from the rumor mill. Earth FM

[AMRocks]

I heard that Salem is thinking of putting Earth-FM on their big signal of 94.5, currently talk WGTK. Based on ratings, this would likely be a very logical move, but I'm not sure it will happen because -

Isn't Earth actually a leasing situation? I know Salem owns the signals of WRTH and WLTE, but I thought that someone was leasing the signals from Salem to air the oldies format? I could be wrong there. Salem doesn't do many "other" formats, usually it's talk, Christian or "Fish." http://salemmedia.com/stationcat/other-formats/

Anyone else heard anything about this?

 

[upstate29651]

A clone of Salem, http://cpbroadcasting.com/ , does oldies on an FM translator in Jacksonville.

G

 

[101tm]

Salem operates WRTH/WLTE through Caron Broadcasting (a Salem holding group they use a lot). WGTK/WLTE/WRTH have the same management and share operations and facilities.

That said, the talk format on 103.3/95.9 would make more sense and in mono the signals would be slightly improved in the area not covered that well by either signal (western Greenville). Earth is getting more than twice of what talk is on less than half the signal of 94.5.

 

[davideduardo]

Salem operates WRTH/WLTE through Caron Broadcasting (a Salem holding group they use a lot). WGTK/WLTE/WRTH have the same management and share operations and facilities.

The stations are wholly owned by Salem. Caron is just the name of the corporation that is the licensee. It's frequent to see stations that have changed hands in a stock sale retain the name of the company as it's sometimes perceived to be an unnecessary cost to file for a change in name of the licensee, as it means changing business licenses, permits, FCC paperwork, etc.

For example, iHeart's WKRC in Cincinatti is still licensed to Citicasters, the successor to Taft Broadcasting. Same reason: no need to incur the cost of changing all the paperwork.

 

[AMRocks]

Everytime I see Earth FM listed in the trades, it always says that Earth FM is LMAing the signals. So that's not true? The people on the air at Earth FM get their paychecks from Salem?

 

[101tm]

Salem operates EARTH and employs the airstaff. They are probably getting the idea that it’s an LMA from the fact that Salem isn’t the licensee.

 

[davideduardo]

Salem operates EARTH and employs the airstaff. They are probably getting the idea that it’s an LMA from the fact that Salem isn’t the licensee.

The licensee is a company wholly owned by Salem. This is common in large groups, as it is a needless expense to change the licensee name if not required by the seller.

Here is the latest ownership report:
https://recnet.com/owr/?appid=1745133

 

[davideduardo]

Everytime I see Earth FM listed in the trades, it always says that Earth FM is LMAing the signals. So that's not true? The people on the air at Earth FM get their paychecks from Salem?

Salem owns the stations.

 

[ngriffin]

The Earth format started out as an LMA of WOLI 910/105.7 in Spartanburg from then-owner Davidson Broadcasting in 2013. They moved the format over to 103.3 a couple of months later, and Salem then bought that station along with the format. Later Salem purchased the CP for 95.9 and added it to cover the Clemson and Anderson side of the market.

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/80381/earth-orbits-spartanburg

I never thought I would be a listener to a Salem station, but it's a well programmed format and fun to listen to. I'd love to see them swapped over to the 94.5 signal.