Is kicking the can down the road -- that is, a further postponement of the deadline -- still possible if current ownership is unhappy with the money on the table and thinks it can squeeze more out of a potential "white knight" buyer? Or is the transaction a done deal, with the only suspense remaining being what will be going out on the frequency come August?
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ESPN 98.7 FM to be no more come August 31, 2024
- Thread starter NYAZSporty
- Start date
Once again, we don't know. What I can tell you is that the value has decreased in the year since this thread began. So the longer they wait, the lower the value of the property. This is one thing inflation hasn't helped.
I was watching Michael Kay on YouTube & he kept saying We have to get ready for AM. I guess he means 1050 ? If so ? How is ESPN getting out of the radio business ?
Did you read the OP?
ESPN got out of the radio business when it sold WEPN to Good Karma, and put them in charge of ESPN radio sales. So the branding exists, but it's run by Good Karma.
This article was from last year:
Sports Media: Good Karma’s deal with ESPN Radio a long time coming
ESPN hired Good Karma Brands to take over the operations and sales of ESPN’s radio and podcast business.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
Ohhh thanx for that.
My assumption had been that if Emmis had a buyer, it would've been announced by June 30 so that closing was timed around the time the LMA ended.
At this point the likelihood of filler programming ala what Merlin did with 101.9 between the end of FM News and the sale to CBS in 2012 is more and more possible.
Kay is promoting a special program he'll co-host with Rick DiPietro that will air exclusively on 1050 AM on Monday 7/8 from 10:00a to Noon. I'm also hearing that this will be the first of several "host mashups" on 1050 over the next few weeks.
Maybe Country will make a brief comeback?
Emmis (full disclosure, I'm a shareholder) got more than fair value out of the ESPN LMA. I had heard of a possible deal, but it did not materialize, so if Emmis has to run a placeholder format for a few months, it's no big deal.
Maybe Country will make a brief comeback?
Emmis owns no country stations anymore.
At $12 million a year, they got their full $50 million already from that station. The fact that they didn't credit GKB for their money is stupid on Jeff's part. He got greedy, and Craig did the smart thing by walking away. Jeff will get less money now than he could have had he closed a deal with Craig a year ago.
The only other station Emmis owns is 1190 WLIB. I don't think what they own elsewhere will matter in terms of filler.
Who owns the 98.7 KISS-FM IP now? Emmis, Mediaco, or some other entity?
Somebody will need to program it, unless you think Jeff will just hook up his iPhone.
I don't think it serve's Jeff's interests to run filler programming at a loss. He's better off doing a short term extension with Craig.
Both, since Emmis is a partner in Mediaco.
At some point, if we're to believe Jeff, he has to decide the future of Emmis in Mediaco. He has more money tied up there than in WEPN.
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Emmis sold nearly all of its shares in MediaCo in 2022. They only hold under 5% of the company and some of its debt now.
Who would program the placeholder format? How was 101.9 run a few years ago during their “filler” period?
There's no way anyone knows right now.
That does come with the risk of Craig Karamzin saying no. Good Karma is almost done winding down what had been an onerous LMA and I doubt the prospect of continuing it beyond the end date is particularly appealing.
Looking back at the timeline for 101.9, Merlin dropped news in July, and announced it had sold the station to CBS on October 8, and CBS started the simulcast on November 1.
Emmis has had a year to sell the station. All potential owners also had a year to reach an agreement and prepare for operations.
Emmis has had a year to sell the station. All potential owners also had a year to reach an agreement and prepare for operations.
NYRadioFan22
Banned
I'm hoping for alternative, permanently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Maybe Country will make a brief comeback?
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