PAMAL BROADCASTING PENSACOLA

[Al Timiter]

Does anyone know anything about Pamal Broadcasting, other than what's on their corporate and station's websites? Any experiences with them either good, bad or otherwise?

 

[Nostalgia]

In additional to licenses held by Pamal they also own stations under the name 6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc. which is their physical address in Latham, NY. Google that name for more info.

 

[Poledo]

I know nothing unique about Pamal, but here are a couple observations from a local Pensacola listener that falls right into their target audience.

Pamal has had the two top rated radio stations in Pensacola for around 20 years. They've been pretty low key since hurricane Ivan did some damage that took them far to long to fix, which may imply financial problems? I believe I've read that several key people in the cluster have left since Ivan. Even though WXBM has been the top station in Pensacola for over 20 years, outsiders wouldn't know it. Pamal doesn't waste any money pushing their stations, I can't even remember seeing a bumper sticker recently. It seems like they're just giving a small portion of their audience over to Cat Country without a fight. If the companies ever start spending money, there's potential for an interesting battle between WXBM and Cat Country... but I guess there's no competition unless WXBM first admits that WYCT exist.

If someone were looking to build a nice cluster in the area, WXBM, WMEZ, WABB, WYCT, WAAZ, and WTKE are the only multi-market/100kw stations that Cumulus and Clear Channel don't already own... I'm sure Cumulus would have already bought one or more of these stations if the prices were right, so someone would have to overpay to get a strong cluster around here.

 

[jmtillery]

Pamal Broadcasting acquired WXBM-FM 102.7 and WMEZ-FM 94.1 nine-years ago from Clear Channel Communications in 2000 for $43.9 million in a leveraged buyout. Clear Channel disposed of the two stations to comply with the FCC local ownerships caps. This was around the same time Pamal acquired several stations in the Ocala/Gainesville market, giving Pamal a Florida presence. My understanding is Pamal has been having some financial problems, as most station groups have recently, and has placed WXBM and WMEZ along with the 7-station Gainesville/Ocala cluster for sale. The North Central Florida cluster has gone under several Pamal subsidiary corporate names including 6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc., and Jablamo, LLC. As a trivia note, I was told by a Pamal executive that the name "Pamal" is actually an abbreviation for James Morrell's children's names - Peter And Mary And Linda.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[Groove1670]

Actually WMEZ was owned by TC Brewer for many years. He was the one that sold it to Pamal. He still owns WBSR AM.

 

[Poledo]

TC Brewer still owns WBSR AM.

Has WBSR had any revenue in the last 10 years? What could he possibly have planned for his little AM jukebox?

My mind's scrambled, especially when it comes to things that happened 10 years ago... but I thought that Clear Channel had a LMA on WXBM and WMEZ when Pamal purchased them and that Clear Channel ran the stations for the first 5 years or so that Pamal owned them. The situation didn't make much since because Clear Channel owned WKSJ and WMXC, the only competition for the two Pamal stations at the time. I feel like I remember that Clear Channel was completely out of the picture at WXBM and WMEZ by the time the WTKE sale was completed.

If Pamal purchased WXBM and WMEZ from Clear Channel, why would't they also want WTKE as part of the package?

 

[Nostalgia]

TC Brewer still owns WBSR AM.

Has WBSR had any revenue in the last 10 years? What could he possibly have planned for his little AM jukebox?
[/quote]

But it was sure fun working there in the late sixties when it was rockin'

 

[Poledo]

"Rockin'" as in AOR or just top-40? I remember an AM playing AOR back in the early '80's, but for all I know that could have been a station from Tampa Bay or New Orleans.


And besides 1450 having no commercials in recent memory, they haven't even had a sign on their office in about over years. At least they keep the yard clean.

1450 may be the most interesting AM in town. No "dollar-a-hollar" or otherwise bartered shows. No distracting news or commercials. Just music that would help most anyone fall asleep. And on top of that, nothing ever changes.

 

[Nostalgia]

It was Top 40, rock and roll, playin' the hits! Had a great jingle package (I think I still have an old air check with some on them) and some pretty good jocks. Promotions out on the beach Lots of reverb with a big red button on the console that doubled the reverb when you wanted to get all wild and crazy! I was only a part timer since I was in the Navy stationed over at Correy Field so I wasnt really deep into what the competition was doing or anything like that, I was just having fun and happy to be back on the radio. I dont even remember who owned the thing at the time. I do remember we were in an old wooden building on Pace I think, with the tower right behind the building. Bill Burkett was the PD. Sad they have fallen on hard times.

 

[jmtillery]

Actually WMEZ was owned by TC Brewer for many years. He was the one that sold it to Pamal. He still owns WBSR AM.

Yes, T. C. Brewer did own WMEZ for many years. However, Pamal did, indeed, acquire WMEZ from Clear Channel as Clear Channel and Pamal had a contract to transfer the station from Clear Channel to Pamal under an "Option" contract. I don't know the amount Clear Channel paid for the station. However, I do know that Clear Channel then sold WMEZ with WXBM to Pamal on November 28, 2000 for an agreed $43.9 million.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[Poledo]

I do remember we were in an old wooden building on Pace I think, with the tower right behind the building. Bill Burkett was the PD. Sad they have fallen on hard times.

Well, it's still on Pace Blvd., a few blocks north of Cervantes. It's in a long building on the west side of the road that has brick veneer on the front and appears to be about 2000 sq ft. It kinda looks more like a well kept house, built around 1970, with a large parking lot and a tower out behind it.

I don't believe the owner(s) have fallen on hard times. The station never changes. It's always on the air. They just don't put any effort into selling or making it profitable. I assume they don't need the cash or want to do anything different.
What's even stranger about WBSR is that it always shows up in the ratings. I just can't figure out who's listening... most of us have upgraded to AM/FM radios by now, so why would anyone listen to the only secular English music on AM when it's not all that different from the music on three local full powered FMs: WMEZ, WMXC, and WNCV.

 

[jmtillery]

WXBM and WMEZ both share the same tower located across the state line in Alabama approximately half-way between Pensacola and Mobile - WXBM a 100kw full class C and WMEZ a 77kw class C0. This geographic tower/transmitter location is perfect for each station making it possible for both stations to place a city grade contour over the entire metro; including both cities. Both those "blow torches" have awesome signals.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

 

[MN Maniac]

WXBM and WMEZ both share the same tower located across the state line in Alabama approximately half-way between Pensacola and Mobile - WXBM a 100kw full class C and WMEZ a 77kw class C0. This geographic tower/transmitter location is perfect for each station making it possible for both stations to place a city grade contour over the entire metro; including both cities. Both those "blow torches" have awesome signals.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
Ocala, Florida
[email protected]

All the Mobile-Pensacola full Class C's/C0's have incredible signals. 1,500+ foot towers + flat land and water paths = massive coverage. The only thing that finally stops them are co-channel and first-adjacent channel interference. WABB-97.5 always shows up in the Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula book. In fact, last time I heard them, they ID'ed as "WABB Mobile-Pensacola-Fort Walton-Biloxi." On I-10, you can hear them from just west of the MS/LA state line to east of DeFuniak Springs, FL. The 97.7 in Panama City finally takes them out. WJLQ gets close to the MS/LA line before it's taken over by 100.7/Baton Rouge. WBLX 92.9's moniker is "The BIG Station", and for good reason. 94.1, 94.9, 96.1, 99.9, 101.5, 102.7, and 104.1 all have similar contours and reach. 107.3 gets clipped to the west prematurely because of 107.1/Gulfport.

 

[redneckriviera]

Sorry to jump into this thread so late, but I just wanted to clarify--no pun intended--that Clear Channel never owned WXBM and WMEZ. Both stations were purchased (I think from their original owners--Byrd Mapoles & Fred (?) Brewer, but don't hold me to that) in the very earliest phase of Telecom 96 consolidation by Patterson Broadcasting, which held onto them for a few months before passing them to CapStar, Inc., which soon thereafter morphed into AMFM--actually the largest radio company in America for about 10 seconds--before the Monster Merger with CC (aka, two Texans screwing radio for Big Bucks). And IIRC, XBM & MEZ were placed in a trust for a very short time while the merger got sorted out, and then got spun to 6 Johnson Road Licenses (or whatever), more commonly known as PAMAL.

All this happened extremely fast--that is, by standards considered "normal" anytime before... or since. But, no, the Evil Empire never had their paws on 102.7 or 94.1--at least not directly.

And, for all the money, can you name the third station involved in this sleight of hand shell game? Yes, WTKE (the old "Surf"--the pride of Andalusia)--which did, in fact, go to Clear Channel!

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

PAMAL has had an interesting time in Florida. At one time, they had 9 stations (10 signals) in Gainesville/Ocala.

Within the last two or so years, they sold 102.7 WRGO Crystal River and WYNY-AM Cross City.

WRGO is now owned by a guy who (I believe) lives in NC, WYNY (or whatever it's currently call letters are now) is off the air. WYNY used to be a trimulcast with WDVH AM 980 Gainesville and 101.7 Trenton.

Now Pamal/Gainesville is at 6 stations (WDVH still Simulcast, so 7 signals)

It's my understanding that Pamal/Pensacola has always done well with the heritage properties they have, but yes, have had a tough time since the hurricane.

PAMAL's Florida properties being for sale is news to me, but I suppose possible... any idea how long they have been on the table?

 

[jmtillery]

PAMAL has had an interesting time in Florida. At one time, they had 9 stations (10 signals) in Gainesville/Ocala.

Within the last two or so years, they sold 102.7 WRGO Crystal River and WYNY-AM Cross City.

WRGO is now owned by a guy who (I believe) lives in NC, WYNY (or whatever it's currently call letters are now) is off the air. WYNY used to be a trimulcast with WDVH AM 980 Gainesville and 101.7 Trenton.

Now Pamal/Gainesville is at 6 stations (WDVH still Simulcast, so 7 signals)

It's my understanding that Pamal/Pensacola has always done well with the heritage properties they have, but yes, have had a tough time since the hurricane.

PAMAL's Florida properties being for sale is news to me, but I suppose possible... any idea how long they have been on the table?

Pamal got into the consolidation game late leaving a limited selection of available properties for sale when Pamal acquired the nine Gainesville/Ocala area stations and formed the first multi-station cluster in that market.

The theory behind acquiring WRGO was to better reach the five metro counties which include Marion, Alachua, Citrus, Levy and Gilchrist. WRGO, licensed to Cedar Key, covers most of Levy and parts of Citrus county. The idea was to fill in the holes in the outlining metro area that the Gainesville stations did not adequately cover. Pamal never owned any stations licensed to, nor totally covering Ocala although WRZN-AM 720, licensed to Hernando in Citrus County, covers Ocala pretty well during the day hours with its 10,000 non-directional signal.

Pamal was interested in marketing all the stations to national agencies offering the "reach" of newspaper at the "price" of radio. Theoretically this is an excellent concept and has worked in other markets such as Tampa Bay with Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice as secondary markets to the Tampa Bay area.

WRGO never paid off for Pamal as management had hoped so the decision to sell was made completing the sale to Richard Pope, an upstate New York auto dealer, and WRGO Radio, LLC in 2007 for approximately $900,000 which included what is now "silent" WZCC-AM 1240 Cross City.

Pamal has retained the following Gainesville/Ocala radio stations:

WKZY-FM 106.9 C1 Cross City
WDVH-FM 101.7 A Trenton
WDVH-AM 980 D Gainesville
WTMN-AM 1430 D Gainesville
WTMG-FM 101.3 A Williston
WHHZ-FM 100.5 C2 Newberry
WRZN-AM 720 B Hernando

In addition to Gainesville/Ocala, Pamal also owns the following Pensacola FM stations:

WXBM-FM 102.7 C Milton
WMEZ-FM 94.1 C0 Pensacola


Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
New York - Orlando
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
E-mail: [email protected]

 

[jmtillery]

Sorry to jump into this thread so late, but I just wanted to clarify--no pun intended--that Clear Channel never owned WXBM and WMEZ. Both stations were purchased (I think from their original owners--Byrd Mapoles & Fred (?) Brewer, but don't hold me to that) in the very earliest phase of Telecom 96 consolidation by Patterson Broadcasting, which held onto them for a few months before passing them to CapStar, Inc., which soon thereafter morphed into AMFM--actually the largest radio company in America for about 10 seconds--before the Monster Merger with CC (aka, two Texans screwing radio for Big Bucks). And IIRC, XBM & MEZ were placed in a trust for a very short time while the merger got sorted out, and then got spun to 6 Johnson Road Licenses (or whatever), more commonly known as PAMAL.

All this happened extremely fast--that is, by standards considered "normal" anytime before... or since. But, no, the Evil Empire never had their paws on 102.7 or 94.1--at least not directly.

And, for all the money, can you name the third station involved in this sleight of hand shell game? Yes, WTKE (the old "Surf"--the pride of Andalusia)--which did, in fact, go to Clear Channel!

The story I was told directly from Pamal Chairman and 100% stockholder, James Morrell, was he acquired WMEZ and WXBM from Clear Channel for "approximatley" $44-Million. The actual price as recorded with the FCC is $43.9-Million - so close enough.

It could very well possibly be that Clear Channel had negotiated an option to acquire the two stations, reserving the right to assign that option to another entity at anytime during the option period. This would explain why Clear Channel never took actual possession of either station as the licenses were never transfered to Clear Channel. E. G., Clear Channel never excercies it's option or "First Right of Refusal"; hence electing instead to assign its option to Pamal. This scenario makes sense to me as a very real possibility if neither station was ever licensed to Clear Channel Communications or any subsidiary entity of CC such as Capstar or AMFM Broadcasting or even the Aloha Trust.

Red, do you happen to know the exact details? I would be very interested in hearing about them if you have that information.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
New York - Orlando
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
E-mail: [email protected]

 

[Poledo]

I was under the impression that Clear Channel had taken over operations, or at least sales, at WXBM and WMEZ for a couple years back when Pamal purchased them.
I had no direct contact. I just had a friend doing business with XMB and MEZ and he thought he was working with Clear Channel.

Hey Charlie, have any recollection of what was going on during the Clear Channel takeover of north Florida?

 

[jmtillery]

I was under the impression that Clear Channel had taken over operations, or at least sales, at WXBM and WMEZ for a couple years back when Pamal purchased them.
I had no direct contact. I just had a friend doing business with XMB and MEZ and he thought he was working with Clear Channel.

Hey Charlie, have any recollection of what was going on during the Clear Channel takeover of north Florida?

I was under that same impression, having been told directly from the "horse's mouth" almost 9-years ago. It's possible, again if Clear Channel did not actually take assignment of the licenses, that Clear Channel excercised an LMA giving Clear Channel quasi-ownership and virtual total possession of the two stations prior to assigning to Pamal whatever contracts and agreements Clear Channel had with the previous owners.

Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
New York - Orlando
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
E-mail: [email protected]

 

[redneckriviera]

I worked at the picturesque Gulf Breeze Soft Rock 94.1 (WMEZ) complex a dozen years ago after Patterson had acquired 'MEZ and WXBM (which remained up there at the Radio Ranch on Quintette Road) and I'll swear that the pair was sold to CapStar, Inc. in 1998.

Now, for you radio history buffs, remember that there were two Texas investment banker-broadcasters involved in the nationwide scam: San Antonio's Lowry Mays and Port Arthur native Tom Hicks. In order to get this web of mega-deals accomplished in just a few years' time, the two built parallel "companies" of complementary markets and properties at the same time and the same furious pace, then slapped to two giants together to create the Clear Channel we know and love today. While this was happening, most of us thought that CapStar and CC were "competitors." LOL!!!!

CC ran into a little problem in the Pensacola-Mobile markets when it became clear that all-or-most of the FMs involved in the two radio markets were perched on sticks bunched within a block-or-so of each other in Baldwin County, Alabama--so they could not acquire full complements of stations in both markets. In Pcola, they were able to snatch WTKX, but had to have one of their shell companies (Concord???) "buy" 107.3/WYCL. The old Surf/WTKE was over in the FWB market, so CC was able to add that one right away. But when CapStar gobbled up Patterson, the Pensacola properties caused a problem--too many stations, again! So BEFORE the merger could be completed, they had to get rid of some--thus the sale to PAMAL, along with a bunch of other simultaneous "discards" in other markets.

Now, when CapStar/AMFM and CC merged into the monster-version of Clear Channel, employees at WMEZ/WXBM who held AMFM stock had it converted to CC stock, but their stations never actually entered the CC fold--they were spun to PAMAL.

But by the time all that happened, I had flown the coop, the market, the state, and even the industry--escaping into TV for a few years... until the lure of the Radio Siren drew me back in.

One way to get more specific info, though, might be to track these transactions on the FCC.gov site via FM query...