Salem sells KLTY, six other CCM stations to EMF

[inari]

$80 million seems pretty high for those stations but I'm guessing they are also paying for goodwill and eliminating their biggest competitor in the same space. EMFs already huge dominance in the modern Christian music space is now even greater.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Aspiring ethnic broadcasters (e.g. Radio Zindagi) are the most likely market, either as new entrants or as upgrades.

If Salem has to operate their AM stations as little more than write-downs, which is what Lance just said is the case, no up-and-coming broadcaster is going to want them, regardless of the price.

Outside of WAVA, KKLA and a few other FM stations left, Salem's radio portfolio is unsalable and the equivalent of a concrete pillbox.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

If Salem has to operate their AM stations as little more than write-downs, which is what Lance just said is the case, no up-and-coming broadcaster is going to want them, regardless of the price.

Outside of WAVA, KKLA and a few other FM stations left, Salem's radio portfolio is unsalable and the equivalent of a concrete pillbox.

While I'm realistic about AM's limited future, under-served or un-served ethnic groups could still see value there. Not every ethnic group can afford an FM, or have the population to support an FM. Unsalable, at this point, is a bit much. In ten or fifteen years, maybe.

 

[TheBigA]

Outside of WAVA, KKLA and a few other FM stations left, Salem's radio portfolio is unsalable and the equivalent of a concrete pillbox.

Lot of DC people would love them to sell WAVA. In fact DCRTV.com predicts it might be sold in 2025:

What Radio Station Is Likely To Change Format In 2025?

2025 Is almost here. So, which radio station Is most likely to change formats in 2025? I asked Microsoft’s AI App, Co-Pilot and it predicted….

dcrtv.com

 

[leethalweapon]

I had a quick search online about the deal and the one thing that strikes me now, is the lack of "local" press about this deal. Yes, it's been all over the trade/business media, but I have seen very little mention of it on a local media level, in any media in any market affected.

 

[theman8410]

Does anyone know the origin of the hosts on WSCF Christian FM in Vero Beach, FL? I have heard some of the same hosts on Sirius XM's The Message and am wondering if this sale to EMF will affect the station's; programming. In the past I do believe I have also heard some of these personalities on TCM.

 

[TheBigA]

I had a quick search online about the deal and the one thing that strikes me now, is the lack of "local" press about this deal. Yes, it's been all over the trade/business media, but I have seen very little mention of it on a local media level, in any media in any market affected.

Do you mean local newspapers? I think Rodney Ho at the AJC did a story. Most local newspapers don't cover radio. It might get a mention on local TV in February when the change actually happens. But I think what you're saying is more of a commentary on the state of the media reporting on itself.

 

[tested]

The sale was in The Dallas Morning News: Christian music radio station in North Texas sold as part of larger national deal

Channel 8's website has a story about it too: Longtime Christian radio station in DFW has been sold, report says

 

[tested]

This deal is bad for the people losing their jobs, but probably good news for the overall long-term prospects of both EMF and Salem.
EMF finally gets in to some of these markets with good signals.
Salem gets out of debt (for the most part) and can focus on what it seems to care about most, the talk and preaching formats.
That's probably good news, for now, for stations like KSKY and KWRD. Maybe Salem will actually spend a little money to promote them.
Long term, I'm not sure those formats will remain a viable business model. That market is oversaturated and with a very old demographic.

 

[CCBInMI]

Yeah, it seems like if they would have thought turning these Fish FMs into "The Answer" would have been profitable they would have kept them vs. selling them. However, in this situation the answer was to sell them to EMF for the cash.

Not sure how many markets they have Preach/Teach on AM and Talk on FM but I do know in Columbus, OH 880 WRFD is the "preach/teach" (with a translator at 104.5) and 98.9 (Class A signal but centered in market) is the home of the talk "The Answer"

In Detroit they just have the two AMs - talk 1400 WDTK (translator on 101.5) and preaching/teaching 1500 WLQV (translator on 92.7). The talk station in Detroit - known as "The Patriot" - may be one of their few not branded as "The Answer."

 

[Ryan Williams]

This deal is bad for the people losing their jobs, but probably good news for the overall long-term prospects of both EMF and Salem.
EMF finally gets in to some of these markets with good signals.
Salem gets out of debt (for the most part) and can focus on what it seems to care about most, the talk and preaching formats.
That's probably good news, for now, for stations like KSKY and KWRD. Maybe Salem will actually spend a little money to promote them.
Long term, I'm not sure those formats will remain a viable business model. That market is oversaturated and with a very old demographic.

It's probably overall a good thing for listeners of KLTY too. I am not a regularly listener, but I have listened for extended periods a number of times in the last 12 months and their commercial load is incredible. I'm not sure how they get away with 15 minutes of commercials per hour with so many non-commercial competitors in the market. I guess that is the power of such an entrenched, incumbent brand with decades of loyalty and muscle memory built up.

 

[Kent]

It's probably overall a good thing for listeners of KLTY too. I am not a regularly listener, but I have listened for extended periods a number of times in the last 12 months and their commercial load is incredible. I'm not sure how they get away with 15 minutes of commercials per hour with so many non-commercial competitors in the market. I guess that is the power of such an entrenched, incumbent brand with decades of loyalty and muscle memory built up.

That's been about the industry standard for close to 20 years now: three five minute breaks an hour. Twelve to fifteen minutes of spots an hour is even common in small markets. Of course, the stations where I live now sound like they’re going out of business, but it has always been that way come January 1.

You are correct, though, that most stations don’t have noncommercial competition like KLTY has. Then again, despite all the Christian stations, you won’t find many that don’t interrupt the programming for teaching and preaching. I suppose you could say Air1 doesn’t, but worship music and CCM aren’t exactly the same thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two had a fair amount of overlap among listeners, but people who listen to KLTY more than they listen to Air1 do so for a reason.

 

[Radio-Bored-Op]

The answer is in the first post.

I did find it _ eventually.

 

[Mediafrog+]

It's probably overall a good thing for listeners of KLTY too. I am not a regularly listener, but I have listened for extended periods a number of times in the last 12 months and their commercial load is incredible. I'm not sure how they get away with 15 minutes of commercials per hour with so many non-commercial competitors in the market.

This is the key. K-Love is very music intensive, with only a couple of short breaks around :15 and :45 for promotional announcements and faith messaging. Here in Houston these are often localized, so not everything is the national feed.

Lance Venta believes EMF will keep the KLTY call due to its heritage in the market. However I could see a transition period where the station is promoted as “Positive and encouraging K-Love, 94.9 KLTY”. Once the audience has become used to the changes, then the call is quietly changed to KLUV.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Lance Venta believes EMF will keep the KLTY call due to its heritage in the market. However I could see a transition period where the station is promoted as “Positive and encouraging K-Love, 94.9 KLTY”. Once the audience has become used to the changes, then the call is quietly changed to KLUV.

I concur with Lance and was thinking along the same lines prior to the publishing his most recent "Lance's Line" column. I do not expect the call sign to change, especially to KLUV, which would only add more confusion to the mix.

While it wouldn't shock me if there was a transitional co-branded period, they are, after all, valuing KLTY at or near 30 million, I wouldn't bet on it either.

I would expect though that the "KLTY" calls will be proudly and prominently mentioned at the ToH ID and not buried. Also there will probably be a bunch of welcome messages up front that reference the legacy of KLTY. I would also expect a large billboard campaign and would not be surprised if "KLTY" is included in at least some of the boards as a way to introduce the K-Love to DFW.

 

[TheBigA]

While it wouldn't shock me if there was a transitional co-branded period, they are, after all, valuing KLTY at or near 30 million, I wouldn't bet on it either.

It depends on if people listen because of the branding or because of the content. The content of K-Love is very different from the Fish. It's presentation is different. It will be very obvious from day 1 that the station has changed, regardless of what they call it.

 

[b-turner]

When you are running a national feed, you don't localize. The deal is the music will have lots of carryover and people that listened to KLTY will enjoy K-Love or Air1. In fact, they'll be happy the family friendly content is still there. There are quite a few families that play CCM so their children will be exposed to the positive message and acquire a 'taste' for the format. These are not who you might suspect but rather families who go to church Sunday and have a normal life otherwise. Mom and Dad are likely listening to Mix or Jack or KSCS when the kids aren't in the car.

 

[davideduardo]

That's been about the industry standard for close to 20 years now: three five minute breaks an hour. Twelve to fifteen minutes of spots an hour is even common in small markets. Of course, the stations where I live now sound like they’re going out of business, but it has always been that way come January 1.

Actually, the most common structure is two 7 minute breaks an hour, either at 15 and 45 or 00 and 30. That is what the PPM "experts" believe is the best option.

With the change to only three needed detections in a quarter hour in the PPM, we may see some reexamination of the placements.

 

[davideduardo]

I would expect though that the "KLTY" calls will be proudly and prominently mentioned at the ToH ID and not buried. Also there will probably be a bunch of welcome messages up front that reference the legacy of KLTY. I would also expect a large billboard campaign and would not be surprised if "KLTY" is included in at least some of the boards as a way to introduce the K-Love to DFW.

I have a contrarian perspective: people who love that format already know where to find it. The structure will change with no commercials, but the music is fairly similar in mix and selection. So they will, perhaps, just make this as easy and non-eventful transition as possible.

 

[Deleted member 76036]

Salem operated a Spanish CCM format on the 102.5 translator as “El Pez” via KLTY-HD2. I don’t know if Salem still owns the translator or if it’s part of the deal. Any chance EMF might use it for Radio Nueva Vida, Boost or even a booster for Air-1?

I do hope EMF brings Gateway Creative’s Boost Radio to an HD subchannel. I think it would work if they did the same thing as Chicago:

94.9
HD1: K-Love
HD2: Air1
HD3: Boost
HD4: Radio Nueva Vida

For 101.7, the HD2 is currently K-Love. Chicagoland’s Air1 has K-Love 90’s on the HD2. I imagine the original K-Love will stay in place at least for a bit on 101.7 HD2.