It's official CBS Radio selling San Antonio and Austin stations

[gibby]

The FCC has been easing the rules for the past several years. There are now numerous markets of varying sizes with radio/TV or TV/print or radio/print combos.

I'm aware of the TV-Radio cross-ownership rules. I was curious however about the broadcast-newspapercross-ownership rules. I know that the FCC announced early this year that they would be revisiting the media ownership requirements for broadcasters. The new revised media ownership rules, set in 2003, werechallenged by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.At any event, this isn't the first time CBS has tried to sell the stations. The Mix and Magic consistentlyrank among the city's top-billing stations. But, according to John Hiatt -market manager for CBS inAustin - one station in Dallas can bill more than the entire group-which consists of four stations.

 

[saradio69]

Anyone know the sell price for the S.A. combo and the Austin cluster?

 

[sdh483]

you planning on buying them?

 

[Bennieben55]

Well As far as the price for the stations. CBS will not take a loss so they are probably asking what they paid for which was 90 million. Which is nuts, because they aren't worth that much anymore. BLAME CBS FOR THAT!!!!!!!!!!

 

[saradio69]

Well they might consider taking less than $90 million. It's not like both stations are doing extremely well or even moderately well. I would think the combo will sell for atleast 80 million but not more than 95 million. Front runners will likely be Clear Channel and BMP. Clear Channel would likely sell 92.5 and Ticket 760 in order to purchase 102.7 and 550. Both station have exceptional coverage.

 

[jras20]

Would be interesting to see who might acually get them. If CC does get them, it would be nice if they would move the outlaw to 102.7 for a city grade coverage, I use to could get the outlaw pretty well out here without much problems, but now with KKLB moved down closer on a newer tower I can just get them. Only every so often I'll catch the outlaw now. 760 is pretty well much useless to me expecailly at night. The sound quality is horrible. It probably wont hurt CC to sell that station. as far as KTSA I would kind of hate to see them change formats, but they are not doing that well, but are hanging in their. It'll be interesting to see the ratings tomarrow we'll see who might be still in.

 

[daypart]

Edmund Tijerina's column in the Express-News today mentions a "recent article in Billboard Radio Monitor" listing some likely buyers for the SA stations. The article listed Citadel Radio Group, Salem Radio Network, Lotus Radio Group out of Nevada and Davidson Media Group, which focuses on "Emerging Hispanic Markets."

 

[saradio1]

Here's the article from the Express News-

Edmund Tijerina: Radio stations' possible buyers listed in industry publication

Web Posted: 06/18/2006 12:00 AM CDT

San Antonio Express-News

Already, there's national speculation over the future of local radio stations KTSA and Jack FM.

See, a few weeks ago, CBS Radio announced that it would "explore the divesture" of radio stations in smaller markets, including news-talk 550 AM and KJXK (102.7 FM).

What's new is that a recent article in Billboard Radio Monitor magazine is giving some more pointed speculation.

A few days ago, it came out with a story listing all the different CBS stations and likely buyers.

According to that publication, potential buyers for the two San Antonio stations include Citadel Broadcasting Corp., a radio company that specializes in medium-sized markets; Salem Radio Network, which specializes in religious programming and conservative news-talk; Lotus Radio Group, broadcasters based in Nevada; and Davidson Media Group, a radio group that focuses on emerging Hispanic markets.

So far, it's all up in the air.
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Let's all hope Salem is not the front runner.

 

[Kent]

Edmund Tijerina's column in the Express-News today mentions a "recent article in Billboard Radio Monitor" listing some likely buyers for the SA stations. The article listed Citadel Radio Group, Salem Radio Network, Lotus Radio Group out of Nevada and Davidson Media Group, which focuses on "Emerging Hispanic Markets."

From having read the article, I wouldn't put much stock into who it lists as contenders. That's not really the point of the article. It specifies that it's clearly an assessment of which large players and in-market players have opportunities to expand in the markets in question. It doesn't take into account the amount of money CBS wants versus how much some of the operators have/are willing to spend nor does it consider the possibility of stations being included in a swap with medium-sized out of market buyers nor does it consider the possibility of a new player/equity buyer getting the stations. You get the idea; it's a market-by-market breakdown and nothing more.

 

[saradio1]

It also likely that CBS Radio would like to sell all stations at once.

 

[Radiogeek1019]

Cumulus will end up getting all of the SA/Austin stations. They are building a presence in Texas with the Susq. deal. Look for this to happen by December.

 

[Bennieben55]

Yes it is true. CBS is selling a cluster of stations in 10 markets. So the SA stations are not the only one's to be sold. So if you are interested you better fork up alot of cash.

 

[Bennieben55]

Yes it is true. CBS is selling a cluster of stations in 10 markets. So the SA stations are not the only one's to be sold. So if you are interested you better fork up alot of cash.

 

[saradio1]

I believe Citadel will be the likely winner. Cumulus has spent a lot cash already and I don't feel they want to spend more money on medium size markets after they just landed Dallas, Houston and others large markets outside of Texas.