"Absorb" implies to me that Cats already has programming on the station... so it's 970 WNYM.
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John Catsimatidis Will be Acquiring another Station
- Thread starter Always interested
- Start date
Like many shows on WNYM, he's already paying for airtime on WNYM:
It's interesting that the current Time Brokerage Agreement with WNYM expires in January, and that Cats has said (according to a post above) that he will have an announcement during that month. I also recall reading on this board that the station is for sale.
I can speak from first-hand knowledge that despite the rumours which have floated around for years, WNYM is not for sale. As an employee of Salem NY, that is news to me. (It is true that Cats' agreement is up for renewal in January.) If the station was for sale, then we wouldn't need to find a replacement for our outgoing GM. (An announcement on who will be replacing Jerry Crowley is forthcoming.)
But...if Salem thinks the price is right, they would be moved to unload not just WNYM, but a few other of their conservative talkers. Corporate could use a cash infusion, and Catsimatidis is someone who would provide it to them.
But, but...I have my doubts that it would happen here. The NYC cluster still generates some profit for Salem and it would take a huge hit if it were split up. WMCA would have a hard time maintaining its position as a standalone entity.
Also, take note that Joe Piscopo recently re-signed for two more years to remain as WNYM's morning host. Locking him up was crucial no matter what happens.
Salem has nearly every radio station property for sale. Some are less likely to be sold than others, but all are available for the right price. You should expect to see a fairly big divesture of stations coming in the next few weeks.
If this is the case, then what would Salem look like moving forward? They've already jettisoned several non-core businesses like Regenery Publishing. Stations in smaller markets are being sold off. They may be waiving the white flag in CCM and phasing out The Fish.
All they would have left are the Christian talk/teaching and conservative talkers, SRN, and the Salem News Channel.
Perhaps shed its Christian trappings entirely and become solely a programmer of far-right content untethered to conservative Protestant dogma?
Many, if not most times, people who work at a station are among the last to find out about a sale. Unless you have a good friend at Corporate who is willing to give you the "heads up" station staff usually gets the news one or two days before the deal is announced. It's just the nature of the business.
IMHO The Fish Franchise will not go quietly. Salem should keep it if they plan on staying in business as a viable company. They might be able to slim down to just the Fish stations with or without bankruptcy. 104.7 Athens, ATLANTA generates good ratings and serious cash. If it does end up one of EMF's formats, someone will pick up the pieces. Salem could sell the "intellectual property" then sell the station
IMHO iHeart's 96.1 or 105.7 in Atlanta would be better off financially becoming The Fish" if 104.7 becomes Air 1.
They already are transitioning to being a content creation company for Christian and Conservative content in audio, video, etc... Most of their broadcast holdings are AM licenses and have taken major write-offs on the valuations over the years as they are worth nowhere near what they were acquired for and are a drag on their quarterly earnings. Some licenses will be retained for lack of buyer willing to pay the asking price, but they will discuss anything in their station portfolio.
Thanks to some some ineffective redaction, one can see the cost for the 5-day-a-week CATS AT NIGHT SHOW, from 5-6 PM, M-F, in calendar year 2022, to run on WNYM. It included a (redacted) number of promotional announcements on both WNYM’s terrestrial signal and digital stream.
(Spoiler alert)
$2884.61 as shown, kind of, on page 2 of the following agreement:
2022 Agreement between Red Apple and WNYM
(Spoiler alert)
$2884.61 as shown, kind of, on page 2 of the following agreement:
2022 Agreement between Red Apple and WNYM
So, purchasing WMCA could be another option for Cats. But given the fact that he already has a show on WNYM, my guess is that he would be more interested in the latter.
If he did buy (or maybe lease) WNYM, maybe he could set up an arrangement with Salem to continue carrying some of their national political shows. Or perhaps bring morning show host Joe Piscopo to WABC. Lots of intriguing possibilities!
Cats want to expand outside of New York has to be the ploy here but with no direct proof.
Maybe eventually down the road, but right now he is focused on New York. Back on Nov 11, he stated that it would be a 2nd New York station, that 'in his words' would be the minor league version of WABC. Part of his plan to make New York great again....
Keeping an eye on Salem’s KLTY in DFW, which is a popular CCM minus the “Fish” branding. EMF a likely buyer as the market lacks K-Love outside of an HD-2.
Wouldn’t shock me to see both Salem properties in Houston unloaded, but to whom, I have no idea.
Piscopo already is on WABC with a Sinatra show on Sunday nights.
94.9 is #5 or #6 in the 6+ and most likely is getting a lot of ad buys. KLove could afford it but I believe it would cost more than a straight the cost per person in the 60 db "or what ever" formula they usually use.
IMHO: If EMF does pony up and buy KLTY, someone with an underperforming FM signal needs to "visit" the station with contracts in hand for the on air and sales staff.
And WNYM is 50Kw daytime, and he already has an in there....
I can attest to that. Was super P.O.'d when I found out a couple of friends working at a couple of different stations knew that were selling the station and changing the format at the one I was at and they didn't let me [or anyone else] know. I assume they probably were told to be quiet about it or else. After I was out of the business but still knew some management people at various stations, they let it slip about some stations switching formats and the ones I had friends at, I gave them a heads up. Screw the bastards.