It's Official: WKDN Sold - To Merlin Media

[ouuc]

I'm sure the comment from Merlin was tongue-in-cheek, but they'll need a lot more than folks who can pronounce local cities.

 

[pab]

What about the line on the "become a magician" page where it says one of the requirements of an employee is to "meet and exceed" your budget?

Seriously, if that's really their site I want to work for them. I love people who take the business seriously but not themselves. They're the best people to work for and I haven't seen or worked for one since Howard Green died.

 

[cg41386]

May I ask a question as a sort of low man on the totem pole in the industry? Apart from a transmitter, does KDN have any sort of physical property or assets or anything in Camden at all? Like a building or anything? I mean, it's been Family Radio since what, the '60s or '70s? Does the Camping contingent just relay it here somehow or is there an actual soundboard potted up somewhere here? I'm just curious, this is the Philly market FM station I know the least about ... and I grew up here.

It's in a small rowhouse on the same street as the transmitter (Mount Ephraim Avenue). It's across the street and down the road a little from the transmitter.

 

[aindik]

People saying CBS needs to move KYW to FM, are you saying on 98.1? Because the way both 98.1 and 1060 are getting ratings, that's crazy talk. The combined 6+ AQH share for the two in the last book is a 13.7. There is no way you come close to duplicating that if the same content is on both signals.

 

[imhomerjay]

It is crazy talk for now. The day may come, but much like New York, that day logically isn't here yet. While no comparison is going to be 100%, didn't we see once already what kind of a dent...or lack thereof...FM news in morning drive did to KYW? Yes, this will be full time, but there's a mighty mountain to climb. Perhaps by the time they get things together, they'll have gotten some traction in New York and Chicago, but, really, aren't the odds of hitting PowerBall better?

Would it be easier to ramp up the marketing and see how that goes when the time comes? Killing off WYSP was an easy call, but WOGL....not so much. At least not yet.

 

[1310]

WKDN's studio is in a storefront on Mt Ephraim Avenue in Haddon Township, NJ where it has been since 1967. The studio is a 1/2 mile south of it transmitter.

 

[tommygraser]

KYW on 94.1FM will do much better then WIP would ever do So they should keep 98.1 as WOGL, 94.1 as KYW And have WIP on 610

 

[Bill_W]

Merlin ought to learn how to spell some of these local Philly things first before finding people to pronounce them. Google helps. ie Schuylkill, Dutch word, and Manayunk, the Lenape word for "place to drink". You misspelled these two on your press release.

From their press release:

"Merlin Media is now actively looking for staff who can pronounce Schuykill, Wissahickon, Manayuk, Tredyffrin, Gwynedd, Pennsauken, Bala Cynwyd and Bryn Mawr."

Pennsauken, the home of the Bishop Eustace Crusaders, my alma mater!

 

[Irishfl]

Amazing reading this how sad everyone seems that another Philly AM won't be turned into a simulcast, but instead the market will get some choice in its news. So what if KDN doesn't make a dent in the ratings? We won't lose any money. This will help make KYW a better product too.

 

[observer2]

I think you've misunderstood the disappointment that some of us feel here. I would have liked to see KYW abandon altogether the most obsolete, unlistenable technology in broadcasting (AM) for something less obsolete (FM). They are an established and competent operation. That's the reason you think it's good that they remain on 1060.

And with respect to aindik, why keep the AMs at all after you make the transition? What does 610 actually provide WIP? Why does CBS need to keep it? Why not sell it? There are interested owners for such stations, they're just not the largest operators.

And others have suggested that WOGL is a good FM home for KYW. That's nuts. If 1060 starts any kind of decline, the option will be to purchase another station, say 96.5, 97.5 or 98.9.

 

[mewing80]

I am thinking about working there when they get set up. I just hope they move somewhere else then where they are now

 

[SaltyDog]

What about the line on the "become a magician" page where it says one of the requirements of an employee is to "meet and exceed" your budget?

That's cash flow budget, not expense budget. The domain is registered to Merlin Media, LLC, 1717 Dixie Highway, Suite 650
Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 US, so yeah, that's probably Randy. He's a really bright guy but working for him is risky unless you've known him a really long time. He's known for favoring people who've worked for him in the past.

 

[deepstblu]

I am thinking about working there when they get set up. I just hope they move somewhere else then where they are now

They'll want more space than WKDN has now--it's about the size of a corner deli or beauty salon. OK for radio on a small scale--the old WSLT/WIBG studio in downtown Ocean City looked like it was the same kind of deal--but not for a major-market all-news operation.

 

[KC2LDY]

I can't believe CBS allowed itself to be outbid for WKDN. I wonder if there's a Plan B already in existence. The CBS I used to work for in the 1980s and 90s wouldn't have had a clue. But I wonder about the new crew. True, there's no reason to panic... but the KYW franchise must be protected. And Merlin would have a much harder time gaining traction in Philly if KYW was already on FM.

Steve
KC2LDY

 

[Element9]

... But for SFO KCBS is in the top 3 in the market but that will change once Cumulus put KGO All News 810 on FM ...

Not so sure about that. CBS knows how to do news and has a proven track record, whereas Cumulus thinks it knows how to do news.

 

[Bongwater]

I am thinking about working there when they get set up. I just hope they move somewhere else then where they are now

They'll want more space than WKDN has now--it's about the size of a corner deli or beauty salon. OK for radio on a small scale--the old WSLT/WIBG studio in downtown Ocean City looked like it was the same kind of deal--but not for a major-market all-news operation.

From what I know about Merlin, they are a corporation, run by very corporate types and if the overhead budget looks OK, a little old converted beauty salon storefront won't do for corporate digs.

They're likely going uptown.....

 

[Bill_W]

I am thinking about working there when they get set up. I just hope they move somewhere else then where they are now

They'll want more space than WKDN has now--it's about the size of a corner deli or beauty salon. OK for radio on a small scale--the old WSLT/WIBG studio in downtown Ocean City looked like it was the same kind of deal--but not for a major-market all-news operation.

From what I know about Merlin, they are a corporation, run by very corporate types and if the overhead budget looks OK, a little old converted beauty salon storefront won't do for corporate digs.

They're likely going uptown.....

They could probably rent out the old 610 studio in Bala now that WIP moved in with KYW in Center City.

 

[NigelWick]

What about the line on the "become a magician" page where it says one of the requirements of an employee is to "meet and exceed" your budget?

That's cash flow budget, not expense budget. The domain is registered to Merlin Media, LLC, 1717 Dixie Highway, Suite 650
Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 US, so yeah, that's probably Randy. He's a really bright guy but working for him is risky unless you've known him a really long time. He's known for favoring people who've worked for him in the past.

It's the same address as the Tv company Randy left to join Tribune, LocalTV. BTW, it's Fort Wright, not Fort Mitchell.

 

[ixnay]

I am thinking about working there when they get set up. I just hope they move somewhere else then where they are now

They'll want more space than WKDN has now--it's about the size of a corner deli or beauty salon. OK for radio on a small scale--the old WSLT/WIBG studio in downtown Ocean City looked like it was the same kind of deal--but not for a major-market all-news operation.

From what I know about Merlin, they are a corporation, run by very corporate types and if the overhead budget looks OK, a little old converted beauty salon storefront won't do for corporate digs.

They're likely going uptown.....

They could probably rent out the old 610 studio in Bala now that WIP moved in with KYW in Center City.

Speaking of WIP, who occupies the old 'IP/'MMR space on Rittenhouse nowadays?

ixnay

 

[SaltyDog]

It's the same address as the Tv company Randy left to join Tribune, LocalTV. BTW, it's Fort Wright, not Fort Mitchell.

That may be but I copied it straight from the domain registrar.