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Merlin Media sold news-talk 106.9

Re: HANNITY, LIMBAUGH & WWIQ CONSERVATIVE TEAM GETTING LAID OFF.

You bring up a good point. Our advantage is that our playlist is researched for this area and we do offer local jocks.

My friend in Delaware competes with K-Love and does well but it's no easy task.

We're upgrading our line-up this week in anticipation of the unintended battle we're going to face and we're going to hire another local personality.

The truth is, no matter what God has a good plan for us.
 
My guess is that Clear Channel will flip one of their existing stations to talk with a 100% syndicated lineup (yes, even with Imus).

An all-syndicated lineup will be cheap.

And it might occur as soon as an official date for WWIQ-106.9's transfer of ownership and format change is set.
 
Mike said:
If clear channel flips 104.5 to talk WATCH how fast greater media flips 95.7 to alternative
Not gonna happen. With no guarantee of making money, especially using a format with increasingly undesirable listeners, there is No. Way. In. Hell. that CC flips any of its profitable properties, and this includes Radio 104.5.
 
Drat. As somebody who doesn't sleep much I actually like Red Eye Radio. Can't really get it well enough to listen to on any of the distant AMs that carry it.

I suppose K Love will crimp the WORD FM network of stations for listeners as well as LIFT FM. Although the WORD network which basically follows I476 from Scranton down to Plymouth Meeting, then west along I76 to Carlisle, and southwest into Maryland hasn't been "live and local" for a few years. The music's good, but the on-air personalities are very bland and difficult to listen to.

Well, gonna miss Red Eye.
 
Pab Sungenis said:
CBS is not going to unload 610. They make more in national billings because they can say the network is cleared in Philly, even if no one is listening to it.

They would clear the network on 1210, except when the Phillies or Eagles are playing.
 
Joseph_Gallant said:
My guess is that Clear Channel will flip one of their existing stations to talk with a 100% syndicated lineup (yes, even with Imus).

An all-syndicated lineup will be cheap.

And it might occur as soon as an official date for WWIQ-106.9's transfer of ownership and format change is set.

All of Clear Channel's 5 FM stations are getting better ratings in better demos than any political talk format could ever hope to get. I could see if they were struggling, but none of them are.
 
@ Josh :

>> " .....Most people don't want to hear someone preaching their political position all day long. They would prefer that there is discussion with different opinions being expressed rather than someone claiming to be the be all end all....' <<.

Josh, I dont think even the second part of that statement is accurate. There is just too much yak-yak talk radio going around .....
sports and left-right talk ..... too many stations, not enough formats. Aside from the 'trendy' pop/hot A-C music and its temporary indulgences, there is nothing going on musically. No reasonably demo-sweet radio listener is going to listen to any politically balanced radio signal nowadays. Talk radio has run its sensible course. Music radio is not far behind, to mop up the parade droppings.

But very best of wishes to you and to the communications instincts of your quest and vision, sir. Sincerely.
 
Steve, I do agree, Talk Radio has run its sensible course and the idea of it returning to an FM is absurd.

Someone stated that maybe WRFF-FM might flip to talk. All one needs to do is look at the ratings. WWIQ's ratings are terrible especially considering that it has a fantastic signal. It has the worst ratings by far for a station with that kind of market penetration.

Just so that there is no doubt in anyone's mind here are ratings for WRFF versus WWIQ

WRFF Modern Rock Clear Channel Media & Entertainment 4.5 4.7 4.7 1,042,600

WWIQ News/Talk Merlin Media, LLC 2.8 2.1 2.1 196,500


Also, WWIQ has three times as much power as WRFF about 38,000 watts versus 11,000 watts.. yet WWIQ has 1/5 the number of listeners and WRFF's listeners are the listeners advertisers want. They are younger and willing to spend their money. You can be certain that no one on the FM dial is thinking that giving Rush, Hannity and company a home is a good thing. That's like putting a beat up old boat along side pricey, elegant yachts.
 
Talk radio has run its sensible course. Music radio is not far behind

With over 100 years of recorded audio available to us, it's hard to believe that there isn't ONE brand-new "fresh out of the box" format that can be sold to a mainstream audience.

People think that the only way to make money is through cookie-cutter programming, but the legends who last throughout the decades are usually the ones with the most creativity and are able to present a particular format in a way in which no one else has ever done.

Is there no one new to think outside of the box in some unchartered territory? The answer has to be no. But whoever they are, apparently they aren't behind a microphone.
 
Radio Wreck,

If kids weren't in school all day long, a local kid format would be of interest. One of the hottest youtube video channels is AwesomenessTV

It just sold to Dream Works television for $33 million up front and could end up being worth as much as $117 million depending on how Awesomeness TV does over the next two years.


My background is in computer programming and I have often thought that radio could garner a part of this pie.
 
Rush will likely wind up on AM 1210 again.

I am not aware of any Salem-owned stations that clear Rush, so WNTP can most likely be ruled out.
 
I don't think 1210 wants him. He repulses too many advertisers and the same goes for Hannity. I am a conservative too but they approach topics in a way that alienates people. They're far too arrogant, self-centered and are ready to yet at anyone that even suggests to disagree with them. I think they're finished. People are changing and want a friend on the radio not a crusty old curmudgeon. ;)
 
I can't help but think the Beck and Hannity demise talk is, perhaps, "wishful thinking" (aka tailored with an anti-Right bent). Again, one man's opinion. Besides, all syndie = easier to run on the cheap.

I'm surprised 950am isn't part of the discussion, since its known Family Radio might be looking to unload the rest of its "major" (if not all) portfolio.
 
Even with that said, 950 AM is more likely to become a brokered station, hispanic or other format rather than political talk.

I would rather see it go jazz or standards rather than political talk. If Rush only had a 2.1 on the FM why would anyone use a decent signal to continue the pain?
 
It isn't wishful thinking - the numbers and demographics back it up. The politics are secondary. Sure people who disagree with these hosts may be glad their influence is waning, but it's a business issue at the core.
 
Ironic: Philly was the last major market to take Rush. It could now be the first to be Rush free. LIFO.

I don't see 1210 rushing to take Rush and Hannity back. If they were running second tier syndicated conservative talkers, that would be different. They have established a local line-up, which had rough parity with the Premiere hosts (and is acceptable to the dittoheads).

The dittoheads will come back to 1210. They don't need Rush.

Why should Clear Channel blow up an existing station just so Premiere (a different division of the company) can get Rush cleared in Philly? Why would Salem drop its own talk network to clear Rush (especially with what Premiere charges stations for the show)?

Of course, Premiere could do the unthinkable: They could pay somebody local to take the show. Lansdale. 860. 1540.
 
I think the days of hearing Rush, Hannity and Beck in Philly radio is over.
 
Stevensonair,

I'ts very difficult to get potential sponsors to buy into Limbaugh and Hannity. Sponsors want mom to be on board and for the most part she's not.
 
crossmymind said:
As I said a couple weeks ago...game over!
Wow, who is Larry Mendte gonna bully into putting him on the air now?
At least he can continue to create the folklore about his "hugely successful" radio career ::)
Well Mendte is on WPIX-TV (PIX 11 News) often, and has been during his time on WWIQ.

Aside from that, is and was basically another "FM News-er" that failed, except had a slightly different format and had the election to boost slightly the ratings to keep its life a month or two more. Merlin Media has been kinda bad, and I think it will sell everything, even "The Loop" in Chicago which is the only station Merlin did not change formats with and has decent ratings!
 
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