Freedom Communications In Receivership

[PaulBWalkerJr]

WLAT, WNEZ and WKND have been place into recievership and the trustee is Broker Larry Patrick who was appointed by US District Court in Bridgeport. [EDIT]


[EDIT=this is copyright infringement. Paul, POST YOUR SOURCE. Everyone, please See AllAccess.com for details]

 

[MarcB]

I wonder if the Davidson Media Group would buy one or more of the Freedom stations. It seems like Hartford is the only market where DMG only owns one station - WXCT 990 - Talk.

Springfield:
WSPR 1270 - Tropical
WACM 1490 - Spanish Misc/Ethnic.

Providence:
WKKB 100.3 - Tropical
WAKX 102.7 - Jazz

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I could see a few things happening...

DMG buying 910 and operating it from Southington, as that'd be less then 25 miles from the COL.

RadioOne buying 910 and 1230 to run Urban, gospel or talk.

In either of those scenarios, I think Weaver Bay will get 1480 back. From what I've been told, I hear he's been trying for awhile..

 

[MarcB]

Operate 910 from Southington? I sure hope you don't mean from the WXCT building on Old Turnpike Road. There's no room there unless they take out the break room. And even then the WXCT studio would still be bigger.

 

[JustinT]

RadioOne buying 910 and 1230 to run Urban, gospel or talk.

What interest exactly would Radio One have in weak AM stations in market 50? Especially at a time when the company's cash flow is said to be low; as you likely know, the former 97.7 WILD-FM in Boston has been sold, its AM daytimer is on the way out, and somewhat strong rumors lately seem to suggest that R1's 100.3 in Los Angeles isn't far from a sale either.

I wonder if the Davidson Media Group would buy one or more of the Freedom stations. It seems like Hartford is the only market where DMG only owns one station - WXCT 990 - Talk.

Forgetting Philadelphia?

Nevertheless, Davidson would appear a potential buyer of one (or two, or three and sell that 990) of these stations.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I could see Davidson buying 910, but not the other two, simply because there isn't enuf room.

They'd hafta stuff 1480's studio in that teeny tiny bathroom in the building. And frankly, there's barely enough room to sit down on the toilet in there. They COULD put a functional studio in the transmitter room, but that'd be too warm and too noisy.

Well, I guess they could turn the production room into one studio and the GM's office into another studio, leaving the GM to use the desk thats in the lobby.

Because Hartford is served by at least one major tv station, I believe the 25 mile rule for a local studio is thrown out the door. It's my understanding, that, a radio station who's COL is served by at least one major TV station can be up to 65 miles away.

 

[MarcB]

There's a good reason 1480 should not have a studio in Southington. 1470 is a semi-local Frequency in Southington and therefore you can not pick up 1480 in Southington. It was only a freak occurance when I did with a GE SuperRadio 3. Further more 1470 is licensed to Meriden and Meriden is a stones throw away from the WXCT building on Old Turnpike Road in the Plantsville section of Southington.

If Davidson Broadcasting buys 1480 they can simulcast WACM West Springfield on it. Radio Popular 1490 AM West Springfield/1480 AM Windsor.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I still like the idea of stuffing the 1480 automation computer and a mixer in the WXCT bathroom...... when I was there, it was barely big enough to sit down in LOL

 

[KML0224]

Getting back to semi-local 1470 of Meriden, you bet it wouldn't work in Southington. Their transmitter is that group of short towers you see from the north entrance of Westfield Shoppingtown (a.k.a. Meriden Square Mall). While at the second floor food court, my Walkman gets crappy AM with 1470 being the only decent AM signal I can get inside. I'll get bleedover from 1470 if I'm standing outside by JC Penney or where the Border's Books and Music store is being built.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

It'll be interesting to see what happens to these stations....

 

[MarcB]

If there was an FM Spanish/Tropical station I'd say 910 should go news/talk to comptete against WTIC. Since there's not 910 needs to stay Spanish/Tropical. The 4 station WDRC AM network isn't a good alternative to WTIC. And while WXCT has some good talk shows a few that I like are on when they are on night power and I can't pick them up.

What I would do with the stations:

910 - Spanish/Tropical - Change the name to Caliente 910.
1230 - Community Oriented station with oldies and high school sports.
1480 - Contemporary Christian Music