Family Stations Will Sell 94.7FM WFME Newark

[Giacomo Siffredi]

Yesterday, January 6, 2012, Family Stations, Inc. filed an application with the FCC to change the license of 94.7FM WFME Newark from non-commercial back to commercial.

FCC 302-FM: BMLH - 20120105ACN

In a letter circulated shortly after Harold Camping's failed May 21, 2011 prophecy, a staffer at Family Radio indicated this would be happening. Specifically, that portion of the letter stated:

Fourth, stations will be sold. The first to go will be WKDN (Camden, NJ) and WFSI (Annapolis, MD). They will be auctioned on June 30, and only non-religious broadcasters are allowed to bid. Eventually, WFME (Newark, NJ) will also be sold.

On July 11, 2011, Susan Espinoza (Harold Camping's daughter and Secretary Treasurer of Family Radio) filed one application each for stations WKDN Camden and WFSI Annapolis to change the license statuses from Non-Commercial to Commercial. Both of those stations have been sold and are awaiting FCC approval to officially transfer the licenses.

Family Stations will, for now at least, retain their television station WFME-TV West Milford, channel 29, which is co-located with the FM station in West Orange, NJ. However, for all practical purposes, 94.7FM WFME Newark is now officially for sale.

 

[nd2023]

The world did not end, Harold Camping had a stroke and can't speak, so Family Radio doesn't need to be on the radio anymore. They already gave a new commercial station to DC/Baltimore. Philly is next. Hooray! This is like NYC is getting a brand new full market commercial signal.

My top format choices are:

1. Dance
2. Soft AC (like Easy 93.1 Miami)
3. 50s/60s oldies
4. Alternative
5. Country

Who will buy it? It can't be sold to a religious broadcaster.

I think CBS is maxed out, so they'll have to sell one of their stations. If CBS buys it, I'd expect them to blow up 92.3 Now in addition and bring WCBS and WINS to FM. They would sell 1010. Or maybe they'd sell WFAN and bring it to the FM band.

Merlin is only focusing on news, and they already have the fledgling FM News 101.9 to worry about.

Clear Channel is maxed out on FM

Press could bring Thunder Country to 94.7 or bring G-Rock back on 94.7

ESPN could buy it and simulcast 1050 on 94.7

If I win the lottery, expect to hear Pulse 94.7, a soft AC on 94.7-HD2, and a simulcast of WPST 94.5 on 94.7-HD3.

 

[wpb1999]

I think that ESPN will probably buy it. 1050 on 94.3 would sound a hell of a lot better.

Heres what CBS should do:
1) Sell 66 WFAN and move it to 92.3
2) Once WFAN is sold, buy this WFME station. While you are waiting for WFAN to be sold.....set up an LMA with Family Radio
3) Simulcast 1010 WINS on 94.3, as WINS is showing more promise.
4) Keep 1027 and 1011 intact.

 

[w9wi]

Just FWIW, there is no FCC reason why it can't be sold to a religious broadcaster -- that's a decision Family made on their own -- so at least as far as the FCC is concerned, they can change their mind. (so it's not 100% impossible 94.7 could end up a K-Love)

 

[radioguy39nj]

The buyer of 94.7 will need to move the stick to the ESB. Because of WMAS in Springfield, MA (also on 94.7), it will have to be a directional. WMAS is owned by Cumulus. If Cumulus gets 94.7 in NY, they'll put nothing into it, probably a simulcast of WABC.

Of course, there's always ESPN. WEPN could swap 1050 for 94.7. If ESPN lands on 94.7, CBS may have to consider blowing up 92.3 to simulcast WFAN. CBS-FM and Fresh will probably stay intact. Though it's not a bottom feeder, 92.3 Now is the lowest rated of CBS' NY FMs.

Stay tuned!

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

CBS stands to be enscrewed on a few fronts here, but I doubt 660 WFAN is going anywhere soon. Demo-wise, FM properties are hotter, no doubt. But brand-name 50,000-watt clears that continue to make money in market # 1 with the Mets and Yankees aren't something you just heave (let alone disturb the fourth-highest cume in the market -- WWFS) . There's no need to move 660 to higher ground yet. A better investment for the time being would be CBS paying Johan Santana's way to that blood guy in Germany.

If-and-when the time comes to make a move, the feeling here is that they'll send WINS to FM instead of sending 880 there. Probably to 92.3.

If ESPN is the one to put the biggest envelope in Family Radio's collection plate, though, a lot of what I just wrote goes up in flames.

 

[d21ofnj]

Wow. I remember reading ESPN was going to get 101.9. Now that 94.7 is available, will they make the switch?

 

[BruceS8852]

Since Newark is the city of license for 94.7 FM, I think Millenium, the owners of NJ101.5, would love to buy it so that they could cover Northern New Jersey. I guess my speculation is as good as anyone elses.

Bruce

 

[danikayser84]

Since Newark is the city of license for 94.7 FM, I think Millenium, the owners of NJ101.5, would love to buy it so that they could cover Northern New Jersey. I guess my speculation is as good as anyone elses.

Bruce

Wouldn't it be Townsquare now?

As for 94.7, if ESPN gets it, does 1050 get sold or remain a simulcast of ESPN Radio (or change to ESPN Deportes)?

 

[kevinsealy]

Everything's a big IF. If ESPN buys WBLS (which may very well be up for sale) or WFME, where does that leave the other frequency that remains on the sale block?




Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

 

[DToTheJ]

I remember reading ESPN was going to get 101.9. Now that 94.7 is available, will they make the switch?

They'll have to. This could probably be the last FM signal available in New York for awhile, provided Pacifica remains steadfast in holding onto 99.5 WBAI.

My top format choices are:

1. Dance

Enough already with your "dance music returning to New York" fantasy. Enjoy it on HD radio like the other four people.

 

[luperm]

Even though it's a NJ licensed station, it's a NYC station for all intents and purposes. I don't see Townsquare getting it.

ESPN and Merlin seem the most likely candidates. As another poster noted, don't count out EMF (K-Love) grabbing it for their second service (Air 1)...though they would probably flip it with 96.7 since they usually put K-Love on the better signal.

As for a move to Empire, that seems unlikely for reasons previously discussed here.

 

[radioguy39nj]

ESPN and Merlin seem the most likely candidates. As another poster noted, don't count out EMF (K-Love) grabbing it for their second service (Air 1)...though they would probably flip it with 96.7 since they usually put K-Love on the better signal.

As for a move to Empire, that seems unlikely for reasons previously discussed here.

If 94.7 can't move to ESB, ESPN, Merlin or any major operator won't be interested. When Malrite purchased 100.3, it was licensed to Newark. Z100 would never have been successful had it not moved to ESB.

Other FMs I recall moving to Manhattan were 93.1 from Clifton, NJ to the WTC and 103.5 from Fresh Meadows, Queens also to the WTC.

 

[danikayser84]

94.7 can't move to ESB as a full B due to WMAS in Springfield, Mass; it'd have to either downgrade to a B1 or install a directional at the ESB... a B1 downgrade would cause similar issues to WQXR on 105.9...

 

[radioguy39nj]

94.7 can't move to ESB as a full B due to WMAS in Springfield, Mass; it'd have to either downgrade to a B1 or install a directional at the ESB... a B1 downgrade would cause similar issues to WQXR on 105.9...

In that event, whoever buys 94.7 will have to put money into it to reach the NY area. A B1 downgrade would make it similar to 105.9. No major operator is going to go for that. Would a directional give 94.7 coverage to the tri-state NY area without interfering with WMAS? ???

 

[disney fanatic]

Good move. I checked the station at 91.7 that they're still running "Family Radio", if there is any speculation that WFRH in Kingston, NY is the only station in the Hudson Valley would be for sale, or maybe 91.7 will flip to "K-Love". I hope the Hudson Valley needs "K-Love", but we shall see.

 

[crainbebo]

Not sure if it would work, but "CD 94.7-Smooth Jazz for New York City!"

-crainbebo

 

[Radio-X]

With the two stations on the block, WBLS will get sold and probably remain with the same format under new owners.

WFME will go to ESPN, will go mono and sports since the signal will benefit in the city and the fringe suburbs without stereo. Wouldn't be much of a need to move the signal then.

WFME will get sold for a song much like their Philly and DC stations. I'm sure broadcast equipment wise, that place is a wreck.

Radio-X

 

[Giacomo Siffredi]

Just FWIW, there is no FCC reason why it can't be sold to a religious broadcaster -- that's a decision Family made on their own -- so at least as far as the FCC is concerned, they can change their mind. (so it's not 100% impossible 94.7 could end up a K-Love)

Exactly. Harold Camping is still calling the shots at Family Stations despite rumors to the contrary and he does not want any religious broadcasters to acquire any of the signals they once used. At this point, it is all about cashing in for as much money because they owe creditors big for the massive May 21, 2011 advertising binge they embarked on. So it is not only for theological principles but for financial gains. A commercial license is worth tons more than non-commercial.

As for 94.7, if ESPN gets it, does 1050 get sold or remain a simulcast of ESPN Radio (or change to ESPN Deportes)?

Right now, Disney/ABC is the most likely candidate. They only own three broadcast outlets in the New York City Metropolitan area. Those would be: WABC-TV New York, TV Channel 7; WEPN New York, AM 1050 (ESPN Radio); and WQEW New York, AM 1560 (Radio Disney). They are not maxed out as other media companies are, they are interested in an FM outlet for ESPN Radio as this would present the most serious competition to CBS-owned WFAN New York which has dominated sports talk radio in the region for over twenty years, and they have the financial resources to buy a New York market FM signal. If they were to acquire 94.7FM, ESPN Deportes could be launched on WEPN.

While it is always possible, do not expect Family to acquire either of those AMs or any other stations in this market. Their current strategy is selling and exiting, just as they did in the Philadelphia market.

A report from one of their "followers" suggested they acquired an AM in Baltimore so as not to alienate their loyal audience when they sold 107.9FM in Annapolis. Not true. The low-wattage AM (now WFSI, formerly WBGR) that drops to 66 watts at night was acquired by Family in 2005, well before Camping went on his exorbitant warn the world campaign.

On a separate note: To Kevin L. Sealy: I follow this and many media boards. While I have no problem with you reporting anything I post, please credit me and the board I post on. It is just good and fair journalistic practice. I am referring to your post earlier today on the "other" radio board. Thank you!

 

[davideduardo]

In that event, whoever buys 94.7 will have to put money into it to reach the NY area. A B1 downgrade would make it similar to 105.9. No major operator is going to go for that. Would a directional give 94.7 coverage to the tri-state NY area without interfering with WMAS? ???

I'm not sure the ESB can accomodate a directional station. If Scott Fybush is following this, he may be able to contribute thoughts to the ESB question.

The directional station I am familiar with is WTFM, which had a stand alone directional on the World Trade Towers until eventually a deal was worked to accommodate mutual interference by all affected. A new directional for a New Jersey non-com was just put at 4 Times Square, so perhaps that location would work... apparently the third highest site in NYC.

In any event, directional coverage would be limited towards Hartford, meaning that smaller portion of the market that is about half of a county in CT would likely not get a good signal. The rest likely would be quite well served.