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Merlin Media sold news-talk 106.9

Interesting reading. I am in Pittsburgh, where we have a K-Love station on FM that does reasonably well in the
ratings, an FM talk station with Rush and Hannity that has lost about half its share from its peak, and a number
of decent but underperforming (or totally non-performing) AM signals

I have no idea what will happen in Philadelphia, but if no one is rushing to pick up the syndicated, conservative
talkers, then somehow making room for them on a good daytime signal like 860 or 1540 would make the most
sense. The last time I heard 1540, it was Chinese.

C.
 
WNWR is running China Radio International's English-language service. I guess the checks for the airtime don't bounce. It or 860 would be a good place to for Rush et. al as both daytimers cover the market well. Rather surprised 860 never upped to 50 kW after WEEU moved to 830.
 
Brokered ethnic is usually easier, cheaper, and potentially more profitable than running syndicated talk. Especially on a rim shot AM. And the stress factor is lower.
 
Hilarious. Who would have ever thought a few months ago that smooth jazz would be back on Philadelphia radio and Rush Limbaugh would be homeless on Philadelphia radio. My how the tables have turned. LOL ;D
 
I think there is some chance Limbaugh will be back on WPHT. I think there is much less chance Hannity and Beck will be back on any Philadelphia area station. My reasoning:

Rush without Hannity and Beck is what WPHT wanted in the first place. When Premiere basically said to WPHT, we have a station (106.9) that will take all three, take all of them or leave all of them, WPHT decided to go without.

Now, WPHT is in the driver's seat. Oh, Clear Channel could try to build a new talk station from scratch. But they tried to do that in another northeast market -- Boston -- and when the station pulled 1.0 in ratings, they blew it up and Limbaugh was back on WRKO without Hannity and Beck. Limbaugh had been on WRKO previously.

I don't think Limbaugh on WPHT is a lock. I just think it's possible. PHT could keep all of its current daytime hosts who have four hour shifts and just reduce them to three hours.

One more thought: Philly isn't New York. I think there are a limited number of markets in which Clear Channel would buy a station for talk to guard against Limbaugh not having an affiliate. New York. Los Angeles. Chicago, maybe. But not Philadelphia. Yes, it's a top 10 market. But, at least until the Cumulus situation shakes out, they'd still be able to say they're on 9 out of the top 10 markets. Philadelphia would be written off as "that market where we always had trouble." NYC is market number one. Not having a Rush affiliate there would have been an incredible embarrassment. Philly, eh, not so much.

Also: In New York, CC bought a talk station. If it would convert 1480 or buy another signal (Radio Disney's AM Philly market station?), CC would be trying to establish talk on a station that had no recent history of talk. At least with WOR, they bought an existing talk station with heritage morning personality. 950 would have kinda worked in that regard: at least it had a short history as a sports talk station.

So my prediction: If CBS and Premiere are both willing to negotiate, Rush lands back on WPHT without Hannity and Beck, both of whom find NO new Philly station. If the two parties are not willing to negotiate, Premiere/CC takes a chance and goes without a Philly affiliate for Rush ... as noted, people in the market can tune to stations with Rush out of NYC, Allentown, Reading and Wilmington. CC won't flip any of its existing Philly stations to talk, and won't buy another AM unless one with a recent history of talk programming (like 950) becomes available at a very nice price.
 
I think that everyone should realize that Rush, Hannity and Beck will be gone from the Philadelphia licensed radio stations. I don't see 1210 bringing back Rush or the other syndicated shows.
 
Clear Channel isn't going to allow these shows to be uncleared in Philadelphia. They may have to make s decision they'd rather not make with one of their stations.
 
Seltzer said:
Clear Channel isn't going to allow these shows to be uncleared in Philadelphia. They may have to make s decision they'd rather not make with one of their stations.
Click to expand...
I think that they to accept that these shows will not be cleared in Philly anymore. WPHT will not mess with their live and local lineup. and I doubt that CC will blow up one of their stations to add these talk shows.
 
The popularity of these propaganda puppet masters will continue to wane as independent minded, middle class Republicans realize that the message their preaching does not benefit the middle class.

For instance they just keeping nonstop about Obamacare while our Republican and Democratic leaders are having fits that Snowden continues to reveal just how corrupt these leaders are. Remember it was both Republicans and Democrats alike that approved of voiding the constitution, but we don't hear a peep from Rush or Hannity. You see they are part of the problem not the solution. That's a big reason why their listeners are now former listeners.
 
I meant to write: The popularity of these propaganda puppet masters will continue to wane as independent minded, middle class Republicans realize that the message their preaching does not benefit the middle class.

For instance they just keep talking nonstop about Obamacare while our Republican and Democratic leaders are having fits that Snowden continues to reveal just how corrupt these leaders are. Remember, both Republicans and Democrats alike approved of voiding the constitution, but we don't hear a peep from Rush or Hannity. You see they are part of the problem not the solution. That's a big reason why their listeners are now former listeners.
 
Not to burst anyone's bubble but syndicated talk is not coming back to the FM dial in Philadelphia. I'm sorry to be the messenger of doom. Their ratings were terrible and the same goes for their listening demographics.

As far as Wired 96.5 changing over to Limbaugh/Hannity Talk, here are Wired's rating #s::

WRDW-F Rhythmic-CHR Beasley Broadcast Group 3.3 3.2 3.6 1,049,600

WWIQ had less than 200,000 listeners and their signal was 4 times stronger. WWIQ had the absolute worst ratings for ANY full powered FM station in Philly and their ratings were still sinking further.

There may be good news for Limbaugh/Hannity fans. It is possible that an AM either deep in South Jersey or AM that has a fringe signal in Philly WFYL-AM may pick up those programs.

http://www.1180wfyl.com/
 
what in the world are you talking about re: 4 times stronger? WRDW's signal is completely equivalent to WWIQ's (less power, higher antenna HAAT), and their signal originates from roxborough versus camden, giving it a huge advantage over WWIQ's in the north and west burbs.
 
WWIQ 38,000 watts versus 9,000 watts. Yes Wired is on a taller tower 1,000 ft versus 500) but it's not a equivalent signal. I know there is a conversion table on the internet but wasn't able to find it. The real story though is that WWIQ's signal is incredibly strong but the listenership wasn't there and was further disappearing whereas Wired's numbers are growing.
 
Reality Check

This thread has the signal to noise ratio of a broken-down AM facility with a rusted tower, a pitted ball-gap and a dilapidated ground system.

If anyone here seriously thinks that Premiere will not make a deal to put Limbaugh back on 1210 or that 1210 won't grab the show that put them on the map and kept them there in a heartbeat, you seriously should not be posting on these boards.

What happens to Hannity and Beck is anyone's guess, but barring CC making space on one of their signals, Limbaugh will return to 1210 as soon after 106.9 goes off the air as is contractually possible.

Unless Premiere is changing its M.O., they don't usually pay to place their top programming, so 860, 1180, 1540 and the other brokered signals aren't factors for the other Premiere shows, which may well stay off the air.

Cumulus does barter, so Levin, who grew up in Philly, might get back on WNTP if they're willing to move Steve Deace to midnight or 3AM. The same goes for Savage, who was on 990 overnight when he was with TRN.

And all you Common Dreams types should remember that Limbaugh wasn't dropped from PHT; for all we know, he would have been renewed. He certainly got higher ratings than anything they have on there now, and with Premiere's options limited, they'll negotiate a price that 1210 can live with. Look for Stigall, Morris and Dom to go back to 3-hour shifts, and welcome the chance to get some ratings back once they're on the map again.

In order to be profitable, you have to earn some revenue. In that sense, Limbaugh is a bargain for 1210 much the way Stern was for the rock stations he anchored. Except that the talk audience will stay tuned after Limbaugh if they're offered something even moderately palatable. 1210 will have to work on that.
 
Re: Reality Check

musichead1029 said:
This thread has the signal to noise ratio of a broken-down AM facility with a rusted tower, a pitted ball-gap and a dilapidated ground system.

If anyone here seriously thinks that Premiere will not make a deal to put Limbaugh back on 1210 or that 1210 won't grab the show that put them on the map and kept them there in a heartbeat, you seriously should not be posting on these boards.

What happens to Hannity and Beck is anyone's guess, but barring CC making space on one of their signals, Limbaugh will return to 1210 as soon after 106.9 goes off the air as is contractually possible.

Unless Premiere is changing its M.O., they don't usually pay to place their top programming, so 860, 1180, 1540 and the other brokered signals aren't factors for the other Premiere shows, which may well stay off the air.

Cumulus does barter, so Levin, who grew up in Philly, might get back on WNTP if they're willing to move Steve Deace to midnight or 3AM. The same goes for Savage, who was on 990 overnight when he was with TRN.

And all you Common Dreams types should remember that Limbaugh wasn't dropped from PHT; for all we know, he would have been renewed. He certainly got higher ratings than anything they have on there now, and with Premiere's options limited, they'll negotiate a price that 1210 can live with. Look for Stigall, Morris and Dom to go back to 3-hour shifts, and welcome the chance to get some ratings back once they're on the map again.

In order to be profitable, you have to earn some revenue. In that sense, Limbaugh is a bargain for 1210 much the way Stern was for the rock stations he anchored. Except that the talk audience will stay tuned after Limbaugh if they're offered something even moderately palatable. 1210 will have to work on that.
Click to expand...
1210 will not bring Rush back. They would be fools to bring that show back to their schedule. Even though the ratings aren't good for the live and local lineup during the week, finally after all of these years, 1210 should not mess with the schedule now.
 
Re: Reality Check

Julius May said:
Even though the ratings aren't good for the live and local lineup during the week, finally after all of these years, 1210 should not mess with the schedule now.
Click to expand...

Don't mess with failure.
 
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