Miami, West Palm, Ft. Myers Lose Their Classical Stations

[Gregg.]

The owner of the three stations, American Public Media, based in Minneapolis, is selling them to EMF, the religious organization that runs the K-Love and Air-1 Contemporary Christian stations across the U.S. According to reports, the three stations have been losing money and American Public Media, over the objection of the local board, will get $21.7 million for them...

89.1 WKCP Miami - 100kw at 1014 feet
90.7 WPBI West Palm Beach - 38kw at 1115 feet
88.7 WNPS Fort Myers - 75kw at 1007 feet

The local board says American Public Media, which also runs non-commercial stations in Minnesota and Southern California, didn't give them a chance to solicit other offers from organizations that may have kept the Classical format. The story says American Public Media spent $30 million acquiring the stations and trying to get them profitable but the three outlets have been losing up to $3 million a year.

I thiink it's too bad that these three markets, all retirement communities where a mature, affluent audience want Classical music, will be losing these stations. There's no lack of Christian Contemporary stations in South Florida. You'd think they could have done something to preserve Classical music in these cities. And with these powerhouses in large markets, you'd think they'd go for more than $21 million for all three.

http://www.insideradio.com/free/pub...cle_73b834de-26d6-11e5-a04e-2b476f282a34.html

 

[TheBigA]

One might wonder how it got this far. How did the board allow these stations to lose up to $3 million a year?

 

[davideduardo]

I thiink it's too bad that these three markets, all retirement communities where a mature, affluent audience want Classical music, will be losing these stations. There's no lack of Christian Contemporary stations in South Florida. You'd think they could have done something to preserve Classical music in these cities. And with these powerhouses in large markets, you'd think they'd go for more than $21 million for all three.

The real question is why the folks in those three markets did not support the stations. The owner has extensive fundraising experience and has a long, successful history of running noncommercial stations.

Perhaps the folks who are in the 65+ classical music generation who moved to that area are not big classical fans. Maybe the format is not as well received by people living in "tropical paradise" environments. Or something else.

Of course, the bulk of the population is in the Miami MSA, which is really not a retirement haven any more except for very rich Latin American expats. The market is over 70% Hispanic and Black, and the retirees are not flocking there anymore due to cost of living issues.

 

[davideduardo]

One might wonder how it got this far. How did the board allow these stations to lose up to $3 million a year?

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Mankato anymore.

 

[TheBigA]

The real question is why the folks in those three markets did not support the stations.

There was a comment on the Miami board that at least one of the stations was successful as a news/talk station. But when APM came in, they wanted to do classical. So they changed it to what they wanted. Then when they lost money, they just sold them off, like it didn't matter. Say what you will about major commercial radio owners, but I've never seen anyone do something like that.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

My understanding was that Classical South Florida was pretty much attached to a satellite dish and Classical 24 all day without any real effort at "local". That probably had something to do with it -- but it doesn't explain where $3 million a year was going, unless that included debt service.

 

[Gregg.]

Miami may be 70% Hispanic and black, but as the #11 market, that still leaves a very large white population. WKCP was ranked #22, right after iHeart Talk station WIOD. WKCP's ratings are similar to other non-commercial Classical stations that are considered successful, such as KBAQ in Phoenix, Market #14, or KVOD Denver, Market #20.

Most Latin American countries have Classical stations in their largest cities. San Juan's Classical outlet is the most powerful FM station in the capital of Puerto Rico. Tijuana's Classical station is bilingual and serves San Diego as well. There's no reason the "Capital of Latin America" shouldn't have a listener-supported Classical station. And Classical is a rare radio format where proficiency in English is not required. After all, much of the music heard on Classical stations was not written by English speakers.

And both West Palm Beach and Ft. Myers are top 100 markets with large affluent senior populations. A three-city simulcast with these powerful FM stations should not have failed.