straight Classic Hits station similar to KRTH in Los Angeles, if done right - meaning someone who grew up in the area connected to the market instead of consultant from out of town. CBS really dropped the ball; however that could be to the advantage of another station group..uh hum Entercom, Clear Channel or Radio One??? Do we really need duplicated programming on 98.1 and 102.9 or 94.9 and 106.1 or 93.3 and 98.9?

K-FOX and Greg Kihn are part of the intellectual property for KUFX which Entercom bought so they would never allow Clear Channel to keep the brand or the talent.

 

[davideduardo]

K-FOX and Greg Kihn are part of the intellectual property for KUFX which Entercom bought so they would never allow Clear Channel to keep the brand or the talent.

Have you read the entire contract? It is not uncommon for intellectual property to not be part of a sale.

 

[suburbandj]

K-FOX and Greg Kihn are part of the intellectual property for KUFX which Entercom bought so they would never allow Clear Channel to keep the brand or the talent.

Have you read the entire contract? It is not uncommon for intellectual property to not be part of a sale.

The assumption is Entercom is buying the cash flow of a station in the Top 5 in the San Jose PPM.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

A Very Reliable Source from deep within the confines of HP Pavilion advises me that the Sharks' contract with KUFX is for five years (this season plus four more).

 

[KimmiKat]

Maybe The Band should flip to country as 103.7 The Bull and 95.7 and 98.5 simulcast the caassic rock format, rebranding themselfs as "The Eagle"

I rather see the station rebrand itself as KOME, by bring back the call sign from it's earlier days.

 

[kenrayc]

Maybe The Band should flip to country as 103.7 The Bull and 95.7 and 98.5 simulcast the caassic rock format, rebranding themselfs as "The Eagle"

I rather see the station rebrand itself as KOME, by bring back the call sign from it's earlier days.

The KOME call letters are in Texas now, but I agree withwhat you mean, I dont believe AOR/Active rock is dead, If it works in other markets why not The Bay Area.

 

[MarkW]

I rather see the station rebrand itself as KOME, by bring back the call sign from it's earlier days.

That would be great, IMO.

I would love to see a KRXQ-style format on either 95.7 or 98.5; however, a straight simulcast of KRXQ would be a terrible idea. I also do not believe Rob, Arnie and Dawn should be imported into the Bay Area.

If such a format were to be launched, the best thing would be to go music-intensive in A.M. Drive while simultaneously attempting to steal The Bone's morning show from them.

 

[davideduardo]

The assumption is Entercom is buying the cash flow of a station in the Top 5 in the San Jose PPM.

The only assumption until we see or hear differently is that Entercom finds KUFX to be useful as part of its portfolio.

Possibility 1. KUFX operates independently. It has decent billing, and its format is well accepted in its coverage area. Since it covers (with a useful 65 dbu signal) only about 1/3 of the total market population, it could be considered to be doing well.

Possibllility 2. Entercom paid less than a 50% premium on gross billing, so it is not certain they were buying the business model or whether they were buying the stick. If the former, they got a good price.

Possibility 3. They bought the brand, and may extend it to another station... but the kufx billing is no better than the less successful Entercom FMs in the SF area.

Of course, SJ is an embedded market...it ranks 35th and bills 64th. There is not much money there and there is nearly 10 times as much in "the rest" of the SF market... $300 million vs $34 million projected for 2011.

 

[MarkW]

Possibility 3. They bought the brand, and may extend it to another station... but the kufx billing is no better than the less successful Entercom FMs in the SF area.

Isn't this an apples-to-oranges comparison -- especially in view of your point about 65 dBu contour placement?

That said -- bowing yet another Classic Rock format on a San Francisco-Oakland signal (i.e. 95.7 or 102.1) would be a moronic idea, in my view. Again, how many Classic Rock stations does one market need?!!!

After seeing The Wolf's latest ratings (which I believe are their worst yet), I would be shocked to see that station survive 2011. For cripe's sake -- KDFC is outcuming them by 200,000 listeners!!!

Is The Wolf even in the Top 20 in P25-54 anymore?

 

[davideduardo]

Possibility 3. They bought the brand, and may extend it to another station... but the kufx billing is no better than the less successful Entercom FMs in the SF area.

Isn't this an apples-to-oranges comparison -- especially in view of your point about 65 dBu contour placement?

All discussions other than by the parties to the transaction have a mixed fruit component.

To me, it makes sense to take a South Bay and an SF signal with coverage in Marin and beyond and to combine them. It makes marketing efficient, and with single line reporting, makes the two contribut what neither alone could give.

The apple, of course, may have a different opinion.

 

[davideduardo]

Possibility 3. They bought the brand, and may extend it to another station... but the kufx billing is no better than the less successful Entercom FMs in the SF area.

Isn't this an apples-to-oranges comparison -- especially in view of your point about 65 dBu contour placement?

That said -- bowing yet another Classic Rock format on a San Francisco-Oakland signal (i.e. 95.7 or 102.1) would be a moronic idea, in my view. Again, how many Classic Rock stations does one market need?!!!

After seeing The Wolf's latest ratings (which I believe are their worst yet), I would be shocked to see that station survive 2011. For cripe's sake -- KDFC is outcuming them by 200,000 listeners!!!

Is The Wolf even in the Top 20 in P25-54 anymore?

 

[raydioheadfm]

Anyone seen Larry Sharp's facebook page?

I hear that part of the answer may lie there....

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Re: Anyone seen Larry Sharp's facebook page?

Anyone seen Larry Sharp's facebook page? I hear that part of the answer may lie there....

How about including a link to Larry's Facebook page, please? I just tried searching his name on FB and couldn't find it.

 

[pjc1961]

Larry Sharp's ("Sharpie") Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/kismsharpie

Apparently Sharpie's left the KISM Bellingham, WA building for Bay Area greener ($) pastures...to be announced...