Family Stations Will Sell 94.7FM WFME Newark

[vb2285]

I hope:
1. Alternative Rock: We need alternative and it's never been tried here before
2. Country: We haven't had one of them in almost a decade
3. 90's Hits (Although it might not do too well)
4. Rock (much like WDHA in Dover)
I feel that the Male demographic is very underestimated. Although Country appeals to all and really all formats appeal to every gender if one thinks about it.
Better NOT BE:
1. News
2. Talk
3. Sports
4. Urban A/C
5. Top 40
6. Hip Hop
7. Dance
8. A/C
9. Hot A/C
10. Simulcast of anything (it's got a 32,000 watt signal, why waste the signal when the same formats on either FM or AM and have the same coverage area?!)
11. Rhythmic A/C
12. Adult Hits Format
13. Oldies
14. Gospel
15. Rhythmic Top 40

 

[TheBigA]

The sad part of this discussion is it's likely that the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey will lose yet another broadcasting station.

At one time, Newark could have claimed to be a broadcasting pioneer, with WJZ at the Westinghouse plant, and WOR at Bambergers. Over the years, it's been the home of multiple stations, inclusing WHBI, WVNJ, and WNJR. Now the only radio station still there is WBGO, and they just moved their transmitter to NYC. Whatever happens to WFME, it's future isn't going to be in New Jersey.

 

[nd2023]

WFME didn't serve Newark. Except for when they had people warn about Judgement Day in Newark.

 

[TheBigA]

WFME didn't serve Newark. Except for when they had people warn about Judgement Day in Newark.

That's not what I said.

 

[XCountry285]

it's stupid to move WFME out of Newark because it's short spaced and it's fine where it is. It should go to a music format that isn't served in New York first and foremost.

 

[DToTheJ]

...Family Stations... 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...

...CBS-owned WFAN New York which has dominated sports talk radio in the region for over twenty years...

...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!

1. I thought that whole advertising blitz was made possible by a retired subway executive who spent about $150,000 of his own money to make that happen...

2. Actually, this July, it'll be 25 years, to be exact.
http://sportsrantz.com/media/2012/01/07/wfme-to-espn-radio/

3. I saw the original post on the other board and it did at least refer to radio-info... so there's that.

 

[Jeffrey]

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.

what? You do realize that about 40% of what's heard today on chr stations is dance? Honestly a dance station isn't far fetched at all. It's an upward trend as hip hop steps down a bit.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

3. I saw the original post on the other board and it did at least refer to radio-info... so there's that.

It got edited out, just like everything else on that board.

ESPN getting the 94.7 frequency would be about the biggest yawner of a move I could imagine, but I also think that's its most likely fate.

However a more interesting scenario would be for Townsquare to buy it and extend NJ101.5's coverage into North Jersey as mentioned above. You know, according to this report, if separated from the New York and Philadelphia markets, New Jersey alone would constitute the fourth largest market in America. There's just got to be some great untapped advertiser potential for a mainstream station super-serving that side of the Hudson where there's none now.

 

[TheBigA]

However a more interesting scenario would be for Townsquare to buy it and extend NJ101.5's coverage into North Jersey as mentioned above.

It really would be nice if the NJ legislature woke up and passed some kind of law requiring the station to remain in NJ. Especially after giving away the NJPBA radio & TV stations.

Having said that, and knowing it's all very unlikely, I kind of expect Cumulus to unwrap some newly printed million dollar bills for this frequency. They are the weakest group in town, and really need a second FM in the city if they're going to survive. By the same token, Merlin and CBS already have a relationship with Family Stations, so they may have an inside track. But from what I read, it's all about the money, so whoever has the most will win.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Even if it were just counted as part of the overall NYC ratings, I'll bet a North Jersey-focused version of Townsquare's NJ101.5 on WFME's stick would still rank much higher than WEMP does trying to compete for listeners in the city. At least it would have its own unique focus and serve a pretty big chunk of the currently under-served audience that helps to make up Market #1.

If anything, WPLJ has demonstrated you don't need to be number one in the city if you're making enough money in the suburbs. Plus there's no shortage of NJ commuters working in the New York during the day who could be served by such a signal on 94.7 without having to move it.

It's an interesting idea.

 

[TheBigA]

Even if it were just counted as part of the overall NYC ratings, I'll bet a North Jersey-focused version of Townsquare's NJ101.5 on WFME's stick would still rank much higher than WEMP does trying to compete for listeners in the city.

The funny part is WFME is beating WEMP right now! By more than double!

 

[XCountry285]

I still think an NJ focused music station would be great because you can get 94.7 from Newton to Newark

 

[radioguy39nj]

If WEPN migrates to FM at 94.7 or 107.5, CBS will be faced with the possibility of blowing up an FM for a WFAN simulcast. CBS isn't going to let ESPN erode WFAN like they allowed 97.5 The Fanatic in Philly do to WIP before simulcasting WIP on FM.

If Mets' games move to WEPN on FM in 2013, it wouldn't be the first time the team's games have been on the FM band. The Mets' flagship from 1967-71 was WJRZ on 970 AM. Reception was so poor that the games were simulcast on WABC-FM (95.5) in 1968 and '69, then on WNBC-FM (97.1) in 1970 and '71.

 

[Bongwater]

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

Family Radio stations usually are. Right down to the 40-50 year old original furnishings at some stations.....

 

[nd2023]

Even if it were just counted as part of the overall NYC ratings, I'll bet a North Jersey-focused version of Townsquare's NJ101.5 on WFME's stick would still rank much higher than WEMP does trying to compete for listeners in the city.

The funny part is WFME is beating WEMP right now! By more than double!

It's surprising that they didn't lose that many listeners after May 21 and October 21. They didn't gain too many listeners before May 21. They had the best advertising campaign of any radio station. Billboards everywhere, people promoting it in public places.

What's also surprising is that WBAI didn't gain too many listeners after Wall Street got occupied.

 

[recto101]

Does WFME gets an AM outlet in the process?
Remember when CBS sold "KFRC The Big 610" in SFO for 106.9. CBS got 106.9 and Camping got 610.
but look we have go go back to the 1970's too.
CBS did a 3 way trade Camping got 106.9. CBS got 97.3 and KMPX got 98.9 FM in SFO.

 

[Rollo-Smokes]

If WEPN migrates to FM at 94.7 or 107.5, CBS will be faced with the possibility of blowing up an FM for a WFAN simulcast. CBS isn't going to let ESPN erode WFAN like they allowed 97.5 The Fanatic in Philly do to WIP before simulcasting WIP on FM.

Those of you who think this way need to realize two important things.

1. the WIP move in Philly had more to do with the signal issues on 610 AM, and CBS's overall sports talk-on-FM strategy, than the presence of WPEN on FM; from what I understand WIP is still ahead of WPEN in the ratings.

2. WFAN has both heritage and a very strong signal in its pocket, so having WFAN simulcasted on an FM is a waste of an FM channel. Even if CBS were to get another FM in the market (can they?), the only logical thing to do would be to use that frequency to simulcast 1010 WINS. There is absolutely NO NEED to have an FM simulcast of either of their two 50 kw clear-channel AMs -- 660 or 880 -- which covers the entire meat of the metro (and more after dark).

ESPN Radio needs to get an FM here; we know this already. 94.7 may be their very last shot. I say this because if WBLS is forcibly unloaded by Inner City whomever buys it (Radio One?) will keep it as it is. Pacifica isn't selling WBAI anytime soon, and we now know that Family Radio will not sell any of their stations to a religious broadcaster (no Salem, no EMF, etc.)

Here's another scenario for Disney/ABC: buy 94.7 and convert it into the new home of Radio Disney. Even though I despise the format it is much better suited for FM anyway. Keep ESPN Radio on 1050, with 1560 becoming ESPN Deportes.

 

[Radio-X]

Does WFME gets an AM outlet in the process?
Remember when CBS sold "KFRC The Big 610" in SFO for 106.9. CBS got 106.9 and Camping got 610.
but look we have go go back to the 1970's too.
CBS did a 3 way trade Camping got 106.9. CBS got 97.3 and KMPX got 98.9 FM in SFO.

We don't know as there are no known buyers yet. However, I'd find it highly unlikely they will get any NYC radio station in exchange. They gave up their DC station, not replacing coverage in most of that market. Looks like ditto for Philly as well.

It appears Camping is out from the network and in order to finance the end times spending spree they did and to replace irritated former listeners' donations, these commercial band stations must go!

Radio-X

 

[wprt949]

well i hope you guys get an fm sports talker in nyc good luck

 

[XCountry285]

well i hope you guys get an fm sports talker in nyc good luck

That's a waste of an FM signal 32,0000 watts are you kidding me? No Music belongs of FM talk belongs on AM it's not hard for young people to push the AM button on their radio dials to hear sports/talk/news