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Merlin Media & FM N/T: Where might it land next?

R

radiophiler

It's been written elsewhere that the one New York City and two Chicago stations won't be the last ones to be acquired by the new Merlin Media.
Where else might the new company go in the top 25 markets where a heritage AM-only all-news or news-talk station is ripe for the picking?

Dallas: There's no AM station in the top 14, 6+. It's a heavy FM market, possibly ready for an FM news/talker.

Philadelphia: Only sports talk on FM, no news-talk station. CBS is vulnerable because it's limited to only two FMs in the market because it owns two TV stations in Philly.

Boston: One talker on FM, but no station with a strong news presence. Is WBZ-AM vulnerable?

Detroit: CBS has done very well with its sports station on FM. But is all-news WWJ ripe for picking?

Los Angeles: This market doesn't have an FM news and/or talk station. Its AM talkers still have some substantial ratings that could migrate to FM.

Next point of speculation: Who would sell to Merlin?

In Philadelphia, could Merlin pick up religious station WKDN at 106.9? Or how about Radio One's struggling properties, including the full-market signal at 100.3? Would Beasley sell its two FMs for the right price to get out of this competitive large market?

In Los Angeles: Would Bonneville sell its stand-alone FM for the right price?

In Boston, would Greater Media be willing to get rid of WTKK for the right price, and would Merlin increase its local talk and news staff?

You get the idea. Where do you think Merlin could strike next, and what stations would they have to pick up to do that?
 
radiophiler said:
Philadelphia: Only sports talk on FM, no news-talk station. CBS is vulnerable because it's limited to only two FMs in the market because it owns two TV stations in Philly.

Next point of speculation: Who would sell to Merlin?

In Philadelphia, could Merlin pick up religious station WKDN at 106.9? Or how about Radio One's struggling properties, including the full-market signal at 100.3? Would Beasley sell its two FMs for the right price to get out of this competitive large market?
Click to expand...

WKDN just applied for commercial status. Family Radio is rumored as interested in selling that one as well as an Annapolis, Md., FM. Merlin buys one or both and it could get a bigger foothold in the Boston-New York-Washington axis.

In Philly, CBS Radio's KYW might be a real hard target to knock down. I understand it still gets ratings and it still comes across as a solid news station when heard at night west of the Susquehanna.

Adding irony: Anyone remember that Philly had one of the first successful FM talk stations, many years ago, in WWDB?
 
lets be very honest here. This is a big stinker for Sabo. The station is not going to work especially starting out in NYC. I give them a year and a half (at which point a lot of the staff he is starting with now will be gone) and then it flips back to music. Just because its different doesn't mean people (women) are going to flock to the station. NJ 101.5 worked because the station was branded New Jersey's station. Plus, it had great content. Real Radio 104.5 worked because of the talent and programming of the station. This...noway.
 
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