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Marion?

N

northcoastradio

Guest
When WMRN FM moves to Dublin, what comes of Marion Cluster?

I saw that WYNT is moving from Upper Sandusky to Caledonia, however that will leave Clear Channel as the sole owner of commercial radio properties in Marion. I did hear that WQEL FM owned by Saga is changing a few things about their station which will launch them to become a Marion station, but is any of that true?

What do you think will happen to the stations in the cluster...Format?
 
> When WMRN FM moves to Dublin, what comes of Marion Cluster?
>
> I saw that WYNT is moving from Upper Sandusky to Caledonia,
> however that will leave Clear Channel as the sole owner of
> commercial radio properties in Marion. I did hear that WQEL
> FM owned by Saga is changing a few things about their
> station which will launch them to become a Marion station,
> but is any of that true?
>
> What do you think will happen to the stations in the
> cluster...Format?
>

I have not heard of Sega going after the Marion Market, I dont beleive QEL gives enough "60db" coverage inside buildings for them to target Marion.

WYNT will stay where it is studio wise, at the WMRN building off Main St, Clear channel isnt going to move the station out of Marion. Yes they are trying to move the tower closer to Marion, I suspect WMRN-FM's Country format will probally end up on WYNT after WMRN-FM moves to Columbus, but honestly your guess is as good as mine, they could leave oldies on WYNT and move the Country over to WDIF. the Marion cluster is WMRN-AM, WYNT and WDIF + WMRN-FM while WMRN-FM will move to Columbus (err Dublin) I do not see Clear channel pulling out of the market, 3 stations is still a great cluster.

Guess only time will tell. Marion has some execlent workers, I am sure they will contiune to try their best to serve their commuinty even when they loose WMRN-FM.



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Re: Marion?...SOLD!

> I have not heard of Sega going after the Marion Market, I
> dont beleive QEL gives enough "60db" coverage inside
> buildings for them to target Marion.
>
> WYNT will stay where it is studio wise, at the WMRN building
> off Main St, Clear channel isnt going to move the station
> out of Marion. Yes they are trying to move the tower closer
> to Marion, I suspect WMRN-FM's Country format will probally
> end up on WYNT after WMRN-FM moves to Columbus, but
> honestly your guess is as good as mine, they could leave
> oldies on WYNT and move the Country over to WDIF. the
> Marion cluster is WMRN-AM, WYNT and WDIF + WMRN-FM while
> WMRN-FM will move to Columbus (err Dublin) I do not see
> Clear channel pulling out of the market, 3 stations is still
> a great cluster.
>
> Guess only time will tell. Marion has some execlent
> workers, I am sure they will contiune to try their best to
> serve their commuinty even when they loose WMRN-FM.
>


Well that's my guess and speculation. Pulling their largest and most powerfull stick out of that market and moving it to Dublin....Moving WYNT stick closer to Marion and upping the power. Smells like a sell out. I think they(CC)know it would be hard to sell the cluster with WYNT Studios located in Marion and a piece of property over in Wyandot county which houses their xmitter and stick. Up the power move stick closer easier to sell.

Like I said this is a guess...an with what's happening with Clear Channel and their re-alignment strategy this sounds like something they would do.

Also may I note that it is strange that Clear Channel would be keeping 102.3 FM in Galion..The FOX which brings antoher question. Could they be looking at moving 102.3 over to Marion and allowing it to become Country. They have the Fox in Mansfield market on three sticks.

American Country WIMT in Lima (CC)already takes care of covering Hardin and Hancock counties and Buckeye Country 103.7 in Tiffin takes care of Hancock, Wyandot and part of Marion with WCOL taking Marion also. This idea could make sense to me since they could reach the market east of Marion County. But then I think of NCO in Mansfield.

Things in the Marion/Mansfield are changing. Well...I think it will be, with people I've talked to in CC and from taking a step back to look and think.

**EDIT -ADDED***
{With most likely WMRN-FM being their biggest money maker I'm sure sales is shaking in their pants.} I'd hate to be selling that station knowing it might be leaving.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by zradionet on 10/27/05 01:17 AM.</FONT></P>
 
down at the Marion County auction?

Now we are getting places...

I understand both sides of the coin. Clear Channel owns all the properties. This gives them major selling advantage in the area. However the other post pointed out that CC is moving in a station from only 10 miles north of town. This also shows that they may want to dump the market.

It is very hard after loosing your heritage in town to a bigger city. This is what we call the "SLAP IN THE FACE SYNDROME". This is very common in cities like Marion where their own heritage FM falls doom to a major metropolis.

The reason I had brought up Saga once before is the reason that they had been interested in expanding in another Ohio community at one time. Plus Ed Christian(the owner) has land just out side of Marion. So could that be a possibility? Could Elyria-Lorain be interested in getting back into the playing field?

Looking at the recent Marion-Morrow-Wyandot Maximiser, it shows that WMRN-FM is the highest in 12+. Followed closely by WDIF, WVNO, WMRN AM, WNCI, WYNT and WBZX. With all that said...I would almost have to believe that WDIF will stay the same and Buckeye will be wrapped up and placed on the new 95.9 BUCKEYE COUNTRY - MARION.

This is all speculation, but I always wondered what would happen to Marion after their heritage was washed down the Scioto?

> > I have not heard of Sega going after the Marion Market, I
>
> > dont beleive QEL gives enough "60db" coverage inside
> > buildings for them to target Marion.
> >
> > WYNT will stay where it is studio wise, at the WMRN
> building
> > off Main St, Clear channel isnt going to move the station
> > out of Marion. Yes they are trying to move the tower
> closer
> > to Marion, I suspect WMRN-FM's Country format will
> probally
> > end up on WYNT after WMRN-FM moves to Columbus, but
> > honestly your guess is as good as mine, they could leave
> > oldies on WYNT and move the Country over to WDIF. the
> > Marion cluster is WMRN-AM, WYNT and WDIF + WMRN-FM while
> > WMRN-FM will move to Columbus (err Dublin) I do not see
> > Clear channel pulling out of the market, 3 stations is
> still
> > a great cluster.
> >
> > Guess only time will tell. Marion has some execlent
> > workers, I am sure they will contiune to try their best to
>
> > serve their commuinty even when they loose WMRN-FM.
> >
>
>
> Well that's my guess and speculation. Pulling their largest
> and most powerfull stick out of that market and moving it to
> Dublin....Moving WYNT stick closer to Marion and upping the
> power. Smells like a sell out. I think they(CC)know it
> would be hard to sell the cluster with WYNT Studios located
> in Marion and a piece of property over in Wyandot county
> which houses their xmitter and stick. Up the power move
> stick closer easier to sell.
>
> Like I said this is a guess...an with what's happening with
> Clear Channel and their re-alignment strategy this sounds
> like something they would do.
>
> Also may I note that it is strange that Clear Channel would
> be keeping 102.3 FM in Galion..The FOX which brings antoher
> question. Could they be looking at moving 102.3 over to
> Marion and allowing it to become Country. They have the Fox
> in Mansfield market on three sticks.
>
> American Country WIMT in Lima (CC)already takes care of
> covering Hardin and Hancock counties and Buckeye Country
> 103.7 in Tiffin takes care of Hancock, Wyandot and part of
> Marion with WCOL taking Marion also. This idea could make
> sense to me since they could reach the market east of Marion
> County. But then I think of NCO in Mansfield.
>
> Things in the Marion/Mansfield are changing. Well...I think
> it will be, with people I've talked to in CC and from taking
> a step back to look and think.
>
> **EDIT -ADDED***
> {With most likely WMRN-FM being their biggest money maker
> I'm sure sales is shaking in their pants.} I'd hate to be
> selling that station knowing it might be leaving.
>
 
Re: Marion?...SOLD!

transmitter location really has nothing to do with selling a station. Unless CC (or anyone else for that matter) don't have a concrete reason for moving a tower, like expired lease, or improving the signal, they wouldn't bother just because of a potential sale.

better to suspect that they are making improvements to another station somewhere else. In the past, several companies have made multiple moves, to improve a station halfway across the country.

and CC is a master at that!


> Well that's my guess and speculation. Pulling their largest
> and most powerfull stick out of that market and moving it to
> Dublin....Moving WYNT stick closer to Marion and upping the
> power. Smells like a sell out. I think they(CC)know it
> would be hard to sell the cluster with WYNT Studios located
> in Marion and a piece of property over in Wyandot county
> which houses their xmitter and stick. Up the power move
> stick closer easier to sell.
>
> Like I said this is a guess...an with what's happening with
> Clear Channel and their re-alignment strategy this sounds
> like something they would do.
>
>
 
Re: down at the Marion County auction?

When the WYNT move to Caledonia was initially proposed, the allocation coordinates paced the transmitter on the east side of Marion. Near where the Meirs is. The CP shows them near the northern country line of Marion County, near Route 4.

I suspect that once the Dublin 106.7 move is put to bed we will see WYNT moving to the original proposed site outside Marion. WYNT will take the WMRN call sign and the country format. 102.3 probably cannot move closer to Marion because it will then be short-spaced to WIMT Lima (102.1).

I have long contended that CC will be selling off their smaller clusters. Marion can be a very profitable market with a three station cluster, but only after a lot of local sales efforts and local involvement. However, you just can't get the rates you can in the larger markets. For a national player like CC it makes more sense to take your capital and invest in upgrades in those larger market clusters.

BTW, as to "Heritage" when the WMRN move was initially proposed, no-one in Marion seemed to be concerned. I talked to a Dispatch reporter, explaining the move when it was first proposed, he hadn't heard a peep from anyone in Marion. Nor, apparently did he ever hear of any public opposition.
 
Re: down at the Marion County auction?

> When the WYNT move to Caledonia was initially proposed, the
> allocation coordinates paced the transmitter on the east
> side of Marion. Near where the Meirs is. The CP shows them
> near the northern country line of Marion County, near Route
> 4.
>
> I suspect that once the Dublin 106.7 move is put to bed we
> will see WYNT moving to the original proposed site outside
> Marion. WYNT will take the WMRN call sign and the country
> format. 102.3 probably cannot move closer to Marion because
> it will then be short-spaced to WIMT Lima (102.1).
>
> I have long contended that CC will be selling off their
> smaller clusters. Marion can be a very profitable market
> with a three station cluster, but only after a lot of local
> sales efforts and local involvement. However, you just
> can't get the rates you can in the larger markets. For a
> national player like CC it makes more sense to take your
> capital and invest in upgrades in those larger market
> clusters.
>
> BTW, as to "Heritage" when the WMRN move was initially
> proposed, no-one in Marion seemed to be concerned. I talked
> to a Dispatch reporter, explaining the move when it was
> first proposed, he hadn't heard a peep from anyone in
> Marion. Nor, apparently did he ever hear of any public
> opposition.
>

I should rephrase and state that 102.3 won't move into Marion. It would just become part of the cluster. Xmitter location can have a factor depending on who they want to sell to and thinking in forms of protecting their other stations. From what I've heard they had bad soil samples at the Meijer's location. This would explain why it will be near route 98 and the Crawford County Line. Possibly will be an upgrade to the station come to think about it. Just to clarify on my posts the sell-out is from hear-say and thoughts and is strictly a somewhat scientific guess.
 
Re: down at the Marion County auction?

Hey, look at what happened to Delaware, they have no real local station. In some towns you might as well have XM or Sirius since there is no local radio anyway. I have grown very tired of watching CC rob comunities local radio, moving stations like men on a chess board. The days of real local radio as I knew it are GONE never to return again in moxt markets. Radio is sounding very impersonal, very big, not local. You might as well go XM or Sirius or Ipod. Music on cell phones and portable players is what will change the radio industry. Whey pay or put up with the crap when you can build your own radio station. Cell phones will eventually get traffic and news. IBOC will NOT save radio unless there is a big change in content or unless the analog signals are just shut off. As slow as they are moving, no one will realize because they will be listening to XM, Sirius, or their Ipod.
> Now we are getting places...
>
> I understand both sides of the coin. Clear Channel owns all
> the properties. This gives them major selling advantage in
> the area. However the other post pointed out that CC is
> moving in a station from only 10 miles north of town. This
> also shows that they may want to dump the market.
>
> It is very hard after loosing your heritage in town to a
> bigger city. This is what we call the "SLAP IN THE FACE
> SYNDROME". This is very common in cities like Marion where
> their own heritage FM falls doom to a major metropolis.
>
> The reason I had brought up Saga once before is the reason
> that they had been interested in expanding in another Ohio
> community at one time. Plus Ed Christian(the owner) has
> land just out side of Marion. So could that be a
> possibility? Could Elyria-Lorain be interested in getting
> back into the playing field?
>
> Looking at the recent Marion-Morrow-Wyandot Maximiser, it
> shows that WMRN-FM is the highest in 12+. Followed closely
> by WDIF, WVNO, WMRN AM, WNCI, WYNT and WBZX. With all that
> said...I would almost have to believe that WDIF will stay
> the same and Buckeye will be wrapped up and placed on the
> new 95.9 BUCKEYE COUNTRY - MARION.
>
> This is all speculation, but I always wondered what would
> happen to Marion after their heritage was washed down the
> Scioto?
>
> > > I have not heard of Sega going after the Marion Market,
> I
> >
> > > dont beleive QEL gives enough "60db" coverage inside
> > > buildings for them to target Marion.
> > >
> > > WYNT will stay where it is studio wise, at the WMRN
> > building
> > > off Main St, Clear channel isnt going to move the
> station
> > > out of Marion. Yes they are trying to move the tower
> > closer
> > > to Marion, I suspect WMRN-FM's Country format will
> > probally
> > > end up on WYNT after WMRN-FM moves to Columbus, but
> > > honestly your guess is as good as mine, they could leave
>
> > > oldies on WYNT and move the Country over to WDIF. the
> > > Marion cluster is WMRN-AM, WYNT and WDIF + WMRN-FM while
>
> > > WMRN-FM will move to Columbus (err Dublin) I do not see
> > > Clear channel pulling out of the market, 3 stations is
> > still
> > > a great cluster.
> > >
> > > Guess only time will tell. Marion has some execlent
> > > workers, I am sure they will contiune to try their best
> to
> >
> > > serve their commuinty even when they loose WMRN-FM.
> > >
> >
> >
> > Well that's my guess and speculation. Pulling their
> largest
> > and most powerfull stick out of that market and moving it
> to
> > Dublin....Moving WYNT stick closer to Marion and upping
> the
> > power. Smells like a sell out. I think they(CC)know it
> > would be hard to sell the cluster with WYNT Studios
> located
> > in Marion and a piece of property over in Wyandot county
> > which houses their xmitter and stick. Up the power move
> > stick closer easier to sell.
> >
> > Like I said this is a guess...an with what's happening
> with
> > Clear Channel and their re-alignment strategy this sounds
> > like something they would do.
> >
> > Also may I note that it is strange that Clear Channel
> would
> > be keeping 102.3 FM in Galion..The FOX which brings
> antoher
> > question. Could they be looking at moving 102.3 over to
> > Marion and allowing it to become Country. They have the
> Fox
> > in Mansfield market on three sticks.
> >
> > American Country WIMT in Lima (CC)already takes care of
> > covering Hardin and Hancock counties and Buckeye Country
> > 103.7 in Tiffin takes care of Hancock, Wyandot and part of
>
> > Marion with WCOL taking Marion also. This idea could make
>
> > sense to me since they could reach the market east of
> Marion
> > County. But then I think of NCO in Mansfield.
> >
> > Things in the Marion/Mansfield are changing. Well...I
> think
> > it will be, with people I've talked to in CC and from
> taking
> > a step back to look and think.
> >
> > **EDIT -ADDED***
> > {With most likely WMRN-FM being their biggest money maker
> > I'm sure sales is shaking in their pants.} I'd hate to be
>
> > selling that station knowing it might be leaving.
> >
>
 
Re: down at the Marion County auction?

The "communities" really don't care. WMRN-FM will be replaced with another signal, everyone who listens will reset their preset button and life will go on. A lot of what local mom and pop radio used to do is available elsewhere. I don;'t have to tune in at 6:47 every day to hear the school lunch menus..I can go to the school's website at my convenience. Who needs swap shop when you have eBay?
 
Re: down at the Marion County auction?

It's not just Clear Channel that moves stations, it just happens that they have been doing it around here, and so far it's only been 105.7 and 93.3. The Marion move hasn't happened yet, and hasn't even been approved, so you can't count that against CC. If you look at the FCC's website other companies try to move stations around all the time, I know this because I look at them every day. It's not just radio, it's TV too. Whoever owned WWHO moved it from a Chillicothe tower to one much closer to Columbus, and whoever owns WHIZ-FM is trying to move it from Zanesville to near Columbus (Baltimore) to make it a Columbus station, and even Lou Vito with WBLL in Bellefontaine is moving it to Columbus too (with a Grandview COL). I'm not defending CC in any way, but they are not the only one by a long shot!!!


> Hey, look at what happened to Delaware, they have no real
> local station. In some towns you might as well have XM or
> Sirius since there is no local radio anyway. I have grown
> very tired of watching CC rob comunities local radio, moving
> stations like men on a chess board. The days of real local
> radio as I knew it are GONE never to return again in moxt
> markets. Radio is sounding very impersonal, very big, not
> local. You might as well go XM or Sirius or Ipod. Music on
> cell phones and portable players is what will change the
> radio industry. Whey pay or put up with the crap when you
> can build your own radio station. Cell phones will
> eventually get traffic and news. IBOC will NOT save radio
> unless there is a big change in content or unless the analog
> signals are just shut off. As slow as they are moving, no
> one will realize because they will be listening to XM,
> Sirius, or their Ipod.
 
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