Entercom Trades Charlotte Cluster

[davideduardo]

You’re clearly not familiar with the Charlotte market or with the history of Radio One here.

It’s true that the largest concentration of blacks are in North and West Charlotte. However, blacks make up a large percent of the population in places like Gastonia, Rock Hill and the South Carolina side of the market.

92.7 covers Charlotte and some of the northern areas, but doesn’t reach Gastonia or South Carolina. I live in Southwest Charlotte, and I can’t pick up 92.7 indoors. Only in the car. 100.9 doesn’t even reach all of Charlotte. It’s coverage area is mostly the rich, predominantly white and Republican areas.

The only time that 92.7 has ever beaten its direct competitor (WBAV or WPEG depending on format at the time) either overall or in the demo was in 2004/2005 when Radio One bought the rights to the then #1 Tom Joyner Morning Show and moved it from WBAV to their station. That was during the diary age, and WQNC nor WPZS has ever beaten WBAV or WPEG in PPM. Things got so bad at one point, that Radio One tried to exit the market. WOSF is the only station that is competitive ratings wise. Revenue wise, WPEG and WBAV significantly outperform Radio One.

Radio One has stated publicly, and I’ve spoken with people familiar with the situation that confirm changes are coming. You don’t know what you’re talking about. They’ve explained that this deal was about deleveraging underperforming assets and being more competitive in Charlotte.

KROI operated at a loss in Houston under the Praise format, which is why they flipped it. They also already have an Urban AC and rhythmic station in the market. In Indianapolis, blacks make up a smaller percentage of the market makeup and they have an Urban AC and rhythmic station there already as well.

The changes may be with music FMs. But they will not touch the marker’s best performing asset. I do think a further trade may be in store for WBT.

It does not matter where some Blacks live. What matters is where the meters are and they are predominantly in the HDBA area which even. Class a can cover. Please look up the definition of an HDBA and look at Charlotte.

The underperforming assets are the ones they sold, not the ones they kept or bought.

 

[CLTRadio]

The changes may be with music FMs. But they will not touch the marker’s best performing asset. I do think a further trade may be in store for WBT.

It does not matter where some Blacks live. What matters is where the meters are and they are predominantly in the HDBA area which even. Class a can cover. Please look up the definition of an HDBA and look at Charlotte.

The underperforming assets are the ones they sold, not the ones they kept or bought.

There’s no point in arguing about it. Just wait and see.

When I mentioned deleveraging underperforming assets, I was referring to the stations that U1 traded.

WQNC and WPZS have never performed well in ratings or revenue. Period. Look at Nielsen and Miller-Kaplan. High density black areas or otherwise. It’s hard to sell a single station and this deal gives them options and scale.

Beasley and iHeart are both maxed out with FMs. Beasley also had a chance to take possession of any of the Greater Media properties when the two companies merged, but instead chose to sell them and WFNZ to Entercom. There are no other major players in the market. I don’t see any trade possibilities.

 

[davideduardo]

Beasley and iHeart are both maxed out with FMs. Beasley also had a chance to take possession of any of the Greater Media properties when the two companies merged, but instead chose to sell them and WFNZ to Entercom. There are no other major players in the market. I don’t see any trade possibilities.

iHeart can do a deal for WBT, perhaps in exchange for something in another market where they don't have a complete cluster.

 

[TheBigA]

iHeart can do a deal for WBT, perhaps in exchange for something in another market where they don't have a complete cluster.

The only question is how dependent is WBT on the FM simulcast?

But yes, iHeart seems to be collecting 50kw AMs with three letter calls.

 

[davideduardo]

The only question is how dependent is WBT on the FM simulcast?

But yes, iHeart seems to be collecting 50kw AMs with three letter calls.

Probably worth sacrificing their lowest rated FM if they got the AM. Most of the AM/FM simulcasts have 60% to 80% of the listening on FM. What they would buy with WBT is the franchise.

However, iHeart has had some bad experiences with adding FMs, such as PHX and San Diego.

 

[Kent]

The purpose of WBT-FM 99.3 was to make up for signal deficiencies at night. After dark, WBT 1110 beams its signal due east, possibly to protect KFAB in Omaha, and cuts out portions of the market. I couldn’t tell you how good the signal is, but it has had that FM for almost 30 years.

If I worked at Entercom Charlotte, I wouldn’t be too worried if I were at WBT. I'd be pretty nervous, though, if I were at WLNK. I understand The Link out bills (or out billed before COVID) its ratings share, but its shares have been declining for awhile. I also understand it’s pretty expensive to operate.

 

[MarkW]

The changes may be with music FMs. But they will not touch the marker’s best performing asset. I do think a further trade may be in store for WBT.

I would be absolutely stunned if they do not trade WBT! I envision mostly a non-cash deal with either iHM or Beasley.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

But yes, iHeart seems to be collecting 50kw AMs with three letter calls.

You might call them the clear channel corporation.

My suspicion regarding WBT and Urban One: They will either dispose of it, or let it wither. I strongly doubt they will flip it away from conservative talk, but I also don't see them being able to manage it successfully long-term.

 

[TheBigA]

In this interview, Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins says "We are going to have to expand beyond our urban niche."

http://www.insideradio.com/free/alf...cle_db3e06b8-257e-11eb-809a-ab64f3fd756a.html

 

[Mediafrog+]

In this interview, Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins says "We are going to have to expand beyond our urban niche."

There has been chatter that KROI in Houston will be flipped to something entirely different once its new tower is complete. The current Rhythmic CHR format (Radio Now 92.1) has been a complete flop, and it sounds too similar to several other stations in the market with better signals. The new KROI signal still won't be as good as those competitors, so perhaps best to try something unique in order to get attention and hold listeners.

 

[MarkW]

Re:

In this interview, Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins says "We are going to have to expand beyond our urban niche."

Nearly every such prior attempt by Urban One / Radio One has produced disappointing results.

The only way such an expansion will occur in sustainable fashion is for Urban One to spin off its radio business or to merge/partner with another entity.

 

[TheBigA]

The only way such an expansion will occur in sustainable fashion is for Urban One to spin off its radio business or to merge/partner with another entity.

I don't know about that. They could approach non-urban formats the way other companies approach urban formats or Hispanic formats, which is to hire some people who have knowledge and experience in programming and selling those formats. They did a credible job in all-news. The problem wasn't the product, but the market.

 

[Kent]

They did a credible job in all-news. The problem wasn't the product, but the market.

There was also the problem that all news, which is a high cost operation, usually takes time to build an audience and revenue.

I lived in Dallas when Infinity launched KEWS All News 94.9, and it didn’t last even a year. Granted, the main reason it was divested was because Infinity acquired Granum and found itself over the cap (and found itself even further over the cap after the CBS merger). However, when you have an expensive format to run that’s growing slowly and a series of stations making money, getting rid of the one that will take time to show a profit is a no-brainer.

I can’t think of a single all news launch over the last quarter century that wasn’t the extension of a heritage brand that has succeeded anywhere.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Probably worth sacrificing their lowest rated FM if they got the AM. Most of the AM/FM simulcasts have 60% to 80% of the listening on FM. What they would buy with WBT is the franchise.

However, iHeart has had some bad experiences with adding FMs, such as PHX and San Diego.

I have been saying that iHeart would probably like to add WBT to their collection based on past behavior. Wow David, Big A and I agree for once!

I'm not privy to the numbers breakdown but what about making iHeart's 106.5 The End WEND the new WBT-FM? The overall numbers have never been anything to write home about but I realize if they deliver a desirable demographic they can do some good business, what say David?

 

[davideduardo]

I have been saying that iHeart would probably like to add WBT to their collection based on past behavior. Wow David, Big A and I agree for once!

I'm not privy to the numbers breakdown but what about making iHeart's 106.5 The End WEND the new WBT-FM? The overall numbers have never been anything to write home about but I realize if they deliver a desirable demographic they can do some good business, what say David?

There are 4 stations tied for 9th in billing, and WEND is one of them. WBT bills more than double what WEND does, but it bills more than WOSF and more than triple what either WQNC or WPZS does. Maybe they shift around more than one FM format.

Several posters have suggested that there may be another group-to-group play later; that sounds very plausible.

 

[tylerSC]

There are 4 stations tied for 9th in billing, and WEND is one of them. WBT bills more than double what WEND does, but it bills more than WOSF and more than triple what either WQNC or WPZS does. Maybe they shift around more than one FM format.

Several posters have suggested that there may be another group-to-group play later; that sounds very plausible.

WQNC and WPZS have weak signals and smaller coverage areas. It is beginning to look like Urban One is planning to leverage its strongest programming on 107.9, its strongest signal. The first move is now underway as they drop Bob and Sheri. Perhaps they will move Matt and Ramona to the mornings and and put new host Cam Cooper on 107.9 in the afternoons in addition to 92.7. Or maybe they move Ricky Smiley from 105.3 to 107.9 in the morning. I think eventually they are looking for some sort of configuration to get their strongest programming on 107.9, which has the largest coverage area. 105.3 has a decent signal on the same tower as 107.9, but the former Gaffney station is weaker in the fringes as it is lower on the tower.

And Urban One can create a 107.9 powerhouse, as Ricky Smiley originates on their WHTA-107.9 from Atlanta, which blasts into Anderson County in SC. Then when you cross into Greenville County, WLNK comes in from Charlotte on 107.9, once you get beyond the low power interference in part of the county. Which I have complained about previously in the SC forum, as they continuously illegally increase their power.

 

[tylerSC]

You might call them the clear channel corporation.

My suspicion regarding WBT and Urban One: They will either dispose of it, or let it wither. I strongly doubt they will flip it away from conservative talk, but I also don't see them being able to manage it successfully long-term.

Just curious who now owns the rights to Vince Coakley radio program. Is it Entercom, Urban One, or Coakley himself? Looks like Bob and Sheri were smart to obtain ownership of their own program separate from Entercom. I know Vince Coakley began on WBT under Greater Media, then moved to Entercom in Greenville, SC, then back to Charlotte on WBT when Entercom took over. Just curious the current status. But I guess Urban One will leave WBT alone unless they decide to sell, as it seems successful as is. Other than it doesn't fit the typical Urban One demographic.