KTAR goes to CBS?

[kentuckymedia]

I just heard the latest scuttle that CBS and Bonneville are in talks for a sweet deal.

Rumor is that Bonneville will be picking up:

1120 KMOX - News/Talk
98.1 KYKY - Hot AC
102.5 KEZK - Adult Contemporary
------Which would add to their current----
92.3 WIL - Country
101.1 WMVN - Rhythmic AC
106.5 WARH - Adult Hits

And in exchange CBS picks up:

620 KTAR - Sports/Talk
92.3 KTAR - News/Talk
98.7 KPKX - Adult Hits
------Which would add to their current----
94.5 KOOL - Oldies
101.5 KZON - Rhythmic
107.9 KMLE - Country

This way CBS gets a bigger foothold in a growing market and Bonneville gets to shed a market and make some money while growing their footing in a market that they hold close.

 

[RadioStarOne]

Look out for CBS to trade their Sacramento Cluster to Bonneville also. Is it a done deal? Who knows but some think it might happen too. Anybody in the know out there?

 

[KOHS]

If CBS picks-up KTAR, you can bet on a smaller operating budget for KTAR. Smaller news staff? More syndicated talk? No more "Yellow Thunder" and Detour Dan?

 

[kentuckymedia]

I heard the same thing about Sactown. Bonneville is on the buy mode and swap mode. This would make great sense for both companies.

Although, look for Bonneville to make an adjustment or swap out a station in Sacramento due to KSFM. Rhythmic scares them, CHR is okay...but Rhythmic scares them! Could they swap Entravision for KNTY?

That could potentially give Bonneville:

1140 KHTK - Sports
93.7 KQJK - Adult Hits
96.1 KYMX - Adult Contemporary
100.5 KZZO - Hot AC
105.1 KNCI - Country

* 101.9 KNTY - New Country in exchange for KSFM

 

[davideduardo]

I just heard the latest scuttle that CBS and Bonneville are in talks for a sweet deal.


This way CBS gets a bigger foothold in a growing market and Bonneville gets to shed a market and make some money while growing their footing in a market that they hold close.

Phoenix has 275 million in billing and growing, while St Louis has $135 million and shrinking. Why would anyone even consider this?

In addition, I doubt Bonneville will leave either SLC or Phoenix, two markets where the Church has many, many members.

 

[KeithE4]

In addition, I doubt Bonneville will leave either SLC or Phoenix, two markets where the Church has many, many members.

TMISU keep their religion and their businesses separate, other than when they run Mormon Church PSAs during unsold time (especially overnights on 620). There was a gap of many years (10 or so, IIRC) between when they sold then-KGLQ/KIDR and when they bought KTAR/KMVP/KKLT. They didn't own any other Phoenix stations during that period.

 

[thenewz]

TMISU keep their religion and their businesses separate, other than when they run Mormon Church PSAs during unsold time (especially overnights on 620). There was a gap of many years (10 or so, IIRC) between when they sold then-KGLQ/KIDR and when they bought KTAR/KMVP/KKLT. They didn't own any other Phoenix stations during that period.

You obviously don't know TMISU. DE is right.

 

[Legend City]

Except for all those LDS commercials they play every day. :

 

[JeffryOBrien]

Of course Glen Beck being Mormon could add some fuel to the fire...

But I won't say it. I just won't.

 

[kentuckymedia]

CBS wants market domination...so does Bonneville. KTAR is doing okay, but not gangbusters. Plus there really is no room for Bonneville to grow in Phoenix. However if they do a swap, each company wins!

 

[KOHS]

Of course Glen Beck being Mormon could add some fuel to the fire...

But I won't say it. I just won't.

Beck is far too edgy for the leadership in SLC. His religion has nothing to do with his addition to the line-up on KTAR.

 

[davideduardo]

CBS wants market domination...so does Bonneville. KTAR is doing okay, but not gangbusters. Plus there really is no room for Bonneville to grow in Phoenix. However if they do a swap, each company wins!

Pheonix is twice the market, twice the billing and in very strong growth mode, despite the recession. St. Louis is the westernmost rust belt city, and is stagnant.

If you believe this is even possible, I have a stack of $50 dollar bills I will swap you for a like amount of $100 bills in return.

By the way, look at the KTAR AM and FM combo numbers... now a 5 share, vs. a 2.5 for KFYI in 25-54. That is pretty good!

 

[only1moore]

Although, look for Bonneville to make an adjustment or swap out a station in Sacramento due to KSFM. Rhythmic scares them, CHR is okay...but Rhythmic scares them! Could they swap Entravision for KNTY?
* 101.9 KNTY - New Country in exchange for KSFM

Entravision already has KBMB, so I suspect that they might give up KSFM to another broadcaster in exchange for one of their properties. Among those being talked about are Cox, Citadel and Clear Channel. Another option that could happen is a possible format flip for KBMB if KSFM is sold to Entravision because of the signal coverage (KSFM's 50KW vs KBMB's 6KW). Another thing that could happen if Bonneville gets KNTY from Entravision is a flip to another format due to KNCI being the dominant Country outlet in the market.

 

[kentuckymedia]

KMOX and KEZK along with some KYKY budget makes up a lot of money. Bonneville has a very very special tie to Missouri. Have you read about BY? If anything..it may be a Bonneville/Mormom thing.

They have been salavating over KMOX for a long time.

Plus if Bonneville picked up the CBS outcasts in Saint Louis, plus got Sac-town as part of the deal, they would still be larger winners. Shares are great, but look at where KTAR ended up 25-54, not nearly as well as it could.

KMOX-AM, KEZK-FM, KYKY-FM, WIL-FM, WARH-FM, WMVN-FM would be one heck of a combo. They would dominate Saint Louis radio for sure!

 

[DToTheJ]

If Bonny gets KMOX, you can bet they can flip one of their FM stations (Movin?) to a simulcast, similar to what they've been doing in some of their markets with AM news/talk stations, most recently Seattle.

 

[always sunny]

David E...

"combo numbers"? who uses that? certainly not clients. as for phoenix being "in strong growth mode"...do you mean population-wise???? cuz the revenue in the market was off a whopping 20% yesterday in local revenue. ytd is almost as bad.

 

[kentuckymedia]

I was thinking the same thing.

KMOX 1120/101.1

 

[K7VOR]

Why would they want to flip KMOX's programming to FM? Their 50kw signal on 1120 penetrates most buildings and bridges in the area. I grew up with CBS and KMOX in STL and their signal is one mighty fine blow-torch. Something about the soil in IL at their XMTR site? So many changes for KMOX. They lose Cardinal baseball and still top Arbitron. If BV acquires KMOX (the Voice of STL) my bet is there'd be no audible change to listeners.

 

[davideduardo]

Why would they want to flip KMOX's programming to FM?

Because in 25-54 the station is 13th in the market. It has even lost it's 12+ #1 position. They have lost a third of its revenues since 2000. By moving to FM, they would improve almost instantly the 25-54 numbers.

Their 50kw signal on 1120 penetrates most buildings and bridges in the area.

That does not matter. The use of AM in the sales demos declines every year as listeners age.

They lose Cardinal baseball and still top Arbitron.

5 years ago they had an 11.7 share 12+ and now they have a 6.3. In the sales demos, they are not even top 10 in any demo.

If BV acquires KMOX (the Voice of STL) my bet is there'd be no audible change to listeners.

Were that unlikely thing to happen, the first move will be to put the KMOX format on an FM, either a simulcalst like KSL, or a total move like KIRO, KTAR, WTOP. Bonneville puts all their n/t formats on FM.

 

[DrAkbar]

Let's see....sunbelt growth market vs rustbelt non-growth market?? Nurse Jeff and I have a hard time believing any of this. Anyway, the group formerly known as Clear Channel might have interest in selling some of their Phoenix stations to reduce debt. We can't think of anyone whose pockets are deeper than TMISU.