Question Regarding the Dave Flip and Braves Season on 100.5

[acheron1982]

Yes, as if you did not know, I'm trying to get a handle on when everything most of us have predicted on this site will occur.

1- When is Dave officially flipping to Sports? Was their an exact date?

2- When does the Braves season finish.

Since Rock 100.5 is obviously in no hurry to flip, I would assume they are going to wait until both Dave flips and the Braves season ends. Thoughts?

 

[chrocket87]

1. The date of the Dave flip hasn't been announced yet. Seems they should've done that by now with football, college and pro, starting and the Braves closing in on the playoffs. To answer your second question, the season ends around the end of September, but the Braves should be able to make the playoffs, so that won't be over until sometime in October. IF Rock 100.5 were to flip, Cumulus will probably wait until Dave flips, just like they flipped 99x 2 days after Project.

 

[agentUrge]

1. The date of the Dave flip hasn't been announced yet. Seems they should've done that by now with football, college and pro, starting and the Braves closing in on the playoffs.

Interesting. That just makes it more suspect to me, then. I mean, I'm sure there are insiders here that know what's really going on but the fact that they announced the flip week ago and there's still no launch date just has me wondering if they would reconsider the move.

I'm sure it's been brought up in another thread and already beaten to death already.

 

[jabba17]

I don't know why CBS is waiting so long to flip Dave, unless the decision was made that recently and they're having to scramble to get all the pieces in place. They're missing college and pro football and the baseball division races. Then again, coming in in the thick of it might work well for buzz and give people extra reasons to tune in when they might not otherwise.

What is making everyone think that Rock100.5 is going to flip? They seem to be doing a good job tweaking the music mix to add more active without abandoning hard, non-River classic...I could see a reimaging but not a flip to straight alt or anything else.

Is Cumulus's new M.O. with translators to use them to flank a full power station with a similar format (similar to ABC's longtime Kicks/Y106 country duo)...?

I guess the only remaining question is why not use the translator for alt and not more active rock?

 

[secondchoice]

I suspect CBS will flip Dave to sports when the calendar whammies 790 and 680's daytime patterns either Oct 1st or diffidently Nov 1 st. At that time 92.9 will be the only sports talker that covers the market early AM and and Late PM drive.

 

[agentUrge]

Well, it occurred to me this morning that it probably wouldn't happen until after the 1st of October, anyway since DAVE has the CHOA event going on the last weekend of this month and it would clearly be in poor taste to flip and therefore not allow the station to do said event.

 

[fussbudget]

Braves last regular season game is Oct. 3 in Pittsburgh. Assuming the Braves grab one of the two wild cards in the NL, they will have a one game playoff most likely with St. Louis on Oct. 5. Beyond that, it's a guess as to whether the Braves will still be playing.

 

[e-dawg]

Since 96.1 THE PROJECT flip their format to POWER 96.1 Top-40 and Rock 100.5 is the only rock station in ATL. Will 92.9 DAVE-FM flip their format to sports? If they flip their format to sports, then ROCK 100.5 will be the only rock station in ATL. 97.1 THE RIVER doesn't count since it's a Classic Hits format, not Classic Rock.

 

[top16]

On Saturday, 9/29, Dave FM will countdown the Top 92 songs played on Dave FM. I looks like the flip to all sports will take place shortly thereafter. Any speculation on who may be on the air at the new station? Could we see local TV personalities (past and present) fill some slots there? Buck Lanford did a fine job filling in for Christopher Rude a couple of years ago while he was out. Could Toucher & Rich come down from Boston? Why not give Crash Clark a slot on the new station?

 

[jabba17]

Since 96.1 THE PROJECT flip their format to POWER 96.1 Top-40 and Rock 100.5 is the only rock station in ATL. Will 92.9 DAVE-FM flip their format to sports? If they flip their format to sports, then ROCK 100.5 will be the only rock station in ATL. 97.1 THE RIVER doesn't count since it's a Classic Hits format, not Classic Rock.

River pretty much plays classic rock now, except for a few artists that, depending on the history of AOR in your market and your definition of classic rock, may or may not count as classic rock. Those artists include Billy Joel (albeit the harder cuts like "Big Shot" and "You May Be Right"--no "She's Only A Woman" or "Uptown Girl"), Jimmy Buffett (which has strong appeal to a classic rock audience these days anyway, even if he didn't back in the day), and ELO (who disappeared from Atlanta AOR with the Disco-Very album, even though River spins "Don't Bring Me Down" from that album pretty frequently).

When River first came on they had Stevie Wonder in the playlist. Not anymore.

And River has started calling their playlist alternatively "classic hits" and "classic rock", and started playing more deep cuts like a traditional classic rock station. Since 100.5 is dropping all but the harder classic, River may do better in the ratings, and also trumpet "classic ROCK" more to pick up disaffected 100.5 fans.

 

[RhubarbFan]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

 

[secondchoice]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

I doubt it but I have been wrong in the past.

 

[jabba17]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

I doubt it but I have been wrong in the past.

More likely would be Quixie picking up NASCAR after 92.9 cleans their house.

 

[RadioDoogie]

Mara Davis mentioned today on Radio Free Lunch that there were only a few days left of RFL and to check the dave website for more info. Looks like the flip may be this upcoming weekend.

 

[chrocket87]

I think they're doing a top 92 of Dave on the weekend of the 29th, so I'm guessing it goes sports soon after that.Maybe October 1st.

 

[secondchoice]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

I doubt it but I have been wrong in the past.

More likely would be Quixie picking up NASCAR after 92.9 cleans their house.

Disney / ESPN acquired a FM signal for their product in NYC and they are still at 1.6 +- (#6) PPM. They did not roll over WFAN. Of course WFAN covers the market 24 / 7. Merlin has proved that just having a FM signal will not let you roll over and established AM product (WINS + WCBS) in NYC. The real question is how establish are 790 + 680? I can see the directional signals putting the hurt on both 680 and 790 AM drive and PM drive especially this winter.

But if Atlanta market men like the hosts on 680 or 790 better than what ever CBS brings in, then a couple of years from now we might be talking about another 92.9 flip. I still think CBS will buy 94.1 and 790 soon. Instant staff for 92.9 especially sales staff. That would give CBS 3 of the original 8 in-town commercial Class C's.

 

[jabba17]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

I doubt it but I have been wrong in the past.

More likely would be Quixie picking up NASCAR after 92.9 cleans their house.

Disney / ESPN acquired a FM signal for their product in NYC and they are still at 1.6 +- (#6) PPM. They did not roll over WFAN. Of course WFAN covers the market 24 / 7. Merlin has proved that just having a FM signal will not let you roll over and established AM product (WINS + WCBS) in NYC. The real question is how establish are 790 + 680? I can see the directional signals putting the hurt on both 680 and 790 AM drive and PM drive especially this winter.

But if Atlanta market men like the hosts on 680 or 790 better than what ever CBS brings in, then a couple of years from now we might be talking about another 92.9 flip. I still think CBS will buy 94.1 and 790 soon. Instant staff for 92.9 especially sales staff. That would give CBS 3 of the original 8 in-town commercial Class C's.

Yes, but NYC has, what, 6 class A clears? You don't NEED spoken word on FM when you have that. FM certainly hasn't helped WSB, and WSB was doing fine without it.

Re: the LFM stations, Cox is maxed out in ATL. Cumulus could get the Dickeys to dump WIFN or WFOM and pick up 94.1 and 790. Clear Channel might be maxed out depending on how they count 105.7 and 96.7 regarding number of stations in a market (although they would probably jump at the chance to unload 96.7 if they could pick up the LFM stations).

 

[secondchoice]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

I doubt it but I have been wrong in the past.

More likely would be Quixie picking up NASCAR after 92.9 cleans their house.

Disney / ESPN acquired a FM signal for their product in NYC and they are still at 1.6 +- (#6) PPM. They did not roll over WFAN. Of course WFAN covers the market 24 / 7. Merlin has proved that just having a FM signal will not let you roll over and established AM product (WINS + WCBS) in NYC. The real question is how establish are 790 + 680? I can see the directional signals putting the hurt on both 680 and 790 AM drive and PM drive especially this winter.

But if Atlanta market men like the hosts on 680 or 790 better than what ever CBS brings in, then a couple of years from now we might be talking about another 92.9 flip. I still think CBS will buy 94.1 and 790 soon. Instant staff for 92.9 especially sales staff. That would give CBS 3 of the original 8 in-town commercial Class C's.

Yes, but NYC has, what, 6 class A clears? You don't NEED spoken word on FM when you have that. FM certainly hasn't helped WSB, and WSB was doing fine without it.

Re: the LFM stations, Cox is maxed out in ATL. Cumulus could get the Dickeys to dump WIFN or WFOM and pick up 94.1 and 790. Clear Channel might be maxed out depending on how they count 105.7 and 96.7 regarding number of stations in a market (although they would probably jump at the chance to unload 96.7 if they could pick up the LFM stations).

If 94.1 and 790 become available, CBS with a market cap. of $21.8 billion, ( http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CBS ) should be able to "out bid" Cumulus market cap $452 million ( http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CMLS ) or CC (now private but with a huge debt payment soon). CBS has sold a profitable cluster in FL that did not "fit" in with their goal of being "major market radio only". They should have enough cash on hand to pick up 94.1 and 790.

That being said I would never bet against the Dickey / Cumulus ability to raise money and cut deals.

 

[jabba17]

Rock 100.5 has the Braves through at least 2014,that's when the radio rights will come up for biding again.All of the pro and collage sports teams around here have a radio home. During race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway,the GM of the rack said that it was possible that 92.9 could pick up Nascar.

I doubt it but I have been wrong in the past.

More likely would be Quixie picking up NASCAR after 92.9 cleans their house.

Disney / ESPN acquired a FM signal for their product in NYC and they are still at 1.6 +- (#6) PPM. They did not roll over WFAN. Of course WFAN covers the market 24 / 7. Merlin has proved that just having a FM signal will not let you roll over and established AM product (WINS + WCBS) in NYC. The real question is how establish are 790 + 680? I can see the directional signals putting the hurt on both 680 and 790 AM drive and PM drive especially this winter.

But if Atlanta market men like the hosts on 680 or 790 better than what ever CBS brings in, then a couple of years from now we might be talking about another 92.9 flip. I still think CBS will buy 94.1 and 790 soon. Instant staff for 92.9 especially sales staff. That would give CBS 3 of the original 8 in-town commercial Class C's.

Yes, but NYC has, what, 6 class A clears? You don't NEED spoken word on FM when you have that. FM certainly hasn't helped WSB, and WSB was doing fine without it.

Re: the LFM stations, Cox is maxed out in ATL. Cumulus could get the Dickeys to dump WIFN or WFOM and pick up 94.1 and 790. Clear Channel might be maxed out depending on how they count 105.7 and 96.7 regarding number of stations in a market (although they would probably jump at the chance to unload 96.7 if they could pick up the LFM stations).

If 94.1 and 790 become available, CBS with a market cap. of $21.8 billion, ( http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CBS ) should be able to "out bid" Cumulus market cap $452 million ( http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CMLS ) or CC (now private but with a huge debt payment soon). CBS has sold a profitable cluster in FL that did not "fit" in with their goal of being "major market radio only". They should have enough cash on hand to pick up 94.1 and 790.

That being said I would never bet against the Dickey / Cumulus ability to raise money and cut deals.

Don't forget all the dry powder that Cumulus has in its Cumulus Radio Investors partnership (not to be confused with Cumulus Media Partners fka Susquehanna, which was recently folded into Cumulus proper). Banks may not be lending even to those in strong industries, but they sure will lend it to the Dickeys.

I think LFM will continue to be looked at by both CBS and Cumulus, even though Dickey would have to rationalize one of their AMs first.