Thoughts about WBCN-WZLX consolidation

[RadioVeteran]

Every time the subject of WBCN-WZLX consolidation comes up there are some very strongly worded denials and rebuttals. So let’s examine the situation and get rid of the rumors once and for all. We’ve seen the signs of consolidation elsewhere so we should know what to look for.

WBCN and WZLX are two independent and separate stations. Separate formats, separate office and studios. Separate staffs.

Let’s just look at a few key station positions at WZLX and WBCN.
They have the same General Manager (does Mark work 80+ hrs/wk so each station has a full time GM?).
And the National Sales Manager, Bob, covers both WZLX and WBCN.
Both stations just happen to share Dawn the Business Manager.
Marketing Director, why they share him too… is there a pattern here?

The stations still have separate studios and offices…but… We all know that Infinity has been trying to get WODS, WBCN and WZLX studios and offices under one roof for a few years. WZLX should already have been in the same building as WODS if things had worked as planned. But WBCN had to move first. In the meantime, I think the ZLX budget got upset and severely stretched by the unplanned high rent 'ZLX is paying every month to the Prudential for their extended, short term emergency lease period.

Soon they will have just one studio-office complex for all three stations. It’s in the foreseeable future. Does this all hint point to more station consolidation of some sort?

Do you anti-consolidation theorists believe that the consolidation of studios and offices will not lead to more sharing of resources between WBCN and WZLX (that is, more consolidation)? Reviewing my post it seems like WZLX-WBCN consolidation is already happening, in spite of what others may try to get you to believe or how strongly and often they deny it. Just look at the facts, think of the budget and make up your own mind about where things are headed.
<P ID="signature">______________
Radio Veteran</P>

 

[NotoriousN-I-K]

> Every time the subject of WBCN-WZLX consolidation comes up
> there are some very strongly worded denials and rebuttals.
> So let’s examine the situation and get rid of the rumors
> once and for all. We’ve seen the signs of consolidation
> elsewhere so we should know what to look for.
>
> WBCN and WZLX are two independent and separate stations.
> Separate formats, separate office and studios. Separate
> staffs.
>
> Let’s just look at a few key station positions at WZLX and
> WBCN.
> They have the same General Manager (does Mark work 80+
> hrs/wk so each station has a full time GM?).
> And the National Sales Manager, Bob, covers both WZLX and
> WBCN.
> Both stations just happen to share Dawn the Business
> Manager.
> Marketing Director, why they share him too… is there a
> pattern here?
>
> The stations still have separate studios and offices…but…
> We all know that Infinity has been trying to get WODS, WBCN
> and WZLX studios and offices under one roof for a few years.
> WZLX should already have been in the same building as WODS
> if things had worked as planned. But WBCN had to move first.
> In the meantime, I think the ZLX budget got upset and
> severely stretched by the unplanned high rent 'ZLX is
> paying every month to the Prudential for their extended,
> short term emergency lease period.
>
> Soon they will have just one studio-office complex for all
> three stations. It’s in the foreseeable future. Does this
> all hint point to more station consolidation of some sort?
>
> Do you anti-consolidation theorists believe that the
> consolidation of studios and offices will not lead to more
> sharing of resources between WBCN and WZLX (that is, more
> consolidation)? Reviewing my post it seems like WZLX-WBCN
> consolidation is already happening, in spite of what others
> may try to get you to believe or how strongly and often they
> deny it. Just look at the facts, think of the budget and
> make up your own mind about where things are headed.
>
They've had the same GM, marketing manager, business manager for years now, it is nothing new regardless of where their respective offices are. In other words you've pointed out a situation that has existed for years and the whole time the two stations have been separate and autonomous. Why would there be any difference now?. Their last two GM's shared both stations as a matter of fact.

 

[Joe_NE]

Re: Thoughts about WBCN-WZLX consolidation - they work slow

Interesting points about their consolidated usage. They seem to be slow to get things done, like the WZLX move to the consolidated studios. They have been leaning toward consolidation for years.

Wasn't it WZLX that Infinity used as a testing ground for their new WBCN morning show? Isn't that why David Lee Roth did a week of audition on WZLX? It was for WBCN benefit. The two stations have been working together for some time and once the officeand studios are combined I'm sure they will work even closer.

Everyone under one roof makes it so much easier to combine resources.

Joe

 

[fccfight]

Well, why did Beau Raines from ZLX decide to up and move on? Who will be his replacement? Dave Wellington?

If Wellington is going to handle two stations (or if Carter Alan will share
duties - former Music Director of WBCN I might add) it gives great weight to the theory that BCN and ZLX are in some kind of consolidation mode.

Heck - BCN is playing more of music one would have found only on ZLX.

Something's got to happen to shake up this market, and both ZLX and BCN are not looking at great numbers. MikeFM is breathing down the neck of ZLX and seems to be picking up some new found steam. Imploding BCN and coming up with a new product in 2006 is not a bad idea.

> They've had the same GM, marketing manager, business
> manager for years now, it is nothing new regardless of where
> their respective offices are. In other words you've pointed
> out a situation that has existed for years and the whole
> time the two stations have been separate and autonomous. Why
> would there be any difference now?. Their last two GM's
> shared both stations as a matter of fact.
>

 

[Jacko]

Regardless of Infinity consolidating its staff on WBCN and WZLX, the one very key fact is that there are TWO FREQUENCIES. There are two separate stations that have to be run, and once Howard Stern is off the air, WZLX will be making more money for Infinity than WBCN will. WZLX already has better overall numbers, especially in key demographics. If they're thinking about flipping one of the stations to Free FM, they should forget it, since there are already enough talkers in town. A Spanish format may be the only other move that's feasible, but who's to say what's going to happen. Infinity has proven that they'll throw any format on, especially those ones that did well in Canada.

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[Garrett]

If they haven't already, it's long overdue. Two rock formats owned by the same company in the same city, broadcasting from accross town in different facilities in 2005? I'm suprised they haven't consolodated yet, and both financially and from a programming stand point, it's a good idea.

Other than that, this is much ado about nothing.
The rest of your post seems a tad bitter and personal, imho.


> Every time the subject of WBCN-WZLX consolidation comes up
> there are some very strongly worded denials and rebuttals.
> So let’s examine the situation and get rid of the rumors
> once and for all. We’ve seen the signs of consolidation
> elsewhere so we should know what to look for.
>
> WBCN and WZLX are two independent and separate stations.
> Separate formats, separate office and studios. Separate
> staffs.
>
> Let’s just look at a few key station positions at WZLX and
> WBCN.
> They have the same General Manager (does Mark work 80+
> hrs/wk so each station has a full time GM?).
> And the National Sales Manager, Bob, covers both WZLX and
> WBCN.
> Both stations just happen to share Dawn the Business
> Manager.
> Marketing Director, why they share him too… is there a
> pattern here?
>
> The stations still have separate studios and offices…but…
> We all know that Infinity has been trying to get WODS, WBCN
> and WZLX studios and offices under one roof for a few years.
> WZLX should already have been in the same building as WODS
> if things had worked as planned. But WBCN had to move first.
> In the meantime, I think the ZLX budget got upset and
> severely stretched by the unplanned high rent 'ZLX is
> paying every month to the Prudential for their extended,
> short term emergency lease period.
>
> Soon they will have just one studio-office complex for all
> three stations. It’s in the foreseeable future. Does this
> all hint point to more station consolidation of some sort?
>
> Do you anti-consolidation theorists believe that the
> consolidation of studios and offices will not lead to more
> sharing of resources between WBCN and WZLX (that is, more
> consolidation)? Reviewing my post it seems like WZLX-WBCN
> consolidation is already happening, in spite of what others
> may try to get you to believe or how strongly and often they
> deny it. Just look at the facts, think of the budget and
> make up your own mind about where things are headed.
>

 

[johnster]

Without a new larger building they will all never be under a new roof. Your forgetting about WBZ and Mix985. You remember Mix where Mark H. came from?
WBZ and WODS use share the same GM in different buildings.
Come to think of it over at Clear Channel you have a lot of sharing going on in other buildings. And wait Entercom has everyone in one building and less sharing except for that GM. Oh yeah Greater Media!! So maybe this means they are all going to morph into one big new exciting format?

Also the rent in the Pru is at rock bottom rates with almost half the building empty.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by johnster on 12/01/05 01:31 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[Eli Polonsky]

> Also the rent in the Pru is at rock bottom rates with almost half the building empty.

Hmm... I wouldn't mind a cheap apartment with a view!

 

[Mickey37]

WBZ and WODS still share one GM, in seperate facilities. This does not imply, however, that 'BZ is going to be Oldies AM, or that WODS will be the home of the reborn WBZ-FM, even if they were allowed to resurrect the call letters.
Mix is right next door to 'BZ. They share toilet facilities, when the plumbing on Soldiers Field Road goes on the fritz (it's true).

Watch how 'ZLX rises like a phoenix when Howard leaves for satellite.

> Without a new larger building they will all never be under a
> new roof. Your forgetting about WBZ and Mix985. You remember
> Mix where Mark H. came from?
> WBZ and WODS use share the same GM in different buildings.
> Come to think of it over at Clear Channel you have a lot of
> sharing going on in other buildings. And wait Entercom has
> everyone in one building and less sharing except for that
> GM. Oh yeah Greater Media!! So maybe this means they are all
> going to morph into one big new exciting format?
>
> Also the rent in the Pru is at rock bottom rates with almost
> half the building empty.
>

 

[JustinT]

> > Also the rent in the Pru is at rock bottom rates with
> almost half the building empty.
>
> Hmm... I wouldn't mind a cheap apartment with a view!

I believe that there is/was talk about updating the facade of the building and adding apartments. From the drawing in Boston Magazine, it looked like a giant, ugly factory rising into the sky.

The Pru can also charge WZLX what they want, knowing that 'ZLX is basically stuck in the space until their new space on Soldiers Field Rd. (or is it Buckingham Parkway?) is ready. But with the departure of Gillette which will abandon the majority of the building, the station could likely get an attractive long term lease.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

> The Pru can also charge WZLX what they want, knowing that
> 'ZLX is basically stuck in the space until their new space
> on Soldiers Field Rd. (or is it Buckingham Parkway?) is
> ready.

It's the (Leo M.) Birmingham Parkway.

 

[Power91]

BCN has heritage calls and is known int he city by people who don't even listen to the station that often. Zlx has been forming it's own history. Both, while not stellar in the 12+ numbers, are not weak either. How many people know what mike-FM even is. The ratings prove it as well, in that Mike isn't registering any better numbers than Star 93.7 was (in fact they're a tad bit worse). Infinity might still decide to make a switch unfortantely, but let's cut out this stuff that Mike-FM is a station on the rise...it's not, nor will it ever be...

~RM

 

[FMRadio1]

Re: Thoughts about WBCN-WZLX consolidation - they work slow

> Interesting points about their consolidated usage. They seem
> to be slow to get things done, like the WZLX move to the
> consolidated studios. They have been leaning toward
> consolidation for years.

They're finally getting around to doing what most stations have done since the ownership limits were loosened. If you go to other markets, you'll find most clusters have common GM's, PD's and production/imaging people.

> Wasn't it WZLX that Infinity used as a testing ground for
> their new WBCN morning show? Isn't that why David Lee Roth
> did a week of audition on WZLX? It was for WBCN benefit. The
> two stations have been working together for some time and
> once the officeand studios are combined I'm sure they will
> work even closer.

WZLX was looking for a morning show at the time and Infinity needed a place to test drive Dave. It was convenient for everyone involved. It wasn't because WZLX was doing WBCN a favor. That came down from much higher than the suits on Soldiers Field Road.

--Mike Thomas

 

[Garrett]

Re: Thoughts about WBCN-WZLX consolidation - they work slow

> --Mike Thomas
>
Are you the Mike Thomas who just left KGB?