Yes. but I honestly forget what board I was lurking a little over a year ago.I think the new local owner went with some form of smooth Jazz...or that may have been the format they fliped from...scooterodell said:Does anyone know if a local buyout like this has been attempted elsewhere?
I don't think that's the case. I've known this person for a great many years and this individual is not the type of person to, as you put it, "yank one's chain." Whether this local group achieves its goal is another matter. Considering the amount of wealth these media conglomerates have accumulated over the years, and the asking price for the CBS stations, it maybe next to impossible to find enough local backers to finance a purchase deal. But on the other hand there is always the old political adage “Never say never."Desert Pete said:Not a chance.Someone who knows you too well is yanking your chain and you're falling for it, Mark.
Bob,This isn't the same group that called itself Atlantic Ventures is it? Because Atlantic Ventures was the company that purchased WNYR-WEZO and turned the FM into WARM 101.3 and left the AM station hanging in the wind.With regards your second question, the employees at CBS here in Rochester were told last year that the stations (in Rochester) were up for sale.Bob1370 said:There are reports that the Rochester CBS cluster's actively being sought by people associated with a former management team that ran the group when it was part of Steve Dodge's American Radio Systems back in the early-mid 1990s. The same group may also be at least kicking the tires at the Buffalo cluster as well. (Check Scott Fybush's Northeast Radio Watch for more info, he's got as much of the story as has leaked out so far, which is still pretty sketchy at the moment.)At this point it's all preliminary, since CBS hasn't even made a final commitment to put these stations on the block, only said it's "considering" putting them up for sale and testing market interest. But some folks with a history in the market, and even at some of these particular stations, are at least looking, and are said to have assembled enough financial backing to be taken seriously. Stay tuned.
Is the problem perhaps that CBS wants to sell all stations, and a buyer may only want a select few?Mark Giardina said:Bob,This isn't the same group that called itself Atlantic Ventures is it? Because Atlantic Ventures was the company that purchased WNYR-WEZO and turned the FM into WARM 101.3 and left the AM station hanging in the wind.With regards your second question, the employees at CBS here in Rochester were told last year that the stations (in Rochester) were up for sale.Bob1370 said:There are reports that the Rochester CBS cluster's actively being sought by people associated with a former management team that ran the group when it was part of Steve Dodge's American Radio Systems back in the early-mid 1990s. The same group may also be at least kicking the tires at the Buffalo cluster as well. (Check Scott Fybush's Northeast Radio Watch for more info, he's got as much of the story as has leaked out so far, which is still pretty sketchy at the moment.)At this point it's all preliminary, since CBS hasn't even made a final commitment to put these stations on the block, only said it's "considering" putting them up for sale and testing market interest. But some folks with a history in the market, and even at some of these particular stations, are at least looking, and are said to have assembled enough financial backing to be taken seriously. Stay tuned.
Well you know my feelings about Atlantic Ventures. That organization destroyed one great AM radio station that took many years of hard work to build up an audience. Plus they hired one of the biggest idiots in broadcasting to run the place. Thank goodness Mr. Goldchain didn't last that long, but long enough to do some serious damage to the station, including getting rid of Gary Smith as the morning host on the 101.3 FM.Never having worked for American Radio Systems, I really can't comment on their operation. As for new ownership of the CBS stations in Rochester, I would love to see a local group of investors purchase these stations. There is certainly people with money in this community that can afford to buy the stations and make a decent profit. It could also open the doors to hiring more local talent, if the new owners decided to scrap these "jukebox" FM's they currently own and replace the syndicated programs with local shows."The Rover" has made about as much of an impact on radio listeners in Rochester as a spitball trying to sink a battleship. Opie and Aunt Bee....er I mean Anthony might help increase ratings in the afternoon. Time will tell on that one.Bob1370 said:"This isn't the same group that called itself Atlantic Ventures is it? Because Atlantic Ventures was the company that purchased WNYR-WEZO and turned the FM into WARM 101.3 and left the AM station hanging in the wind."That outfit got gobbled by American Radio Systems (Steve Dodge's Boston-based company) long ago...don't think we're talking about them, they took Steve Dodge's money and walked away IIRC. I've heard we're talking instead about some of the people who were running 'CMF, Warm 101 and its sister stations a little later on, when they all passed from ARS to Mel Karamazin's Infinity chain back in the middle or late 1990s.