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So...What does Cumulus do now?

M

Mediafrog+

The sale of 97.5 and 103.7 will leave Cumulus with only KRBE, meaning it will be the only stand-alone commercial FM in the market (I'm disregarding stations such as KVST, KTWL, and KSHN which have limited signals over Houston.)

Will Cumulus hang on to KRBE? Or put it on the block for a nice pile of money?

Could CBS buy it and flip one of their other properties to a simulcast of 610?

All sorts of possibilities.
 
Well, since CBS already has 6 stations in the market, they won't be able to purchase KRBE. That is, unless they sell off one of their AM's, which i don't think would happen.

I can picture KRBE going to Cox though, if Cumulus decides to really sell that too.
 
mr.ric said:
Well, since CBS already has 6 stations in the market, they won't be able to purchase KRBE. That is, unless they sell off one of their AM's, which i don't think would happen.
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The market cap is eight (no more than five on one band) so CBS has room for one more FM.

Interesting thought: Clear Channel had to sell off two FM's due to common investor ownership in Cumulus. Same thing holding Univision back from having more stations. Do these sales change the game for those two groups, if only slightly?
 
mr.ric said:
Well, since CBS already has 6 stations in the market, they won't be able to purchase KRBE. That is, unless they sell off one of their AM's, which i don't think would happen.

I can picture KRBE going to Cox though, if Cumulus decides to really sell that too.
Click to expand...

They (Cox) can sell off 106.9 and 107.5 and buy 104.1 and make it the home to the second incarenation of the point, but they should rename it to KRAP-FM if they do.

The AM let's see they own 610, and 650, some non profit, and/or religious could buy 106.9 after all it was once owned by Jimmy Swaggert. The same with 107.5 well not exactly it was 107.3 that was KJOJ before 106.9

Lakewood could acquire 106.9, to attract North Houston listeners. 107.5 having Lake Jackson COL could be spun off to Liberman, in return to cancel the 107.9 station.
 
I would have to think they would hang on to it?? I mean it is a money maker, no doubt, heritage, and all, can't personally think of a reason they would want to let go of it?
 
KRBE is a prime property. Susquehanna ran it as a stand alone and made huge profits for many years. Nancy Vaeth-Dubrof was the GM, then had oversight of the market as COO. Their product has been guided by strong PDs including Tom Poleman, John Peake, Tracy Austin and Leslie Whittle. Remember CBS tried to surround KRBE with KKHH and KHMX. KHMX failed and KKHH has achieved some success, but not near their projections.

That being said, Cumulus is all about the money (making it for Lew Dickey) and has shown strong strategic acumen is swapping assets. CBS and Cox could both be interested in KRBE. Radio One as well, although their balance sheet isn't strong enough to pay the price KRBE would bring.

The future should be interesting in Houston radio deals and wars. Of course we'll use the Miller-Kaplans as a score card since Cumulus doesn't subscribe to Arbitron here.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
mr.ric said:
Well, since CBS already has 6 stations in the market, they won't be able to purchase KRBE. That is, unless they sell off one of their AM's, which i don't think would happen.
Click to expand...

The market cap is eight (no more than five on one band) so CBS has room for one more FM.

Interesting thought: Clear Channel had to sell off two FM's due to common investor ownership in Cumulus. Same thing holding Univision back from having more stations. Do these sales change the game for those two groups, if only slightly?
Click to expand...

Oh. I thought the market cap was 6 for all companies.

Fieldtech1 said:
Merlin???
Click to expand...

Oh, NO!!!!
 
I don't see Cumulus selling KRBE outright, though I could see them swapping it for something more interesting. I used to think they might swap it to CBS for CBS's Atlanta sticks, though I'd consider that far less likely now that Cumulus and Citadel/ABC are one. However, I suppose they could still swap it for a few of CBS's lesser market stations, like Sacramento or Vegas. I also could see them doing a station swap with Cox where Cumulus would, maybe, get some of Cox's smaller market stations for KRBE.
 
Cumulus seems to be in an acquisition mode lately. Unloading these two relatively crippled rimshots opens the door to the company acquiring more full market signals.

Somehow, I don't see Cumulus abandoning Houston. Radio One is cash strapped and might like to cash out Houston to prop up the rest of their operation. Cox has one really viable signal and a few rimshots. KRBE and 93Q would be quite a combo.

When's the last time CBS bought a radio station? They're TV people at heart and slowly dismantling their radio operation, smaller markets first. They're in sell mode, not buy mode.

There are many possibilities.
 
radiogooroo said:
Cumulus seems to be in an acquisition mode lately. Unloading these two relatively crippled rimshots opens the door to the company acquiring more full market signals.

Somehow, I don't see Cumulus abandoning Houston. Radio One is cash strapped and might like to cash out Houston to prop up the rest of their operation. Cox has one really viable signal and a few rimshots. KRBE and 93Q would be quite a combo.

When's the last time CBS bought a radio station? They're TV people at heart and slowly dismantling their radio operation, smaller markets first. They're in sell mode, not buy mode.

There are many possibilities.
Click to expand...

You are right about CBS to a point. On the other hand, CBS has kept stuff with the economy. The Cleveland cluster was on the market for a long time, but without any serious challengers, they put some time and money into them (think 92.3). They also picked up a DC station from Family Radio a few months back (to answer your question) so they could build an all-newser in a market with a dominate all newser already in place.
 
radiogooroo said:
Somehow, I don't see Cumulus abandoning Houston. Radio One is cash strapped and might like to cash out Houston to prop up the rest of their operation. Cox has one really viable signal and a few rimshots. KRBE and 93Q would be quite a combo.
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Cumulus acquiring KROI to make it an ABC O&O? Hopefully it doesn't turn into all-talk, ABC O&O, WBAP. Cox needs another Missouri City stick though;KRBE is a good addition to KKBQ.

When's the last time CBS bought a radio station? They're TV people at heart and slowly dismantling their radio operation, smaller markets first. They're in sell mode, not buy mode.
Click to expand...
There are two possibilities for the future of TV: cable-only network or IPTV. Both have the advantage of nationwide coverage without FCC ownership regulations.

Radio on the other hand needs to be broadcast due to the automobile (and to a lesser extent power outages during storms and other natural disasters).
 
If when and ever Cox plans to buy full-power Top 40 KRBE, it would become a major player in Houston radio because it clearly rules San Antonio. Cox has one full-power station (93Q), and three rim shot stations Country Legends (97.1)-a companion station to 93Q; and Classic Rock Eagle 107(107.5 & 106.9).
 
If Cox ever bought KRBE, then it would have the trifecta! Another station to add to its classic hits network of 106.9 and 107.5.

Of course, I'm just going on how Cox has managed its Houston properties so far.
 
I think 104 KRBE & 93Q have been strong Top 40 powerhouses. But when 93Q became country, KRBE was Houston's ONLY TOP 40 station before it now has rivals with CBS' Hot 95-7 & Mix 96-5. I think Cox will retain KRBE's legendary Top-40 format.
 
Time to think out of the box. KRBE could create a ton of sister streaming stations. Who knows? One of them could end up being the next 79Q. That AM came out of nowhere to catch the listener's ear with Hot Hits.
 
No! Please, not Cox! Only they could waste one of the few full-power big signals in town.
 
sdh483 said:
Who cares? Houston radio sucks and it's getting worse with all the crap that is entering the airwaves.
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Austin Radio is WAY better, We have KKMJ HD-2 95.5 Oldies, along with KVET-HD2 98.1 Old School and on FM 103.1 Translator, KXBT 98.9 Classic Hits/True Oldies Channel KROX 101.5 Hypersonic Radio Saturdays 10pm-12am, KBPA 103.5 Bob-fm, along with KBPA HD2- Mega Dance music. The Jammin station is a couple of weeks old. Station owners are Entercom, Emmis, BMP/Bain Capital, and Clear Channel. No Cox Radio in Austin. We do however have the Statesman which is owned by Cox, a biased distribution. Narrow playlists are Cox's specialty even in San Antonio. KXBT plays more songs with KONO! Bob is better than Jack, and the HD offerings are much better. What does Houston have? Three smooth jazz stations on HD. You might get Energy, but Austin has Old School, and Oldies, along with Mega. In Houston, you better bring your cassette tapes, MP3 player, or XM radio. Unless you don't mind listening to 15 Spanish language stations. 4 should be enough on FM. And no more than 3 Religious stations on FM. Can't just one station flip to Oldies, Old School, or Dance? Here is one station they could flip, KLOL make that Old School to rival KMJQ next door. The demo for Old School is there. Take a look at Jammin 103.1
 
willdav713 said:
sdh483 said:
Who cares? Houston radio sucks and it's getting worse with all the crap that is entering the airwaves. 
Click to expand...

Austin Radio is WAY better, We have KKMJ HD-2 95.5 Oldies, along with KVET-HD2 98.1 Old School and on FM 103.1 Translator, KXBT 98.9 Classic Hits/True Oldies Channel KROX 101.5 Hypersonic Radio Saturdays 10pm-12am, KBPA 103.5 Bob-fm, along with KBPA HD2- Mega Dance music.  The Jammin station is a couple of weeks old.  Station owners are Entercom, Emmis, BMP/Bain Capital, and Clear Channel.  No Cox Radio in Austin.  We do however have the Statesman which is owned by Cox, a biased distribution. Narrow playlists are Cox's specialty even in San Antonio.  KXBT plays more songs with KONO! Bob is better than Jack, and the HD offerings are much better.  What does Houston have?  Three smooth jazz stations on HD. You might get Energy, but Austin has Old School, and Oldies, along with Mega. In Houston, you better bring your cassette tapes, MP3 player, or XM radio. Unless you don't mind listening to 15 Spanish language stations.  4 should be enough on FM. And no more than 3 Religious stations on FM. Can't just one station flip to Oldies, Old School, or Dance?  Here is one station they could flip, KLOL make that Old School to rival KMJQ next door.  The demo for Old School is there. Take a look at Jammin 103.1
Click to expand...

Austin is definitely lacking in the news department.  KLBJ sounds like KTRH and KUT-FM on a weekday is more like KPFT on the weekend than the city's NPR station with all those music shows.

At least Houston has KROI and KUHF. KPFT has a decent afternoon rush hour news block!
 
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