Is SAGA Still Looking To Buy?

[RF Man]

I seem to remember sometime last year talk about Saga being interested in obtaining more stations. Mansfield and Marion were talked about which I believe fell through.

Since then have there been any more rumors about them buying properties? Has the economy put a damper on any future purchases?

How about buying by other groups? Would smaller companies buying stations help the economy? I certainly believe that more mom and pop owned companies would help the economy as well as provide more unique programming in cities like Columbus. I'd like to know what others think.

 

[xmusicmatt]

It will be intersting.

WHIZ 102.5 is still planned to move in (and has to be constructed this year). (currently country from what I have been told).

WNKO 101.7 has a CP to move in too. (Classic hits)

Who will pick up these stations? What formats will they be when they finally move..

 

[RF Man]

It will be intersting.

WHIZ 102.5 is still planned to move in (and has to be constructed this year). (currently country from what I have been told).

WNKO 101.7 has a CP to move in too. (Classic hits)

Who will pick up these stations? What formats will they be when they finally move..

I hear rumors through the grapevine that one of those deals will not get done due to certain owners who have "ticked" off the local city council.

The wheels have ground to a complete stop so say some observers. It is also rumored that a needed tower will never be constructed as the local government will not pass the required zoning.

 

[gabigley1]

It will be intersting.

WHIZ 102.5 is still planned to move in (and has to be constructed this year). (currently country from what I have been told).

WNKO 101.7 has a CP to move in too. (Classic hits)

Who will pick up these stations? What formats will they be when they finally move..

I hear rumors through the grapevine that one of those deals will not get done due to certain owners who have "ticked" off the local city council.

The wheels have ground to a complete stop so say some observers. It is also rumored that a needed tower will never be constructed as the local government will not pass the required zoning.

It's been mentioned here for over a year now that the tower zoning for WHIZ-FM, 102.5 is in limbo. They have been trying to get their tower zoning approved for over two years now. Since it appears their tower zoning won't be approved(IF EVER) before their CP runes out on October 3, will WHIZ-FM apply for an extension of their CP to move their signal into Columbus? If so, will the FCC grant it if they don't have zoning approval for their new tower? There probably
hasn't started doing anysignificant work out at their new tower site.

They must want to move 102.5 FM into Columbus because they moved all the old local 102.5 programing over to 92.5 FM. Maybe they will find another tower site for their Columbus tower move-in.

MB, can you answer this question?

 

[Allfirdup]

It will be intersting.

WHIZ 102.5 is still planned to move in (and has to be constructed this year). (currently country from what I have been told).

WNKO 101.7 has a CP to move in too. (Classic hits)

Who will pick up these stations? What formats will they be when they finally move..

I hear rumors through the grapevine that one of those deals will not get done due to certain owners who have "ticked" off the local city council.

The wheels have ground to a complete stop so say some observers. It is also rumored that a needed tower will never be constructed as the local government will not pass the required zoning.

It's been mentioned here for over a year now that the tower zoning for WHIZ-FM, 102.5 is in limbo. They have been trying to get their tower zoning approved for over two years now. Since it appears their tower zoning won't be approved(IF EVER) before their CP runes out on October 3, will WHIZ-FM apply for an extension of their CP to move their signal into Columbus? If so, will the FCC grant it if they don't have zoning approval for their new tower? There probably
hasn't started doing anysignificant work out at their new tower site.

They must want to move 102.5 FM into Columbus because they moved all the old local 102.5 programing over to 92.5 FM. Maybe they will find another tower site for their Columbus tower move-in.

MB, can you answer this question?

Bloom Township passed the zoning at the end of 2008, with very little fanfair. in fact it was one line in the november 12 minutes. (Tower Update: The BZA has approved the application 4-0. ) it wont take that long to build the tower once they get moving in the spring.

http://www.bloomtwp.org/minutes/2008/2008_NOV%2012_minutes.pdf

 

[gabigley1]

Bloom Township passed the zoning at the end of 2008, with very little fanfair. in fact it was one line in the november 12 minutes. (Tower Update: The BZA has approved the application 4-0. ) it wont take that long to build the tower once they get moving in the spring.

http://www.bloomtwp.org/minutes/2008/2008_NOV%2012_minutes.pdf

The last I saw on this topic was that Bloom Township MAY take a vote on the tower zoning approval for WHIZ on November 12. The link you supplied says they have indeed voted "YES" on that date for the necessary tower zoning so WHIZ 102.5 can move into the Columbus radio market.

Yes, there is plenty of time to build that new tower site but will WHIZ found a buyer in time to do so? They only have about seven months to do so before their CP runs out.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Looking at the proposed site with the modified and approved CP as of 02/13/2009... I know there are at least two communication towers in that proposed area so I wonder if maybe WHIZ is going to hop on one of those?

 

[gabigley1]

Looking at the proposed site with the modified and approved CP as of 02/13/2009... I know there are at least two communication towers in that proposed area so I wonder if maybe WHIZ is going to hop on one of those?

Well, it looks like WHIZ-FM has decided to change tower location:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/...h.cgi?exhibit_id=720472&formid=301&q_num=5250
because of all the zoning problems/issues.

MB, Do you have anything to add to this?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Doesn't look like very good coverage of Columbus. Pales by comparison to the coverage Saga's WJZK proposes from West Jefferson.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Doesn't look like very good coverage of Columbus. Pales by comparison to the coverage Saga's WJZK proposes from West Jefferson.

SAGA's location for 104.3 proposed site is off the 270/62 freeway Exit in Grove City, with about 6kw at 100m. That will put a very decent class A signal over Columbus. their projected 60 dbu covers almost all of Franklin county

102.5's site while 15kw at 130m is south east of the city enough that it's 60dbu will have a hard time reaching north west franklin county.

Heck 101.7's 5.8 kw at 102m will put a better signal over Columbus than the proposed 102.5 site at 15kw.

Anyways, will be interesting to see how things pan out.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Doesn't look like very good coverage of Columbus. Pales by comparison to the coverage Saga's WJZK proposes from West Jefferson.

SAGA's location for 104.3 proposed site is off the 270/62 freeway Exit in Grove City, with about 6kw at 100m. That will put a very decent class A signal over Columbus. their projected 60 dbu covers almost all of Franklin county

102.5's site while 15kw at 130m is south east of the city enough that it's 60dbu will have a hard time reaching north west franklin county.

Heck 101.7's 5.8 kw at 102m will put a better signal over Columbus than the proposed 102.5 site at 15kw.

Anyways, will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Yes, it will. And for the record of course I meant WODB for 104.3, not the now-gone WJZK calls.

 

[xmusicmatt]

If SAGA could pull it off and had the money to do so. They would be wise to pick up 101.7 WNKO and move the HOT AC format there (if 101.7 is for sale once it moves to it's new site in New Albany).

The only problem I see with the approved WNKO 101.7 move in is that WCVO has plans to move their transmitter to another site northeast of Westerville.. and with WCVO's studios now moved.. I could see them wanting to bring the tower down at the present site (which is the site WNKO has a CP to build on) and sell that land. (Why else would they have moved their studios last year if they didn't have plans to sell the current Transmitter site property if they can ever get approval from the FCC to move).