Entercomm Sells Rochester stations

[x13thfloorrand]

From All Access
ENTERCOM
has sold the three ROCHESTER stations it had initially filed to put into a trust for spinoff -- AC WRMM (WARM 101.3), Alternative WZNE (THE ZONE 94.1), and Adult Hits WFKL (FICKLE 93.3) -- to STEPHENS MEDIA GROUP, which is taking over via an LMA today. The price for the trip was not disclosed. The sale was compelled by FCC requirements set after ENTERCOM purchased several stations in three markets from CBS RADIO.

 

[theradiokid]

Okay. Now that the Rochester stations have been sold away from Entercom, does anyone on this board think that The Stevens Group (KXOJ INC.) will flip the format on any of the stations? Right now, as it stands, Stevens will inherit: AC "Warm," Modern Rock "Zone," and Adult Hits "Fickle." Now, for those of you who don't know, Steven's is a Christian Company. However, in Watertown, Stevens kept all formats intact. They did the same in the St. Lawrence Valey, where they own 8 stations. So, if they did that, then, why would Stevens change formats in Rochester? Well, let's see here. You have WRMM "Warm." "Warm" is a nice family station. It can promote good values, and is friendly to kids in the car. Okay, next is Adult Hits "Fickle." This station is more AC-ish than most Adult Hits stations, in that the imaging is not as snarky, and the music mix is softer than most Adult Hits stations out there. But, keep in mind that Stevens (KXOJ INC.) owns no other Adult Hits station, and therefore, may want to change the format. Now, ladies, gentlemen, and radio folk alike, we come to the Kicker: WZNE "Zone." This station airs Opie and Anthony, and Rover's Morning Glory, two shows that are deffinitly not suited for the ears of lil' children, plus, hard and heavy Modern Rock throughout the rest of the day. The music played, and tthe topics discussed on the talk shows "Zone" runs are not only non-kid friendly, but do not uphold to Christian standards, and may seem offensive to the Christian higher ups at Stevens Media Group. Also, Stevens (KXOJ INC. does not own any other modern rock station. The closest thing they have is Classic hits WRCD "Fox" in the St. Lawrence Valey, and, classic hits hardly runs the gamet of offensive language and content that a Modern Rocker does. Plus, let's take into acount the low ratings of "Zone" and "Fickle." They're nothin' to preach about... Sorry, I couldn't resist... Anyway, I predict that "The Zone" will flip to a Christian type format very soon. And, soon after, WFKL will flip as well.

But... What do YOU think? Will any of these stations flip formats? And, if so, then, to what? There aren't many family friendly non-Christian options out there, ya know. We already have 3 country stations. Can we aford a 4th? With soft rock taken, Stevens can't flip "Fickle" or "Zone" to that without killing "Warm," which will hurt the company in Rochester. They're only option is to go Christian on "Zone," and maybe keep "Fickle." Anyways, I'd like your thoughts on possible format flips...

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[Kent]

I don't know that I'd call Stephens a Christian company. They run whatever will make them money. They've managed to make money with Christian in Tulsa, but, like you said, they're not running any Christian stations in Watertown. They're also running a few sports stations in the Tulsa area, and I believe they're running a country station in Northeast Oklahoma between Tulsa and Joplin, MO. Also, I've heard the company is affiliated with the Donrey Media Group, which owns newspapers, mostly in small markets.

If they think they can make more money with Christian than what they're getting with Fickle or The Zone, they'll likely flip one of them. Maybe they see an opening with The Light having flipped. However, it's also possible they'll flip one of those stations to something else, or maybe they're doing better than we think. It's going to depend on what they think they can make.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Flip Remark

How many people would notice if they flipped Fickle and/or The Zone?

The outcry would be underwhelming.

 

[theradiokid]

You may be right there, Kent. I've heard about sports in Tulsa. Maybe, just maybe, Stevens will flip one of the stations to an FM sportstalk format? But, I can't see them keeping the modern rock "Zone" format, whatever they do. I think it would be just way too offensive for them.

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[theradiokid]

SirRoxalot,

I'm glad to see that you've replied to this post. I'm a new poster here, but I've been reading this board for a while now. I always liked your insight on radio, and 99.99999 percent of it made tons of sence, and I always found myself agreeing with you. I also loooove your since of humor. Basically, I enjoy reading your posts.

I liked your remark about "Fickle" and "Zone." But, seriously, ROX, do you think Stevens will flip "Zone" or Fickle?" And, if so, then, to what? I think we need your unmatched insight here.

P.S. SirRoxalot, As I've said, I've been reading this board for a while now, and there's one question I've been wanting to ask you. Unfortunatly, because my adaptive talking equipment I must use (because I'm totally blind) won't let me send you a private message, I must ask you on the board outright. SirRoxalot... Are you a Goth? You write like one.

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[kentuckymedia]

It will be extremely interesting to see what Stephens family does with these properties. Im still in shock that Regent didnt make a deal to snatch these up and spin off some of their smaller markets in the mid-west so they would have a stronger footprint in New York.

Stephens will probably keep it low key for right now as for Format changes, especially in the middle of a book.

But my first gut thought is that WRMM and WFKL are both safe bets. FKL could do better, if it was a stronger positioned station. As for WZNE, maybe News/Talk/Sports?

 

[ThePickleReport]

But my first gut thought is that WRMM and WFKL are both safe bets. FKL could do better, if it was a stronger positioned station. As for WZNE, maybe News/Talk/Sports?

Not sure about that. Oldies might make a welcome return though instead of WFKL. I would almost guarantee that WZNE is toast.

BTW, the reported sale price is around $15 million, less than the $28-$30 million Entercom reportedly wanted.
"Shave and a haircut, two bits".

 

[scooterodell]

At that price, it's like "buy WRMM, get two free!"

 

[SirRoxalot]

Zone Blitz

SirRoxalot... Are you a Goth? You write like one.

Jeremy, that's the best laugh I've had in a while. Not, not a Goth. Perhaps its my dark, snarky side coming out in some of my posts. Thanks for the kind words.

Now, back to business. I expect The Zone to be flagged for unnecessary roughness. The demise may depend on the terms of the O&A contract. When it's up, so's The Zone.

We seem to have two threads running concurrently on the Rochester shift, so I'll leave it to interested parties to find my musings already posted on the other thread.

 

[Element9]

Entercom did the dirty work by cutting Dee from the morning show on Warm. On a previous post in another thread I asked, "Who's going to pay her that kind of money?" Upon re-reading the post, the question could have been posed in a more gracious way. Apologies.

From what I've read here and elsewhere, Stephens is a small group that does whatever needs to be done in order to make a station or cluster turn a profit. Dee's release from Warm is the first step to their Rochester market plan. I could be very off base here, but don't expect Stephens to light it up in Rochester. If the $15 million sale price is accurate, Stephens got a good deal on a market leading AC and two step-child Class A's which are likely to be run as cheaply as possible.

What's Stephens' background? Small to small-medium markets. The company sounds like bottom feeders (I say that in a positive way) in that it buys distressed or non-glamorous properties at a reasonable price. This is very much like what happens on Wall Street. Buy low, sell high.

It's a good bet that Fickle and/or Zone will see a format change with even more voice tracking. If they cast off Dee, what becomes of the two person morning show on Fickle? Sorry for those there that read the board. I sincerely hope you folks hang on, but given what happened at Warm, well... who knows.

Contradicting the "run on the cheap" theory, Stephens actually could research the market and find that there's a hole for Classic Hits-Oldies or even the format that Bob1370 often advocates, Hispanic. However, flipping The Zone to 60s-70s Oldies may harm do more harm to Warm and research could show that Fickle, as it's presently programmed, does more harm to Warm than any other format in the cluster. In this case, the Zone format may be safer than the Fickle format.

Sports isn't a viable format on a 6 kW FM because it's well-covered by WHTK and 50kW flame throwin' WHAM, which now has the Bills. It may be that with all the pray for pay religious flotsam already out there, Stephens won't take that (self) righteous path. It could flip one of those short FM's Country (a fool's mission) and try to be a thorn in WBEE's assets, but not likely given there could be a covenant not to directly compete with Entercom.

Stephens is in a Catch 22 situation with these newly acquired Rochester properties. More than likely, more cuts are on the horizon once Stephens gets the keys to the car. One thing's certain. Entercom and (for the time being) Clear Channel have the signals and the power.

-9-

 

[bobn]

Entercom did NOT fire Dee, the Stephens people decided NOT to hire her. The decision was Stephens Media not Entercom's. Read the story on the front page of the board.

 

[kentuckymedia]

WZNE is the red-headed step child here. WFKL doesnt have the greatest ratings, but its sellable, and thats the most important thing for this company.

I guess the reason I posted the option to go News/Talk/Sports FM is they could run it pretty inexpensive. They will have to pay for some rights, but for the most part...could syndie the hell out of the station. And it would probably do better then where it is right now.

WHAM is vulnerable because of its owner, thats the only reason. Until CC gets their heads out of the sand, their stations are completely vulnerable.

 

[MikeSmithWNYR]

I see in the last book WRMM went from 5th to 2nd with a big jump - 6.1 to 9.5 12+

 

[Element9]

Entercom did NOT fire Dee, the Stephens people decided NOT to hire her. The decision was Stephens Media not Entercom's. Read the story on the front page of the board.

The original quote from Entercom RVP Mike Doyle in the D & C "She's technically an Entercom employee... however, we don't have a radio station to put her on" prompted my sarcastic observation.

Stephens technically didn't fire Dee because (according to Doyle) she's (still) technically an Entercom employee, but they "don't have a place for her." That would seem to justify my contention that Entercom wasn't treating her all too well. She's in radio limbo. Not fired, but not hired. Not quite Dante's Seven Circles of Hell, but certainly not at all pleasant.

 

[Element9]

BTW, that would be nine circles. How could I forget that number?

 

[x13thfloorrand]

...but could they buy Buffalo?

Does anyone think they have a future owning some Buffalo "properties", namely either current Entercomm.... or as the french say "La Competition" at the artist formerly known as "CBS Radio"?

There was talk peppered around the board that Regents was shedding money like dogs in the summer and rumored to put the stations back on market. Did that ever gain traction?

 

[kentuckymedia]

The latest I heard about Regent is they want to get out of Fort Collins, Lafayette, Saint Cloud, El Paso, Peoria, Flint, Bloomington and Evansville.

Their hope is to then hold onto Grand Rapids, Buffalo and Albany. They want to pay down this debt. Then maybe they will make a run after Clear Channel Toledo.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Re: ...but could they buy Buffalo?

Does anyone think they have a future owning some Buffalo "properties"

Oh sure, absolutely! If Regent is willing to sell, why not buy Jack?

They could change Fickle to Jack, perhaps...or just change Jack to Fickle (if there are any fees involved in keeping the Jack name, this saves money, respectfully.)

Cookie cutter logic is always an option from a business point of view.
If they were to buy Entercom stations in Buffalo instead, I'm sure there'd be a Froggy 107.7 in the cards.

 

[ThePickleReport]

Their hope is to then hold onto Grand Rapids, Buffalo and Albany. They want to pay down this debt. Then maybe they will make a run after Clear Channel Toledo.

There was a quote in one of the official Radio-Info stories that said that there was some interest in many of Regent's markets EXCEPT the Buffalo cluster. Like it or not Regent is likely stuck with that.