Merlin Media sold news-talk 106.9

[Steve Green NEPA]

That WFYL muse of Josh's is interesting :

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WFYL&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

We are way in the upper-left corner, between Pottsville and Hazleton.

WFYL makes it here, on a portable radio with no antenna.
Of course, it is not a 'good' signal by any means. But it's omni, it hits Montgomery County well, and parts of Chester County.

It's only a daytimer, but that's when Rushbo is on. And like I said -- the signal seems to have some pop.

 

[FredLeonard]

You guys are still quoting those 6+ numbers. Remember that they are averages - 7-full-day averages from 6a-midnight.

That means that whatever WPHT or WWIQ run at 10 PM on Saturday nights count just like every other hour of the week. And it's why those numbers are essentially meaningless.

Unless you have the right demos and dayparts to look at, don't even bother trying to figure things out.

All hours of the week don't count equally. They are averages and reflect the size of the audience in any given daypart. More people are listening during weekday morning drive, so those averages "count" more. But you are right. These overall averages are meaningless, which is why Arbitron gives them away for publication.

 

[Interstate 78]

How did I never hear about WFYL? I have been out of the Philly area too long. How long has this outfit been on the air? I remember WNAP but not WFYL.

 

[John1]

How did I never hear about WFYL? I have been out of the Philly area too long. How long has this outfit been on the air? I remember WNAP but not WFYL.

WFYL was country AM daytimer on 1530 in McConnelsburg, Pa. in SW Pa. that somehow got permission to move into the Philadelphia market in King of Prussia on 1180 a few years ago. It started as all infomericals & also for a time ran the Andy Kortman 'standards' morning show simulcast with WNJC & WIFI, but changed to a local morning show & 3rd tier conservative talk shows no one else locally wanted & Fox 'News' that already runs on similar format WNPV Lansdale in the same Montgomery County suburban area. The 1180 signal is restricted by 2 stations on 1170 in New Jersey & 1190 NYC. WNAP (the former WNAR) still continues at 1110 AM daytime with the 'Gospel Highway" format they have had for 30 some years, they did get an increased power years back.

There was a time you had to prove a 'need' to the FCC to move a station from a rural area to a saturated major market but they did it, with the intention to run infomercials. I remember in the 1960's WNAR proposed increasing their power & the FCC said no, they were to serve Norristown, not Philadelphia.

 

[rtetro]

I've just glanced at the thread today since I've been very busy. But, I have not noticed anybody mentioning the whole issue of Rush and Hannity leaving Premiere by the end of the year. Is that still a possibility? If so, then there is no real reason for Premiere to hawk those two shows to other Philly stations.

 

[aindik]

I've just glanced at the thread today since I've been very busy. But, I have not noticed anybody mentioning the whole issue of Rush and Hannity leaving Premiere by the end of the year. Is that still a possibility? If so, then there is no real reason for Premiere to hawk those two shows to other Philly stations.

Maybe you're getting two stories confused?

Rush and Hannity are signed long term to Premiere. The story I've heard is they'll be off Cumulus stations by the end of the year.

 

[jay1986]

Looking at CC's stations in Philly:

WDAS-FM - Not going to flip.
WIOQ - Possible, but unlikely.
WISX - Most likely to flip.
WRFF - Second most likely.
WDAS (AM) - Third most likely, but CC wants Rush Radio on FM.
WUSL - Not going to flip.

ain't going to happen. Maybe 106.1 will change in the future and 1480 they really don't care about it. but CC is satisfied with their stations and you mentioned that 104.5 is the second most likely to change well actually 104.5 is one of CC philly best billar and low cost operated.

 

[chrocket87]

^ 104.5 is actually a horrible biller, but its enough to make money, so 104.5, like the rest of the cluster, is going nowhere.

 

[wprt949]

EMF says no LMA will be needed and the sale will close Quickly could K-love end up on 106.9 sometime before the weekend ?

 

[joshzz]

chrocket87
WROTE: "104.5 is actually a horrible biller, but its enough to make money, so 104.5, like the rest of the cluster, is going nowhere."

104.5 FM is a very popular station with young people both male and female. If billing isn't strong, I would suggest it has to do more with the sales staff not identifying the best advertisers for the format.

This is by far one of the best stations in Philadelphia and in the northeast. It just keeps growing and its cume is equally incredible.

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

 

[wprt949]

Radio 104.5 is going nowhere Okay lets just leave it at that

 

[pab]

Then there really is no place for Rush and Hannity to land. The existing talkers in the market aren't going to pick them up. No one else in the market is going to switch to talk and pick them up. The only way they stay on the air is CC blows up something they own.

If they blow up WDAS AM, then it's an even bigger story in the "Rush is done" media cavalcade, because it becomes a story of how he's gone from a 50,000 watt clear channel to a move-in FM to an AM frequency that on a good day barely covers its COL, and that's if no one is flying a mylar balloon anywhere within 500 feet of the transmitter. They're not going to risk it.

Power and WDAS-FM are legacy stations and not going to change. WIOQ isn't a legacy format but still bills well and has legacy calls which count for something. It's not going to change.

The only two places CC would be likely to put Rush and Hannity would be 104.5 and 106.1. I said 106.1 is the most likely because it's been a schizophrenic beast ever since smooth jazz was blown up, changing branding and formats too frequently to build an audience. WRFF has a loyal listener base, but if CC is going to double down on Premiere's two big stars to keep them in town, it may be an option.

The question is: do they declare defeat and go home, leaving Philly without Limbaugh, or swallow a bitter pill by blowing up one of their marginal stations for the format?

Probably the former.

 

[chrocket87]

104.5 FM is a very popular station with young people both male and female. If billing isn't strong, I would suggest it has to do more with the sales staff not identifying the best advertisers for the format.

I agree with all of this. I do wonder why CC can't turn their incredible ratings into sales, but all that matters to me is that it bills enough to earn its keep, so fine by me, as Radio 104.5 is one of my favorite stations anywhere.

 

[MarcB]

Here's a wildcard idea. It's not really ideal because they're a day-timer, but what if The Beasley's blew out their brokered ethnic format on 860AM and picked up Rush.

 

[aindik]

Clear Channel could buy an AM station to put a political talk format on it. Is 950 for sale again already? Or maybe they buy 1210? Or 610 and CBS puts the sports network on 1210 as I've been suggesting.

They are not going to blow up any of their current FMers for political talk.

 

[Jul]

Rush, Hannity and Beck are done on Philadelphia proper radio. No-one, including WPHT will pick those shows up.

 

[TheBigA]

Here's a wildcard idea. It's not really ideal because they're a day-timer, but what if The Beasley's blew out their brokered ethnic format on 860AM and picked up Rush.

The only way that would make sense is if Premiere pays them to run it. That's not usually their business plan.

 

[joshzz]

I believe they will find a home albeit a very tiny home with little market penetration. As I mentioned previously WFYL-AM comes to mind

 

[pab]

Let's get one thing straight: CBS is never going to sell 1210 or 610 to CC, or bring Rush back to 1210.

1210 is more profitable now than it was when they had Rush and had to pay carriage fees to Premiere, even with lower ratings. The live and local format is cheaper to program and easier to sell. They are in no hurry to sell it, put KYW on it, make it CBS Sports, or anything else.

They are not going to sell or blow up 610 because the clearance of the CBS Sports format in Philadelphia makes them more on national sales and costs next to nothing to run. Almost pure profit, so why would they part with it?

 

[XCountry285]

If Radio 104.5 was such a failure Clear Channel would not have flipped 105.7 & 96.7 in Atlanta to Alternative and modeled it directly after Radio 104.5 in Philly.