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MERLIN TO HAVE KYW FOR LUNCH.
- Thread starter joshzz
- Start date
Yup, but CBS will have to unload an AM and buy another FM to do that, unless it wants to blow up WOGL, or WIP-FM, and that isn't likely.
CBS did blow up a music format in Chicago to simulcast all news WBBM before Merlin's station there took to the air, and they also may blow up a music format in New York to carry a talk format, but that is more likely to be a sports talk simulcast of WFAN, than one of the two AM all newers CBS has in NYC. It would just be moving sports talk to FM as it has done in other places, including Philly.
The CBS preemptive and defensive move in Chicago has, so far, proved to be overkill since Merlin's news format there hasn't caught any traction and CBS is out the separate revenue from one music station.
You have to think that if CBS was really concerned about Philly, it would have made a greater effort to outbid Merlin for WKDN, while possibly dumping WIP-AM which is now redundant. If somehow Merlin does catch on in Philly CBS may find itself scrambling, and paying top dollar, for an FM.
Merlin's long-term wish is to own the all news stations of the future, while CBS's stations like KYW become the all newers of the fading generations, especially if they are stuck over on AM. The chess game is likely to take years to play out, and it could be interesting to watch.
TimeIsTight said:
Fresh 105.9 in Chicago was at the bottom of the ratings, so CBS didn't lose much by blowing it up for a WBBM simulcast. Merlin's FM News 101.1 in Chicago and FM News 101.9 in New York are going nowhere fast!
As for CBS simulcasting WFAN on FM in NY, it'll happen only if WEPN (1050 ESPN) gets a class B FM.
The problem for CBS is that with its recent purchase of a Long Island TV station it is fully maxed out in the New York market, so it can't be a bidder for WFME or any other NYC market broadcast license.
ESPN might be very interested, but moving the WFME transmitter to NYC would make the station short spaced with a co-channel signal licensed to a Connecticut town, and an adjacent signal in Smithtown, Long Island. The transmitter likely will have to stay in West Orange, NJ. That means the signal is less than full market, because it doesn't reach the 2.5-million listeners in the Nassau-Suffolk market on Long Island like the other NYC FMs do. It also has more multi-path and big building shadow problems in Manhattan. Check out the NY Radio Board on this website for a full discussion of this problem.
It does seem CBS is ready to sacrifice its lowest rated FM in NYC to simulcast WFAN sports talk, if ESPN gets WFME. Sort of the same thing that CBS did when Greater Media went FM sports talk in Philly.
There lies the problem with WFME. If the transmitter must stay in NJ and cannot reach 2.5 million listeners on Long Island, a major operator will not want it. The nine counties that make up Northern NJ (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Morris, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Monmouth) are fine, but ESPN, CBS or anyone else wants those listeners east of the Hudson in NYC and on LI as well.
IMHO, CBS will stand pat with WFAN on 660 AM but if ESPN gets a class B FM signal, 92.3 Now will become 92.3 THEN! Sportsradio The Fan 660 AM and 92.3 FM.
IMHO, CBS will stand pat with WFAN on 660 AM but if ESPN gets a class B FM signal, 92.3 Now will become 92.3 THEN! Sportsradio The Fan 660 AM and 92.3 FM.
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