KROI questions for David Eduardo

[Mediafrog]

Is KROI on the block? All indications are that it is, but haven't heard anything definitive. Anything you know that you are at liberty to tell?

Why would Radio One dump the station instead of trying something different that fits the company's African-American profile? Possibly too much damage to KMJQ and KBXX? Or simply no gain in overall audience with dividing one pie into three parts instead of two?

Liberman has been mentioned as a possible buyer for 92.1, but they would appear to be at the market cap, although there is debate whether KJOJ-FM 103.3 counts as part of the Houston market. I think it does, although some on this board have disagreed in the past. Does it? I know Liberman's KIOX and KXGJ definitely don't. (I suppose Liberman could dump one of the LMA'd AM's to get under the cap.)

Is a stand alone Hispanic targeted format (such as La Mera Mera) pretty much doomed in a market dominated by two Hispanic targeted clusters and their sales efficiencies?

 

[davideduardo]

> Is KROI on the block? All indications are that it is, but
> haven't heard anything definitive. Anything you know that
> you are at liberty to tell?

I hve heard noting one way or the other. It stands to reason that if the company is going to sell some assets, this might be one.
>
> Why would Radio One dump the station instead of trying
> something different that fits the company's African-American
> profile? Possibly too much damage to KMJQ and KBXX? Or
> simply no gain in overall audience with dividing one pie
> into three parts instead of two?

I owuld think a gospel format would make great sense and agree with you on trying something more core. I don't think that would frag the other two as listeners typically listen to several statons.
>
> Liberman has been mentioned as a possible buyer for 92.1,
> but they would appear to be at the market cap, although
> there is debate whether KJOJ-FM 103.3 counts as part of the
> Houston market. I think it does, although some on this
> board have disagreed in the past. Does it? I know
> Liberman's KIOX and KXGJ definitely don't. (I suppose
> Liberman could dump one of the LMA'd AM's to get under the
> cap.)

Liberman does not typically get into bidding wars or pay top dollar. He is a cheap (insert invective).
>
> Is a stand alone Hispanic targeted format (such as La Mera
> Mera) pretty much doomed in a market dominated by two
> Hispanic targeted clusters and their sales efficiencies?
>

Not were it a good station. But they hired a former sidekick on the morning show of KLTN as a PD... with no programming experience... so this one has got to tank even more and soon.

 

[Mediafrog]

> I owuld think a gospel format would make great sense and
> agree with you on trying something more core.

Several of us on this board have advocated an Urban Gospel format on 92.1 for quite some time. It pretty much has to be the choice if RO keeps the station. I'm not a radio programmer, but it makes too much sense.

> Liberman does not typically get into bidding wars or pay top dollar.

Since RO will want to recoup all or most of the $72.5 million it paid for the stick, I guess Liberman would stay on the sidelines--they got all their other Houston properties for a fraction of the KROI price.

Will be interesting to see how much RO gets for the facility. Cox and Cumulus would seem to be the likely buyers, to fill out their Houston clusters. CBS Radio seems to have balked at cluster expansion during previous opportunities, but I suppose they might become interested if the 92.1 price starts to plummet.