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fred flintstone
Guest
An online report from the host of the Radio Racket online broadcast says 1260 AM is on the block and a broker is asking $3.25K (license only - no facilities or real estate). Can anyone confirm?
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PaulBWalkerJr
Guest
Yes, that is WAMS for sale. However, it is only for 49 percent of the license owned by George.. Vince is the controlling owner with 51 percent...
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fred flintstone
Guest
That makes it an even worse deal than previously reported. $325K for less than half a license and the same village idiot who has been running the station into the ground through incompetence and constant flips still has control. He apparently just wants some sucker to come along and hand in $325K for play with. There should be some mechanism to just shut down chronic loser stations and keep them from cluttering up the band.
WAMS 1260 AM in Newark and WRJE 1600 AM in Dover are BOTH up for sale.
My partner and myself have both looked at the stations. WAMS is supposed to have moved from it's old transmitter site to a farm pasture recently. Using one of those new "curtain" designs for an antenna.
One day WAMS is doing Oldies and then it's Spanish. Now, supposedly it's back to Oldies. What are they tomorrow... Polka.
My partner and myself have both looked at the stations. WAMS is supposed to have moved from it's old transmitter site to a farm pasture recently. Using one of those new "curtain" designs for an antenna.
One day WAMS is doing Oldies and then it's Spanish. Now, supposedly it's back to Oldies. What are they tomorrow... Polka.
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WTUX
Guest
So we are talking roughly $700K for these stations as net worth.
The sure test of worth is how much have they billed in the past 5 years. If the amount is not over $700K with an increase, even a small one, for the past 3, keep your money in the bank earning 1% interest. You'll earn more of a return that way. If $700K is not on the books, then the deal is a dead issue. A complete waste of money. It is not worth wasting your retirement fund just to be able to say you own a radio station.
Also check the liabilities. Make sure the unpaid bills are not close to matching the assets. Debts are a way of life in AM radio these days, particularly a stand alone AMer without an FM to pay the bills. You will constantly be digging into your savings to avoid bankruptcy.
Linking the stations together to cover most of the state, with a solid, consistant format, could make this an attractive deal. But you still would have a controlling partner who has shown an inability to run a consistant professional format.
Finally, you will need a significant advertising budget. Neither station has been a legitament player in their respective market since the 1960's, althogh 1260 had brief ratings success in the early 1990's. But that did not translate into revenue success. It will be as if you are starting two brand new AM radio stations. And you will be sharing 17% of AMs market share with WDEL, WDOV and WILM and the 2,500 watt "The Ticket" which doesn't even have half a listener per watt, despite extensive marketing. If you going to invest 300 big ones, try mutual funds.
The sure test of worth is how much have they billed in the past 5 years. If the amount is not over $700K with an increase, even a small one, for the past 3, keep your money in the bank earning 1% interest. You'll earn more of a return that way. If $700K is not on the books, then the deal is a dead issue. A complete waste of money. It is not worth wasting your retirement fund just to be able to say you own a radio station.
Also check the liabilities. Make sure the unpaid bills are not close to matching the assets. Debts are a way of life in AM radio these days, particularly a stand alone AMer without an FM to pay the bills. You will constantly be digging into your savings to avoid bankruptcy.
Linking the stations together to cover most of the state, with a solid, consistant format, could make this an attractive deal. But you still would have a controlling partner who has shown an inability to run a consistant professional format.
Finally, you will need a significant advertising budget. Neither station has been a legitament player in their respective market since the 1960's, althogh 1260 had brief ratings success in the early 1990's. But that did not translate into revenue success. It will be as if you are starting two brand new AM radio stations. And you will be sharing 17% of AMs market share with WDEL, WDOV and WILM and the 2,500 watt "The Ticket" which doesn't even have half a listener per watt, despite extensive marketing. If you going to invest 300 big ones, try mutual funds.
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fred flintstone
Guest
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
I'm waiting for the WAMS Groupies who were so busy posting on this board about 1260 AM to step up to the plate here. We are not talking about a HUGE amount of money. Cash in your savings - get a second mortgage - and you too can be a player in radio. Two-three-four of you get together, it becomes very affordable. So where are you all now? You like WAMS so much? You can save it.
I'm waiting for the WAMS Groupies who were so busy posting on this board about 1260 AM to step up to the plate here. We are not talking about a HUGE amount of money. Cash in your savings - get a second mortgage - and you too can be a player in radio. Two-three-four of you get together, it becomes very affordable. So where are you all now? You like WAMS so much? You can save it.
MarcB said:
Well, a 49 percent stake traditionally merits a 49 percent share of the earnings -- or a 49 percent share of the liquidation proceeds (after creditors are paid). The bigger question is "How can WAMS possibly become profitable?" What case could be made to convince a potential investor that the investment will be a winner, not a loser?
As one of those so called by you "WAMS Groupies" who like hearing their brand of Oldies music, let me simply say, as you yourself have pointed out to me many times on these boards, that I'm not a businessman and am not any sort of expert on the business of radio. You are correct. I am broadcaster. I've been a DJ (of Top 40, Oldies, Big Band, and CCM), a news reporter, anchor, and talk show host working part time on weekends in radio since 1972. I still work part time at your "favorite" radio station in Wilmington as a news anchor and talk show host. I enjoy the "Art" of Radio, or if you will the creative side of radio, so even IF I had the money to invest, I'd not do that. I know where my strengths and interest are and running a business of any sort including radio isn't it.
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fred flintstone
Guest
Don't worry. WAMS doesn't want you to help run the business. That's why the current owner is keeping control. He just wants you to put up some cash for him to play with.
Maybe he can get the Drobnys to lease the station. They are dumb enough. They like throwing money around. It's the only chance WAMS has (besides selling out to the state).
As reluctant as I am to use a phrase associated with the loathsome "Dave Clarity" (Scott Tilde), by your own description you are a "hobbyist," not a broadcaster.
Maybe he can get the Drobnys to lease the station. They are dumb enough. They like throwing money around. It's the only chance WAMS has (besides selling out to the state).
As reluctant as I am to use a phrase associated with the loathsome "Dave Clarity" (Scott Tilde), by your own description you are a "hobbyist," not a broadcaster.
Yeah, whatever. I consider myself to be a part time broadcaster.
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fred flintstone
Guest
Radio is a business - no more, no less.
It is not a means of creative self-expression.
You boast that you are only concerned with the "art" of radio and turn up your nose at the business of radio.
You come and "dabble" in radio occasionally and then go back to your real career.
If you are unconcerned with the business side, you are not a broadcaster. You are a hobbyist.
It is not a means of creative self-expression.
You boast that you are only concerned with the "art" of radio and turn up your nose at the business of radio.
You come and "dabble" in radio occasionally and then go back to your real career.
If you are unconcerned with the business side, you are not a broadcaster. You are a hobbyist.
I'm the on air talent. The sales folks sell the spots. There are those who's jobs are to come up with the business plan or direction for the station. We each have our job to do in terms of making our station a successful business. My job is to be the best broadcaster I can be (it's not my job to tell the other two groups how to do their jobs or even to understand how or what they do), their job is to be the best sales person they can be by selling spots (they don't tell me how to do my show that's not their area of expertise), those others chart the direction the station goes as a business(the decision as to what programming, format, etc to air). We all have our part to play. You may consider me to be a hobbyist, but that's not how I or my employer (who pays me for my work - I'm not a volunteer), or my listeners see me and all of these are what counts as far as I'm concerned. We'll just have to agree to disagree.
When I heard it was for sale for $325K, I had to laugh. It seems a bit steep for a station that has severe signal problems, especially considering that the sale didn't concern the studio, equipment, etc.
Then, now I hear the sale is actually for HALF the license, I just rolled my eyes.
Could 1260 be upgraded, as in moved to Wilmington? Or do they have to protect WBUD (and, perhaps to a lesser extent, WMIZ)?
Then, now I hear the sale is actually for HALF the license, I just rolled my eyes.
Could 1260 be upgraded, as in moved to Wilmington? Or do they have to protect WBUD (and, perhaps to a lesser extent, WMIZ)?
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WTUX
Guest
WBUD makes a move to Wilmington out of the question.
CC's 1260 in DC makes a southern move out of the question. The southern move would be interesting because of the rapid growth in the Middletown area.
It now seems painfully obvious that the off-air status of the station is primarily financial and not completely equipment issues. The boss needs an infussion of cash just to prop up this dead horse.
CC's 1260 in DC makes a southern move out of the question. The southern move would be interesting because of the rapid growth in the Middletown area.
It now seems painfully obvious that the off-air status of the station is primarily financial and not completely equipment issues. The boss needs an infussion of cash just to prop up this dead horse.
Why couldn't 1260's city of license be changed from Newark to Wilmington, thus allowing their tower to be relocated to the Wilmington area solving their signal problem(maybe they could work out a deal with the owner of one of the skyscapers in downtown Wilmington to locate a tower on top of one as land space is hard to come by). On radio locator, I've seen the signal pattern of WDEL, they are 5000w with their towers in North Wilmington, almost at PA line, yet their signal covers almost all of Delaware, but doesn't go very far into PA or Central Jersey. Why couldn't 1260 have that sort of a pattern? This would protect WBUD and CC's 1260 in Washington. Another thought, why not move 1260 to the 1600-1700 AM freq range. There isn't much there so maybe the signal pattern would be less of an issue. As has been noted, not many folks seem to be listening to 1260 Newark so as they are really starting all over again for the gazillionth time maybe that would better serve their needs to be a viable station. Of course they'd have to advertise via billboards to let people know to tune to say 1650 rather than 1260.
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PaulBWalkerJr
Guest
The FCC is NOT accepting ANY applications for expanded band!
Hmmmm, half ownership of a hamstrung signal.
Gotta love AM radio in 2K6...
Gotta love AM radio in 2K6...
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WTUX
Guest
Both 1260 and 1380 applied for a frequency in the expanded band. Both were turned down. Add to this the fact almost no one is listening to the stations in the expanded band. Its right up there with short wave (which I love, but how many other people are steady listeners to EWTN or Family Radio on short wave?). Moving the 1260 allocation to, let's say, 1660, would serve what purpose? Like Edwin Star says in War!: "Absolutely Nothing!" 10kw of additional drain on Delmarva Power that they don't have the money to pay for! They can't pay for the electricity now, how would they pay for a 10kw transmitter?
WDEL has a very good signal into PA. Ridley Park, Philly itself. As you may have noticed, WDEL is including more of the Ridley Park area in their traffic reports. That's because they know they have Delaware residents commuting from that area. From wherever the wire was/is, WAMS had a better signal into NJ then it had into Newark. Move it to Wilmington? Closer to Trenton? There are so few prospective listeners in Wilmington, why make that move? The last xmitter site gave them a good signal to Ridley Park, Claymont, all the way down I-495 and I-95. I listened to it and know the signal was there. But despite their effort (remember, no money for advertising) no one but me was listening. The future audience is Middletown, Odessa, Townsend, the new MOT community, but since no one knows, or cares, that the stations exists, what good does it do?
The bottom line is this. New AM radio stations are a no win idea. The longer a station is off the air, the more it is out of the public mind. A late non-Arbitron survey of listeners for 1260 as the year 2000 rolled around showed only a very small handful of 1260 listeners, and the 1260 owner paid for the survery! Then it went off the air. Then it came back on, underwent a variety of formats. At one time, it had a live morning show but couldn't even pay the morning dj. The show was done for free because there was no money! Now it is back off the air. This is not necessarily the fault of the owner. It is the fault of a dream that cannot come true in this day and age. Local AM radio is almost dead. Long time established stations like WDEL, WILM, KYW, etc. can make it. A small time player like 1260 is dead. And as much as we may hate to admit it, maybe it SHOULD be. The FCC allowed too many small AM stations in the mid-60's before mandating separate programs on FM stations. They replaced AM. Its over. It doesn't matter what you program, where your signal is, what power you run. Your money is better invested in a 401K. When you retire and S.S. is gone, that AM station is not going to pay for your food and 'scripts.
WDEL has a very good signal into PA. Ridley Park, Philly itself. As you may have noticed, WDEL is including more of the Ridley Park area in their traffic reports. That's because they know they have Delaware residents commuting from that area. From wherever the wire was/is, WAMS had a better signal into NJ then it had into Newark. Move it to Wilmington? Closer to Trenton? There are so few prospective listeners in Wilmington, why make that move? The last xmitter site gave them a good signal to Ridley Park, Claymont, all the way down I-495 and I-95. I listened to it and know the signal was there. But despite their effort (remember, no money for advertising) no one but me was listening. The future audience is Middletown, Odessa, Townsend, the new MOT community, but since no one knows, or cares, that the stations exists, what good does it do?
The bottom line is this. New AM radio stations are a no win idea. The longer a station is off the air, the more it is out of the public mind. A late non-Arbitron survey of listeners for 1260 as the year 2000 rolled around showed only a very small handful of 1260 listeners, and the 1260 owner paid for the survery! Then it went off the air. Then it came back on, underwent a variety of formats. At one time, it had a live morning show but couldn't even pay the morning dj. The show was done for free because there was no money! Now it is back off the air. This is not necessarily the fault of the owner. It is the fault of a dream that cannot come true in this day and age. Local AM radio is almost dead. Long time established stations like WDEL, WILM, KYW, etc. can make it. A small time player like 1260 is dead. And as much as we may hate to admit it, maybe it SHOULD be. The FCC allowed too many small AM stations in the mid-60's before mandating separate programs on FM stations. They replaced AM. Its over. It doesn't matter what you program, where your signal is, what power you run. Your money is better invested in a 401K. When you retire and S.S. is gone, that AM station is not going to pay for your food and 'scripts.
So basically what you're saying is, IF a FM frequency was available, my guess is none are, the MOT area would be the place to put it. What you are saying makes sense as that is a younger community with younger families (FM listeners - young demo). The MOT area is an untapped market at this time. Of course the Bear area also is untapped with approx 90,000 potential listeners, so if a station could have a strong signal both in Bear and in Middletown, that would be a strong market. Now all we need is an FM frequency to become available and someone with enough cash to make it work. I wonder how a new FM station in Middletown would affect Wilmington's two FM's. My guess is they'd lose market share.
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