ESPN 98.7 FM to be no more come August 31, 2024

[MarkW]

If Emmis can get $35 million, they should be happy. If they can get $40 million or above, they should be thrilled.

 

[MarkW]

Some say WBLS / MediaCo no longer holds rights to the IP of 98.7 Kiss FM. Sean Ross reported he received a statement from an undisclosed source along those lines.

 

[Barry]

Sean Ross has a column on RadioInsight concerning some possible formats for 98.7. They are sheer guesses, like the ideas previously mentioned in this thread. But it’s still a fun read.

What To Do With A Signal

 

[luperm]

Sean Ross has a column on RadioInsight concerning some possible formats for 98.7. They are sheer guesses, like the ideas previously mentioned in this thread. But it’s still a fun read.

What To Do With A Signal

Fun is right. Most of the suggested formats have little to no advertiser interest.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm thinking NY Public Radio may be the most likely buyer.

Not any more. Today they announced a second round of layoffs

New York Public Radio To Layoff Dozens As Revenue Lags - Radio Ink

New York Public Radio, the parent entity of news station WNYC, announced plans to trim its workforce by approximately 12%.

radioink.com

This isn't a good time to be a seller.

 

[mets18]

Good KarmaLooks like the Knicks and Rangers are sticking around.

 

[Weiserguy]

I'm thinking NY Public Radio may be the most likely buyer.

I'm thinking the NY Public Library?

Turn 98.7 into another Radio Reading Service, the way In Touch was back in the 80's. (IIRC, that was the SCA-broadcast service from Lighthouse for the Blind. I volunteer-read for them for a year while I was still living in NYC.) Newspaper articles, magazines, serialized books.

Not that this is ever going to happen, but it would actually be putting 98.7 to a societally better use than running the national feed of ESPN. Though having it on 99.5 in place of WBAI would be even more so.

 

[TheBigA]

Not that this is ever going to happen, but it would actually be putting 98.7 to a societally better use than running the national feed of ESPN. Though having it on 99.5 in place of WBAI would be even more so.

Keep in mind that whatever ends up on 98.7 won't be about what is "societally better." That's not at all part of the decision. It's all about who can pay Emmis what they want. If that's some religious group or some crazy billionaire, they will win.

 

[Weiserguy]

Keep in mind that whatever ends up on 98.7 won't be about what is "societally better." That's not at all part of the decision. It's all about who can pay Emmis what they want. If that's some religious group or some crazy billionaire, they will win.

Sorry if whimsy isn't your thing.

 

[MVB13]

I hope whoever buys it puts a format not here in NYC. I can see maybe Adult Hits again.

 

[TheBigA]

I hope whoever buys it puts a format not here in NYC. I can see maybe Adult Hits again.

I think that's already been addressed at least 50 times in this thread.

 

[Mrbiglott]

Maybe if done right… 😂😂😂

 

[ksradiogeek]

Sorry if whimsy isn't your thing.

It’s not whimsy, it’s just business.

 

[davideduardo]

Sorry if whimsy isn't your thing.

"Whimsy" is not a line item on any commercial broadcaster's P&L statement.

 

[Identnut]

"Whimsy" is not a line item on any commercial broadcaster's P&L statement.

Well, except for Saul Levine in LA, but he's an old person with a bunch of AMs and a kinda niche FM in Los Angeles, so whatcha gonna do?

 

[Don CT]

"Whimsy" is not a line item on any commercial broadcaster's P&L statement.

What would be a Whimsy format. 24/7 Macarena and Rick Astley?

 

[CTListener]

Good Lord ....

 

[Don CT]

Good Lord ....

He would not be good if that's all that played.

 

[Weiserguy]

Good Lord ....

I guess The Lord must be in New York City, not Northwest Moosefart Vermont, or wherever it is the Witness Protection Program relocated you to.

 

[radiofan2023]

What would be a Whimsy format. 24/7 Macarena and Rick Astley?

All 60’s oldies with the slogan “Everyone knows it’s Whimsy”