Forever sells WLTS to Galli

[Spackler]

It's in today's transactions - 1.2 million.

www.radioandrecords.com

 

[shilton]

> It's in today's transactions - 1.2 million.
>
> www.radioandrecords.com

Well...I'd say that paves the way for WXOT's long awaited move into Centre County!

Look out...something coming I believe??? Don't know what yet...but this has to mean Forever is moving something in....or buying something new again!

What kind of Format could they possibly use???

Oh well...good for Galli...that's a station that fares well...if he's smart he'll get rid of that morning junk.

 

[Spackler]

> > It's in today's transactions - 1.2 million.
> >
> > www.radioandrecords.com
>
> Well...I'd say that paves the way for WXOT's long awaited
> move into Centre County!
>
> Look out...something coming I believe??? Don't know what
> yet...but this has to mean Forever is moving something
> in....or buying something new again!
>
> What kind of Format could they possibly use???
>
> Oh well...good for Galli...that's a station that fares
> well...if he's smart he'll get rid of that morning junk.
>

I'm guessing it is in preparation of the 99.5 move. They couldn't be buying anything else. As far as I know neither First Media or Revolution Media are selling. Magnum probably isn't either.

I wonder about the format as well. Move HOT to 99.5 maybe?

 

[shilton]

> I'm guessing it is in preparation of the 99.5 move. They
> couldn't be buying anything else. As far as I know neither
> First Media or Revolution Media are selling. Magnum probably
> isn't either.
>
> I wonder about the format as well. Move HOT to 99.5 maybe?
>
Revolution Media DEFINATELY is NOT selling...I at least know that much for sure! I am betting on it being a prep for the 99.5 move...but I'd be curious to see what the heck kind of format they could put up there? AC is taken, SO is CHR...Country is Theirs...Alternative is...well the Buzz has that and its not faring well anyway...Would they...could they...try Jack????

 

[Slinky]

> Revolution Media DEFINATELY is NOT selling...I at least know
> that much for sure! I am betting on it being a prep for the
> 99.5 move...but I'd be curious to see what the heck kind of
> format they could put up there? AC is taken, SO is
> CHR...Country is Theirs...Alternative is...well the Buzz has
> that and its not faring well anyway...Would they...could
> they...try Jack????

Wouldn't be a bad idea. They need something to take on 3WZ directly now that Beaver is gone. I'm guessing they'll put on some form of Hot AC.

 

[shilton]

> > Revolution Media DEFINATELY is NOT selling...I at least
> know
> > that much for sure! I am betting on it being a prep for
> the
> > 99.5 move...but I'd be curious to see what the heck kind
> of
> > format they could put up there? AC is taken, SO is
> > CHR...Country is Theirs...Alternative is...well the Buzz
> has
> > that and its not faring well anyway...Would they...could
> > they...try Jack????
>
> Wouldn't be a bad idea. They need something to take on 3WZ
> directly now that Beaver is gone. I'm guessing they'll put
> on some form of Hot AC.
>
Um...correct me if I am wrong...but they DID Hot A/C with Beaver and got their little Beaver Tails kicked! Why would you hash up something that died already???

 

[killawatt]

> > > Revolution Media DEFINATELY is NOT selling...I at least
> > know
> > > that much for sure! I am betting on it being a prep for
>
> > the
> > > 99.5 move...but I'd be curious to see what the heck kind
>
> > of
> > > format they could put up there? AC is taken, SO is
> > > CHR...Country is Theirs...Alternative is...well the Buzz
>
> > has
> > > that and its not faring well anyway...Would they...could
>
> > > they...try Jack????
> >
> > Wouldn't be a bad idea. They need something to take on
> 3WZ
> > directly now that Beaver is gone. I'm guessing they'll
> put
> > on some form of Hot AC.
> >
> Um...correct me if I am wrong...but they DID Hot A/C with
> Beaver and got their little Beaver Tails kicked! Why would
> you hash up something that died already???
>
okay you're wrong...they switched to the no rap a/c before the spring book last year and came out tied for #1 18-34 with 97.1...before the Fall numbers were ever released, they knew they were going to change the format...let's see what Revolution does...

 

[shilton]

> okay you're wrong...they switched to the no rap a/c before
> the spring book last year and came out tied for #1 18-34
> with 97.1...before the Fall numbers were ever released, they
> knew they were going to change the format...let's see what
> Revolution does...
>
Ummm...how dumb do you think I am....You are #1...so you jump ship and change format! I didn't ask who was #1 18-34 the first book...How did you fare 12+, 25-54??? The switch to Hot A/C was a DISASTER!!! It bombed in Altoona too with the invention of POWER 100!

In the last book 103 tanked...really tanked! As to whether or not they "planned ahead" and knew they were changing formats remains to be seen...I seriously doubt that. Don't see too many people in the boardroom saying we have this tremendous #1 hit station on our hands...so let's blow it up!

Still, the point is by the time the book came out, the format was a total disaster for them. Bottom line is...anyone would be foolish to take on 3-WZ at their own game. You hit a competitor head on if you think they have weaknesses. 3-WZ is strong in all aspects. They are local, community oriented, they have a great signal, a good easy to remember catchy name, good solid professional imaging and their music mix is rock solid.

Forever would be foolish to take on 3-WZ directly because (a) they'd probably just fragment the audience of Hot 103 since that's why they shut off Hot 107.9 in the first place...it was eroding away their audience and (b) they'd cut into Galli's audience at Lite which we all know is just a front for Forever to keep calling the shots over there too. finally (c)...they'd LOSE BIG TIME!

Its the simple rules of radio war...don't go head to head against your competition unless you think they have a weakness you can capitalize on...what's 3-WZ's weakness??? Nope I still am looking at a frequency saying what they heck could you put on there to make an impact? Country would make no sense seeing how they already have Froggy...Rock is taken, Classic Rock is taken, CHR is taken between Hot and Rev together, Lord knows we have enough Christian to save us all a million times over...Lite and Easy is taken, JAZZ TANKED...what's left BUT JACK OR am FM talker???? If it were me, I'd go with WRSC-FM!!!!! Nobody's done FM talk around here yet...has to happen sooner or later.

 

[sheckky]

With 3WZ being the only financially competitive stand alone in the area, I can see how they would want to put on a station that was a beter P2 than HOT for Z listeners. They wouldnt spend the $$ to take them on head to head. That would take a staff and promotions and, seeing that they dont really own a excellent AC in another market, an actual on site PD to put it together. Maybe somethin along the lines of old WINK 108 as a throw in to the advertisers to draw a some of Z's money and make it difficult for Z to look quite as dominant in the book. Who knew that WINK 108 could have been ahead of its time... it was an automated throw in before automation sounded anywhere near decent.

I think an FM talker would be a great idea for this market, but I dont see Forever spending the $ for quality syndicated shows and the ones that are currently on RSC dont really make for an FM talker. My concept of a quality FM talker has attitude and imaging and promotions. If they were to start an FM talker, I imagine that it would have to be an all new station.. is there room in State College for one? Ya have your conservative talk on RSC and your sports on ESPN. Radio America? Guy talk?

 

[shilton]

Would an FM Talker fly in State College?

> With 3WZ being the only financially competitive stand alone
> in the area, I can see how they would want to put on a
> station that was a beter P2 than HOT for Z listeners. They
> wouldnt spend the $$ to take them on head to head. That
> would take a staff and promotions and, seeing that they dont
> really own a excellent AC in another market, an actual on
> site PD to put it together. Maybe somethin along the lines
> of old WINK 108 as a throw in to the advertisers to draw a
> some of Z's money and make it difficult for Z to look quite
> as dominant in the book. Who knew that WINK 108 could have
> been ahead of its time... it was an automated throw in
> before automation sounded anywhere near decent.
>
> I think an FM talker would be a great idea for this market,
> but I dont see Forever spending the $ for quality syndicated
> shows and the ones that are currently on RSC dont really
> make for an FM talker. My concept of a quality FM talker
> has attitude and imaging and promotions. If they were to
> start an FM talker, I imagine that it would have to be an
> all new station.. is there room in State College for one?
> Ya have your conservative talk on RSC and your sports on
> ESPN. Radio America? Guy talk?
>
WRSC programming would NOT work on fm??? HUH? Isn't Bill O'Reilly on the #1 cable news network in America? Sean Hannity anyone??? RSC has a strong lineup. I bet even Kevin Nelson would be pleased to get on a bigger frequency and would most likely fare very well. The reasoning to move it to FM would be to expose it to a greater audience. After all, RSC is limited by how far its AM signal can go. Why do you think it simulcast with BLF for a time...to give it a greater coverage area.

Radio America....its struggling at best in Major Markets (in case you missed it, the liberals of America are not that much in power or popularity at the moment in spite of the President's current popularity ratings) and Guy talk??? Not even a true proven format at this stage in the game. I'd think it'd be brilliant to simulcast RSC on FM or just move the station to FM and do something else with the 1390 frequency...heck, let it go dark if you want (now I know someone will get upset about that suggestion)

As for Wink108 ahead of its time! Well I can tell you as a programmer who sat in direct competition with WINK, we thought it was a cute novelty, but no one was worried about them including our expert team of consultants who got paid a bazillion bucks to fix whatever ailed us. Launch the same station today and the reaction would be the same. It just was not programmed or presented well enough. I'd say that Hot107.9 was a much more formidable competitor and as you can see, they were bought out and exist no more for a reason! It sure isn't because Centre County was screaming for more religious radio...that much I can tell you! I think the old saying...if you can't beat them...JOIN THEM comes to mind here.

I hate the thing...but Jack is all the rage right now...heck WCBS-FM just fell to Jack all not too long ago. I'd say that would be a good ticket...but it would cut into some of QWK's and the Bus's audience as well. Question is...would Forever be willing to risk that to launch the format? That I have no idea. A decent Star type FM that plays heavy on the mid 70's to early 90's would be fun and not a direct attack at 3-WZ, but would the audience be big enough??? Would it cut into Hot's audience too??? who knows? If it were me...I'd take a long hard look at that FM talk idea. Forver seems to LOVE having stations swap frequencies...so why not swap bands AM to FM???

 

[blogger]

With the monster 98.1 signal soon to be downgraded in Altoona, they might want to simulcast WFGY on the 99.5 move-in... that will help them to recover any lost coverage area. Just a thought.




> > It's in today's transactions - 1.2 million.
> >
> > www.radioandrecords.com
>
> Well...I'd say that paves the way for WXOT's long awaited
> move into Centre County!
>
> Look out...something coming I believe??? Don't know what
> yet...but this has to mean Forever is moving something
> in....or buying something new again!
>
> What kind of Format could they possibly use???
>
> Oh well...good for Galli...that's a station that fares
> well...if he's smart he'll get rid of that morning junk.
>

 

[killawatt]

Stevo - it’s too bad you’ll never be in the boardroom. If you were, you might hear an owner being more concerned with cannibalization of the cluster and return on your investment ...% of radio dollars in the market versus television and newspaper dollars...you’d be worried about cost of doing business in the market. You’d be even more concerned with the fact that the newspaper has more billing in one day than the entire radio market does in a week...you’d be worried about paying for a condensed radio market report for the shrinking amount of regional dollars...and at the end of a long day, you’d rush home to see what Steve thinks of your station’s voice guy, jingles, music ...and act on his every suggestion.


> > okay you're wrong...they switched to the no rap a/c
> before
> > the spring book last year and came out tied for #1 18-34
> > with 97.1...before the Fall numbers were ever released,
> they
> > knew they were going to change the format...let's see what
>
> > Revolution does...
> >
> Ummm...how dumb do you think I am....You are #1...so you
> jump ship and change format! I didn't ask who was #1 18-34
> the first book...How did you fare 12+, 25-54??? The switch
> to Hot A/C was a DISASTER!!! It bombed in Altoona too with
> the invention of POWER 100!
>
> In the last book 103 tanked...really tanked! As to whether
> or not they "planned ahead" and knew they were changing
> formats remains to be seen...I seriously doubt that. Don't
> see too many people in the boardroom saying we have this
> tremendous #1 hit station on our hands...so let's blow it
> up!
>
> Still, the point is by the time the book came out, the
> format was a total disaster for them. Bottom line
> is...anyone would be foolish to take on 3-WZ at their own
> game. You hit a competitor head on if you think they have
> weaknesses. 3-WZ is strong in all aspects. They are local,
> community oriented, they have a great signal, a good easy to
> remember catchy name, good solid professional imaging and
> their music mix is rock solid.
>
> Forever would be foolish to take on 3-WZ directly because
> (a) they'd probably just fragment the audience of Hot 103
> since that's why they shut off Hot 107.9 in the first
> place...it was eroding away their audience and (b) they'd
> cut into Galli's audience at Lite which we all know is just
> a front for Forever to keep calling the shots over there
> too. finally (c)...they'd LOSE BIG TIME!
>
> Its the simple rules of radio war...don't go head to head
> against your competition unless you think they have a
> weakness you can capitalize on...what's 3-WZ's weakness???
> Nope I still am looking at a frequency saying what they heck
> could you put on there to make an impact? Country would
> make no sense seeing how they already have Froggy...Rock is
> taken, Classic Rock is taken, CHR is taken between Hot and
> Rev together, Lord knows we have enough Christian to save us
> all a million times over...Lite and Easy is taken, JAZZ
> TANKED...what's left BUT JACK OR am FM talker???? If it
> were me, I'd go with WRSC-FM!!!!! Nobody's done FM talk
> around here yet...has to happen sooner or later.
>

 

[shilton]

> Stevo - it’s too bad you’ll never be in the boardroom. If
> you were, you might hear an owner being more concerned with
> cannibalization of the cluster and return on your investment
> ...% of radio dollars in the market versus television and
> newspaper dollars...you’d be worried about cost of doing
> business in the market. You’d be even more concerned with
> the fact that the newspaper has more billing in one day than
> the entire radio market does in a week...you’d be worried
> about paying for a condensed radio market report for the
> shrinking amount of regional dollars...and at the end of a
> long day, you’d rush home to see what Steve thinks of your
> station’s voice guy, jingles, music ...and act on his every
> suggestion.
Nah...I know my suggestions don't mean a hill of beans to you or anyone else within the organization and that's fine by me. They are merly opinions. Only one thing gets me though...for a company that is SOOOO concerned about return on investment and cannibalization of the cluster, etc...They seem to be buying up an awful lot of stuff. Wouldn't you think if your return was not what it should be...you'd want to stay smaller and do what you do well instead of trying to be all things to all people. Sorry...just my opinion again. From the outside...it LOOKS like they have an answer for whatever ails ya...Market needs a Rock Outlet...we have a theme format for that...Need Country...Can Do...Need CHR...Let's roll out anoher HOT! I respected Forever when they did one or 2 things and did them well. Froggy 98 is, was and always will be a stroke of genius...As much as I hate the station, it was exactly what little old Central PA needed at the moment and Carol and the crew were brilliant enough to do it. That was Great! Some of the radio they do today...not so great and the format switches after format switches would be an indication of that.

 

[Slinky]

> Um...correct me if I am wrong...but they DID Hot A/C with
> Beaver and got their little Beaver Tails kicked! Why would
> you hash up something that died already???

Because there's nothing else they can do without competing with themselves. Plus 3WZ is a huge target. Even if Forever's Hot AC does lousy, they can run it cheap, and it might just take enough away from 3WZ that Forever's other stations can move up.

A Jack format wouldn't be bad, but it would have to be modified a bit to not compete with Bus. The Jacks across the country play a lot of 70's Classic Hits. A State College Jack would have to be more 80's and 90's based, i.e. more Hot AC. That would pose the biggest threat to 3WZ.

 

[mountaineer]

There's another reason to avoid direct format wars: they're expensive; and that goes directly against Forever's business strategy. They buy 'em, strip 'em, run 'em as inexpensively as possible... and make a ton of profit. Forever does about 3 times the amount of business 3WZ does and they do it with a handful of people... no promotional budget to speak of... and the kind of planned turnover that means no one is ever around long enough to get a raise--even the general managers! For whatever reasons, 3WZ is being run in old school fashion. Forever is doing it new school fashion. Welcome to 21st Century Radio! If they've made any mistake at all, so far, it might be in not recognizing that JHT would be in a format war with WGMR, and therefore feeling compelled to spend more running Hot 103 than they'd prefer.

3-WZ is strong in all aspects. They are local,
> community oriented, they have a great signal, a good easy to
> remember catchy name, good solid professional imaging and
> their music mix is rock solid.
>
> Forever would be foolish to take on 3-WZ directly because
> (a) they'd probably just fragment the audience of Hot 103
> since that's why they shut off Hot 107.9 in the first
> place...it was eroding away their audience and (b) they'd
> cut into Galli's audience at Lite which we all know is just
> a front for Forever to keep calling the shots over there
> too. finally (c)...they'd LOSE BIG TIME!
>
> Its the simple rules of radio war...don't go head to head
> against your competition unless you think they have a
> weakness you can capitalize on...what's 3-WZ's weakness???

>

 

[talkinthewalk]

> Um...correct me if I am wrong...but they DID Hot A/C with
> Beaver and got their little Beaver Tails kicked! Why would
> you hash up something that died already???
>
OK, Steve. You're wrong. We (The 1999-2001 Hot AC version on Beaver 103) were number one, 12+ and in the money 25-49 demos, while 3WZ slipped to third for the whole time I was there. Admittedly 3WZ was, at the time, a relatively passive station promotionally and confused presentationally. (Apparently Jeff Brown's retirement left them fairly rudderless from the way they sounded) This made them extremely vulnerable. If that has changed it won't be as easy but still possible.

Joe Thomas

 

[shilton]

> > Um...correct me if I am wrong...but they DID Hot A/C with
> > Beaver and got their little Beaver Tails kicked! Why
> would
> > you hash up something that died already???
> >
> OK, Steve. You're wrong. We (The 1999-2001 Hot AC version on
> Beaver 103) were number one, 12+ and in the money 25-49
> demos, while 3WZ slipped to third for the whole time I was
> there. Admittedly 3WZ was, at the time, a relatively passive
> station promotionally and confused presentationally.
> (Apparently Jeff Brown's retirement left them fairly
> rudderless from the way they sounded) This made them
> extremely vulnerable. If that has changed it won't be as
> easy but still possible.
>
> Joe Thomas
>
Joe...Beaver was NOT Hot A/C then...at least not according to themselves. Beaver was only Hot A/C for about a year, this past year and they lost badly...Correct...as a CHR...THEY DID VERY WELL...

 

[mountaineer]

Things changed dramatically in the first half of 2002. Cool flipped to Hot, taking a chunk out of Beav's young end, and 3WZ bailed from mainstream AC to a pretty hot Hot AC (almost a Caucasian CHR), chomping at Beav's older end. First they reacted to Hot for a year or so, then turned their attention to Z. Probably shoulda just kept on doing what they were doing so successfully. But hindsight's always 20-20. When you get a chance you'll have to slip back into town and take a listen. Much different market than it was 4 or 5 years ago.


> OK, Steve. You're wrong. We (The 1999-2001 Hot AC version on
> Beaver 103) were number one, 12+ and in the money 25-49
> demos, while 3WZ slipped to third for the whole time I was
> there. Admittedly 3WZ was, at the time, a relatively passive
> station promotionally and confused presentationally.
> (Apparently Jeff Brown's retirement left them fairly
> rudderless from the way they sounded) This made them
> extremely vulnerable. If that has changed it won't be as
> easy but still possible.
>
> Joe Thomas
>
> > Um...correct me if I am wrong...but they DID Hot A/C with
> > Beaver and got their little Beaver Tails kicked! Why
> would
> > you hash up something that died already???
> >