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Official: BAS and CC close the deal

Rusty Muck

Rusty Muck

All Access and OMW have it. The deal was made official today.

http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com/2008/01/clear-channel-spins-five-to-bas.html

The stations going to BAS are: WLEC/1450, WCPZ/102.7, WMJK/100.9, WTTF/1600, and WPFX/107.7. Yes, WCKY-FM was NOT included, and is still in the CC stable.

Unless if they either A) want to move it into Toledo, B) sell it to another group, or C) swap it with another station group in the area, them keeping it makes no sense. My money's tenetively on A... but B is an equal bet.

This also will mean the death of most local DJ'ed programming on all the stations, likely sans WTTF (which should dump Fox Sports programming in the evening/overnight hours for ABC/Citadel's True Oldies Channel, IMHO) and to an extent, WCPZ (who SHOULD at least keep a live airshift or two on). Then again, WCPZ has been heavily VT'ed anyway, it may be difficult to notice the difference.

WPFX will likely drop one homogenized slogan (CC's "My") for another (BAS' "Eagle") but keep the Soft AC format. Oh, and it IS the commerical flagship station for Bowling Green athletics, of which WFRO is a key affiliate.

- nate81
 
103.7 WCKY is shortspaced, so that causes a problem with moving the physical signal any closer to the Toledo Metro. However there are three options that do exist.

1)Engineering for WCKY could move the signal to Bowling Green at the site of WRQN on a signal at only 2,830 watts. This would cover the entire Wood County metro, and a portion of Lucas.

2)Clear Channel uses this station as leverage. They can swap Cumulus for another signal in another market. Then Cumulus takes control and sells it down the road.

3)Clear Channel already has another interested party on this signal. That party would be Educational Media Foundation who has expressed interest multiple times in increasing their listenership in markets such as Toledo.

Here is the fly in the pudding. Bain has made it obvious several times that they have no interest in markets under Arbitron rated #60. This would include markets like Toledo.
So this could all be in part of a bigger sale of the market.

As for WCPZ, I wish they would keep it somewhat local. The station is pulling an easy 22 to 30 share in Erie and 12-20 shares in Ottawa. As for Sandusky, its in the Top 3 beating WFRO in many cases. However Bas will most likely put in on the bird because thats all their good for.

WMJK will probably move into the Fremont building and WOHF will move into Sandusky.
 
Greg...(Kentucky Media) from what I understand and have been told by reliable employees....there are a few locally owned stations wanting the old WTTF Stick (103.7)....and no, I'm not referring to ELBC for whom I am employed by. From what I understand...there are deals still on the table for 103.7! Congrats to Jim and the gang at BAS.....the good ole' boys of Toledo radio continue to work harder and harder! Guess it must make some type of sense to set up a "birds nest" by the purchase of the 5 stations.
 
Kentucky.....is that a class A or class B1 @2830 watts?
I couldn't see it downgraded to a class A moving not too far. Shortspaced or not.
Thanks for all your info btw!
 
sandybeachtheone said:
Greg...(Kentucky Media) from what I understand and have been told by reliable employees....there are a few locally owned stations wanting the old WTTF Stick (103.7)....and no, I'm not referring to ELBC for whom I am employed by. From what I understand...there are deals still on the table for 103.7! Congrats to Jim and the gang at BAS.....the good ole' boys of Toledo radio continue to work harder and harder! Guess it must make some type of sense to set up a "birds nest" by the purchase of the 5 stations.
Click to expand...



The "gang" at BAS fire everyone and satellite feed their stations. Those aren't broadcasters, those are sales weasels.
 
Here is Bas' operations....

CORPORATE - FREMONT

Owner/President
COO/Vice President
CFO/Vice President
Director of Sales
Director of Operations - WFRO / WMJK
Traffic
Human Resources
Sales


LOCAL - MOUNT VERNON / SANDUSKY / FREMONT

Director of Operations - WLEC / WOHF / WCPZ
Production Director
Local Sales Asst
Sales
Local Receptionist
Weekenders
 
Im not certain, so I cant say for sure. They may shock us all and keep it locally programmed, however Bas is about the benjamins. Not that its bad, its just sad to see radio going in that direction.
 
Kentucky media...PLEASE, your comments on WCKY don't make any sense...

1. You can not move CKY to Bowling Green...read the signal overlap rules. CC has too many large signals and they are maxed out in Toledo signal wise as is Cumulus. WRQN is owned by Cumulus...why would they want CC to be on their tower and another competitor in the market...even at 2830 watts...again...2830 watts? WCKY has a fantastic signal in Bowling Green and all of Wood County...CKY is strong in Lucas in a car but it has poor building penetration. Why would CC ever consider taking this regional powerhouse down to a whopping 2830 watts..and serve one county when they reach at least 15 now...makes no sense!

2. Cumulus can not own any other stations in Toledo...in fact they have to divest of WXKR and WTWR before they can go private. A swap maybe but not with Cumulus.

3. The trades say CC already had a buyer with BAS...and at the last minute pulled the plug...CC is not going to sell CKY to anyone in Toledo...why would they want anymore competition IN Toledo when BAS or any other company would that purchased CKY would concentrate their sales efforts where CKY is a player...and that's not Toledo.
 
kentuckymedia said:
Here is Bas' operations....

CORPORATE - FREMONT

Owner/President
COO/Vice President
CFO/Vice President
Director of Sales
Director of Operations - WFRO / WMJK
Traffic
Human Resources
Sales


LOCAL - MOUNT VERNON / SANDUSKY / FREMONT

Director of Operations - WLEC / WOHF / WCPZ
Production Director
Local Sales Asst
Sales
Local Receptionist
Weekenders
Click to expand...
WHAT about Office Manager & Engineers for all those "new purchases"???
 
kentuckymedia said:
Here is Bas' operations....

CORPORATE - FREMONT

Owner/President
COO/Vice President
CFO/Vice President
Director of Sales
Director of Operations - WFRO / WMJK
Traffic
Human Resources
Sales


LOCAL - MOUNT VERNON / SANDUSKY / FREMONT

Director of Operations - WLEC / WOHF / WCPZ
Production Director
Local Sales Asst
Sales
Local Receptionist
Weekenders
Click to expand...

I sure don't know where you get your information but nothing could be farther from the truth! For one Fremont now contains WFRO and WOHF in the same building. I can see the possibility that WMJK might move into the same facility but not others. Secondly you have not mentioned Tiffin in your "breakdown" of operations. Where will they go? And why would you need more than one operations manager if they will be stations which will carry sat programming?
 
kentuckymedia said:
Im not certain, so I cant say for sure. They may shock us all and keep it locally programmed, however Bas is about the benjamins. Not that its bad, its just sad to see radio going in that direction.
Click to expand...

If BAS decided to keep local programming on WCPZ, that would be a minor miracle. Note that they just lost their afternoon guy - Mo Z likely saw the writing on the wall and bolted at the end of December. But BAS better be careful, cause they could simply throw away that 20-30 share for 102.7 right out the window. Make that, they WILL throw it away.

WLEC: they will likely keep the sports format, but poach ESPN Radio from WLKR/1510 (which is a daytimer) as "ESPN 1450 WLEC." Or... they could shock everyone and go to ABC's Stardust format (which WMVO carries), putting WLEC back to the standards format and taking it full-circle. But they will not be able to sustain seven hours of live programming in either concept, or even three.

WMJK: almost all-VT'ed already, Bob & Tom's clearance overlaps with WMMS to the east and WIOT to the west. Probably would not be difficult to see that show leave. No discernable difference... easy to move to Fremont. Same with WOHF going to Sandusky.

WTTF won't change... would be suicidal to see them dump Jason Aldrich, Russ Snyder and Stan Lee. And it would've been horrible timing, as former owner Dick Wright passed away back on New Year's Day (his son is still at WTTF's sales dept.; that should continue under BAS)

WPFX just dumbfounds me with what CC did to that station. Had it still been classic rock, BAS could have set up a two-station off-the-bird simulcast with WMJK. But... it's BGSU's radio flagship, and WFRO is an affiliate of such. Maybe the only reason why they got it in the first place.

- nate81
 
rubberchicken said:
Mo also left cause his wife works in the business. She took a job out west I dont recall where.
Click to expand...

He's at CC Albuquerque Bigi107.9 doing some fill-in weekend shifts. Wife is at the same cluster doing mornings.
 
When I said Fremont/Sandusky/Findlay I was simply generalizing it. Thats all! So please dont nit-pick that apart, you should know better than that!

The reason I said they will switch the ultimate facilities between WOHF and WMJK is because their coverage. WOHF does a much better job of covering Huron and Erie Counties. WMJK covers Seneca and Sandusky counties much better. It would make a lot more sense to do just that!

WCPZ recently pulled a 27 share in Erie County. They pulled a 12 share in Sandusky county and a 9 share in Ottawa County.

Saying that it looked more like

ERIE COUNTY
WCPZ-FM 27.3
WNWV-FM 11.6
WKFM-FM 9.5
WCKY-FM 9.3
WVKS-FM 8.1

OTTAWA COUNTY
WKKO-FM 14.9
WCPZ-FM 9.5
WCKY-FM 9.1
WVKS-FM 8.1
WXKR-FM 8.0

SANDUSKY COUNTY
WKKO-FM 15.1
WCKY-FM 13.2
WCPZ-FM 11.8
WKXA-FM 9.1
WFRO-FM 8.8

HURON COUNTY
WKFM-FM 14.1
WCPZ-FM 10.8
WCKY-FM 7.7
WLKR-FM 5.4
WVKS-FM 5.1

Here is the other interesting part of the puzzle. Look at Knox county...

KNOX COUNTY 2003
WCLT-FM 15.6
WQIO-FM 12.5
WMVO-AM 10.9
WNCO-FM 8.8
WTVN-AM 5.9

KNOX COUNTY 2007
WCLT-FM 19.1
WVNO-FM 14.8
WNCO-FM 10.1
WMVO-AM 6.7
WQIO-FM 5.3

The obvious thing I see here is that BAS's programming efforts are not strong. This is where a good consultant could come into play and hiring a local operations/programmer in each market with prior programming experience. It costs money to make money. While BAS is a great head to toe operator, they dont have the toe to head that is also needed to balance it out!
 
Kentucky, whereabouts do you find those numbers? How far back in history do you have of these ratings? If that's true about Sandusky County that proves satellite programming isn't working since WFRO used to be much more listened to with local programming.
As for Erie County, the new BAS would be nuts to change 1027 with ratings like that. How long has 1027 FM's numbers been that much higher than the others? Is it true they brought back Nick Vincent & are shutting down their websites? ??? ???
 
nightfly61 said:
Is it true they brought back Nick Vincent & are shutting down their websites? ??? ???
Click to expand...

Nick went back on the air a couple of weeks ago. He quit his sales job with a local car dealership (Kasper I believe) and came back on board. Super nice guy with a young family...hope he doesn't have problems keeping the job. I've heard that the web and email goes sometime this week, due to it all being CC run/owned. Staffs were mailed their severance packages. GM was fired last Friday. Rumored to kill sports on LEC, back to music.
 
LMA starts Feb. 1, that is when the website and e-mails will change.
 
The LMA takes over officially on the 1st. WMJK is scheduled to flip flop studios sometime in the month of February with WOHF.

I heard that the WLEC intellectual property disappears and will become 1450 Music You Love. Mix will eventually be replaced by 102.7 The Lake - ABC Hot Hits Format, or so im told.

Sandusky will be home to:

1450 WLEC - Nostalgia
92.1 WOHF - Oldies
102.7 WCPZ - Hot AC

Fremont will house:

1600 WTTF - News/Sports
99.1 WFRO - Adult Contemporary
100.9 WMJK - Classic Rock

Findlay will be the lone ranger with sales offices and some other minor things

107.7 WPFX - Here is the problem. WBVI currently utilizes ABC formats. So Bas will have to select another format and maybe a whole other provider. After all this switch to My, its going to be useless in the end.

Does anyone know who is staying as OM of Sandusky? How about the other positions?
 
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