As the first half of 2011 draws to a close and Townsquare hoped to have there deal with NNB closed in the first half of the year, has there been an update on the deal? The latest information I'm able to find was on the 7th of December, and it seems that nothing has happened. Has there been any updates?
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Townsquare's aquizition of properties in Yakima and tri-cities
- Thread starter bobdavcav
- Start date
C
chokesman-review
Guest
All I continue to hear is the squabbling about the 'trust' stations that Townsquare will have to spin off. Offers have been made. Another ownership group is making hay at the FCC about the trust stations sale. That's happening on the Tri-Cities' side.
That's about all word is on it. For the most part, it's still pretty hush-hush.
That's about all word is on it. For the most part, it's still pretty hush-hush.
That's on wikipedia, that's where I heard about it a couple months back. After some digging, I also managed to find out that KDBL and KFFM are doing the same swap in Yakima. I've recently started listening to KEYW online and have been listening to KFFM off and on for several years now, so am watching both the swaps. Here's one thing I'm a little unclear on, are the callsigns going to go with the formats in either case? It certainly didn't sound like it from the thread on the Seattle-Tacoma board, at least in Yakima.
bobdavcav said:
I'm pretty sure they are. Wouldn't make much sense not to. It's an extra expense of a few hundred dollars, but if they're already going to go through the hassle of flipping frequencies around anyway, updating jingles and sweepers and such, I don't really see why not (especially in the case of 92.9 KDBL/ 107.3 KFFM.) It could even take a few weeks if they wanted.
Some stations play weird with the top of the hour station IDs (no one else but die-hard radio junkies pays attention to them anyway.) and while it's perfectly legal to say "92.9 KFFM" to ID at the top of the hour as "KDBL Toppenish - Yakima", even for non-die-hard radio junkies, it gets annoying after a while.........
Well, they could just rebrand the station to 92.9 KDBL and move the slogan over and not touch the callsign, that's what I was thinking. Also, what's weird about some of the IDs on stations? And while we're on the topic of the legal id, on Entercom and CBS stations, they say for example KRSK and KRSK hd1 and then the city. Is this a requirement or do they just do this because?Bongwater said:
I
IndigoCoyote
Guest
Re: the legal IDs. It is my understanding that KXXX and KXXX HD 1, Colfax is the FCC approved method of handling these IDs, so it's not chosen by the stations or their corporate handlers. It's the LAW, baby!
IndigoCoyote said:
I believe they're actually supposed to say "KRSK Molalla KRSK HD1 Molalla," but I don't think the FCC is going to care too much since AM/FM combos have frequently combined the legal ID's.
Also, if I remember correctly, the digital signals don't necessarily have to ID over the audio signal. I believe they can ID over their data stream instead, which will show the ID on a digital radio's display.
C
chokesman-review
Guest
Yup. Musical chairs in both Yakima and the Tri-Cities as Townsquare keeps the most profitable formats and best signals while jettisoning the rest to keep the FCC ownership limits happy.
Appears there might be 2 or more rounds of musical chairs as groups elbow for a chance at a better stick and then dump their less desirable stick.
My curiosity is who is in the hunt on the Tri-Cities side for the trust stations. The word I originally heard is that Townsquare wanted small timers, mom and pops and non-profits to come in and snap those stations up. They absolutely wanted to avoid a new player coming into town and mounting some competition. Some newer rumblings report that might of changed as an offer of over 5 million for the whole caboose is on the table. We will have to see.
Many of the trust frequencies are great and have nice power levels. KIOK, KKSR is a nice regional signal and even KOLW 97.5 at 50kw is a nice one. The lowest powered FM, the soon-to-be KEGX 98.3 is also decent metro signal at 12.5kw. In short, I'm not sure mom and pops or small timers would be able to go after these FMs. They are just too big and valuable. If we were talking Class As like KMMG 96.7 @ 820w ERP or KRKG 93.7 with its ERP of 450w - those I could see being something perhaps a small operator could get. 100kw, 94kw, 50kw or even 12.5kw FMs - BIG pricetag, too much potential for profit on those trust sticks. I can see why we are back to cash talks.
I'd like to see Capps Broadcasting out of Walla Walla and Pendleton get one or more of those sticks. Good regional group. I like their brand of radio. They are more dialed into the community than a big chain. KWHT is their main station and it's got its own uniqueness. They have other signals that reach the Tri-Cities metro in the mid to lower strengths. Only KHWT really has a nice signal here.
Jeff Jacobs and his KLKY classic rock translator empire. No way I can see him having the capital to go in for the kill here.
Cherry Creek in Pasco. Not much is known about them. I'm sure they'd love to get one of the trust stations and spin off KRKG.
My hope is when this is all said and done, the Tri-Cities gets some new blood and thinking in the market. Three classic rockers (not counting KXRX) and three countrys in the market is nice, but a shakeup might be good. I don't think any market is best served when 3 or more stations nearly duplicate programming. I love that the KUJJ at 101.9, a rimshot is doing something unique. It's been going for at least 3 or 4 years now. I wish more ownership groups thought outside the box.
Appears there might be 2 or more rounds of musical chairs as groups elbow for a chance at a better stick and then dump their less desirable stick.
My curiosity is who is in the hunt on the Tri-Cities side for the trust stations. The word I originally heard is that Townsquare wanted small timers, mom and pops and non-profits to come in and snap those stations up. They absolutely wanted to avoid a new player coming into town and mounting some competition. Some newer rumblings report that might of changed as an offer of over 5 million for the whole caboose is on the table. We will have to see.
Many of the trust frequencies are great and have nice power levels. KIOK, KKSR is a nice regional signal and even KOLW 97.5 at 50kw is a nice one. The lowest powered FM, the soon-to-be KEGX 98.3 is also decent metro signal at 12.5kw. In short, I'm not sure mom and pops or small timers would be able to go after these FMs. They are just too big and valuable. If we were talking Class As like KMMG 96.7 @ 820w ERP or KRKG 93.7 with its ERP of 450w - those I could see being something perhaps a small operator could get. 100kw, 94kw, 50kw or even 12.5kw FMs - BIG pricetag, too much potential for profit on those trust sticks. I can see why we are back to cash talks.
I'd like to see Capps Broadcasting out of Walla Walla and Pendleton get one or more of those sticks. Good regional group. I like their brand of radio. They are more dialed into the community than a big chain. KWHT is their main station and it's got its own uniqueness. They have other signals that reach the Tri-Cities metro in the mid to lower strengths. Only KHWT really has a nice signal here.
Jeff Jacobs and his KLKY classic rock translator empire. No way I can see him having the capital to go in for the kill here.
Cherry Creek in Pasco. Not much is known about them. I'm sure they'd love to get one of the trust stations and spin off KRKG.
My hope is when this is all said and done, the Tri-Cities gets some new blood and thinking in the market. Three classic rockers (not counting KXRX) and three countrys in the market is nice, but a shakeup might be good. I don't think any market is best served when 3 or more stations nearly duplicate programming. I love that the KUJJ at 101.9, a rimshot is doing something unique. It's been going for at least 3 or 4 years now. I wish more ownership groups thought outside the box.
Bongwater said:
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chokesman-review
Guest
Yes, formerly. This is from the FCC's call sign history page:
KRKG-FM 10/01/2010
KGSG 03/17/1997
When Cherry Creek/Alexandra ended 93.7's Top 40 challenge to KUJ flipping to the "everything that rocks" format, they flipped the calls.
Pretty soon, with KEGX's classic rock going to 98.3. The classic rock format won't be on any of the big sticks in town anymore. KRKG 93.7 (450w ERP), extreme rimshot KLKY and it's fleapowered translator on 95.3 and lastly, the soon-to-be KEGX at 98.3 with 12.5kw. Who'd a thunk it? The Eagle's numbers have been tumbling here for awhile. What's driving this? Changing demographics? Ownership group that disintegrated? Programming getting too loosey goosey? Format fatigue? I've not been following classic rock much, I've always know it to be traditionally profitable and stable especially, if like The Eagle it is the original classic rocker to the market with a great signal and programming.
KRKG-FM 10/01/2010
KGSG 03/17/1997
When Cherry Creek/Alexandra ended 93.7's Top 40 challenge to KUJ flipping to the "everything that rocks" format, they flipped the calls.
Pretty soon, with KEGX's classic rock going to 98.3. The classic rock format won't be on any of the big sticks in town anymore. KRKG 93.7 (450w ERP), extreme rimshot KLKY and it's fleapowered translator on 95.3 and lastly, the soon-to-be KEGX at 98.3 with 12.5kw. Who'd a thunk it? The Eagle's numbers have been tumbling here for awhile. What's driving this? Changing demographics? Ownership group that disintegrated? Programming getting too loosey goosey? Format fatigue? I've not been following classic rock much, I've always know it to be traditionally profitable and stable especially, if like The Eagle it is the original classic rocker to the market with a great signal and programming.
crainbebo said:
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chokesman-review
Guest
Update:
Looks like the Tri-Cities New Northwest cluster sale is on the move again.
Reports abound that a yet unnamed group is purchasing the cluster. If all goes well, the deal will close the first week of December.
Even though the interested group isn't named, word is they are one of the debt clearing houses that cleans the operation up and then flips it again.
I hope they don't gut the stations. Would hate to see jobs go away for the people working their butts off.
This is for Tri-Cities only, I don't have any first had knowledge out of Yakima.
Looks like the Tri-Cities New Northwest cluster sale is on the move again.
Reports abound that a yet unnamed group is purchasing the cluster. If all goes well, the deal will close the first week of December.
Even though the interested group isn't named, word is they are one of the debt clearing houses that cleans the operation up and then flips it again.
I hope they don't gut the stations. Would hate to see jobs go away for the people working their butts off.
This is for Tri-Cities only, I don't have any first had knowledge out of Yakima.
The news came out yesterday that James Ingstad, out of North Dakota, is the buyer of NNW's stations in the Tri-Cities and Yakima. The total sale price was approximately $13.5 million.
James Ingstad, by the way, presently owns Radio Fargo/Moorhead and is related to Shadoe Stevens (AT-40 host from late '88 until its first run ended in '94 or '95; his real name was Terry Ingstad before he changed it) and Richard Stevens (on the Hits & Favorites channel on Cumulus Media Networks, though I remember hearing him on KODZ "Oldies 94.9" in Dallas when I was high school).
James Ingstad, by the way, presently owns Radio Fargo/Moorhead and is related to Shadoe Stevens (AT-40 host from late '88 until its first run ended in '94 or '95; his real name was Terry Ingstad before he changed it) and Richard Stevens (on the Hits & Favorites channel on Cumulus Media Networks, though I remember hearing him on KODZ "Oldies 94.9" in Dallas when I was high school).
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chokesman-review
Guest
Thanks Kent. I hadn't seen specifics of it anywhere, just going off of the undercurrent locally.
That 13.5 million pricetag: phewwww. That was more than I had heard. The bank must be pleased, the Townsquare deal that got spiked was, if I recall in the 6 million range.
Do you (or anyone else) have any insight as to Mr. Insgtad's Radio/Fargo Moorehead? I looked at their corporate site. They look like smart players. Their stations look well targeted and their websites are quality.
That 13.5 million pricetag: phewwww. That was more than I had heard. The bank must be pleased, the Townsquare deal that got spiked was, if I recall in the 6 million range.
Do you (or anyone else) have any insight as to Mr. Insgtad's Radio/Fargo Moorehead? I looked at their corporate site. They look like smart players. Their stations look well targeted and their websites are quality.
If I remember correctly, Radio Fargo/Moorhead has returned to the business. I think Ingstad owned those stations, sold them to Clear Channel and bought them back a few years ago when Clear Channel was trying to downsize its smaller markets to go private.
I don't know much about the way he operates. I know his family has been in radio ownership for eons, though. I also know Radio Fargo/Moorhead has smart phone apps. So, it looks like they're at least embracing the digital era. They also flipped their oldies station to a younger version of "Jack" as "Popster FM" about a year ago. I don't really know how well it's doing, but Joel Folger, longtime Dallas/Ft. Worth area PD, was the architect of "Popster FM." Most likely, Ingstad knew him through Richard Stevens.
I don't know much about the way he operates. I know his family has been in radio ownership for eons, though. I also know Radio Fargo/Moorhead has smart phone apps. So, it looks like they're at least embracing the digital era. They also flipped their oldies station to a younger version of "Jack" as "Popster FM" about a year ago. I don't really know how well it's doing, but Joel Folger, longtime Dallas/Ft. Worth area PD, was the architect of "Popster FM." Most likely, Ingstad knew him through Richard Stevens.
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chokesman-review
Guest
Speaking purely on intuition - more than likely no.
The spiked Townsquare deal, one it's objectives was to consolidate the best performing/most powerful sticks in the market under the Townsquare banner. They wanted the 107.3 signal, but not the format. Thus, if the deal had gone down - swap formats and sell off the 92.9 frequency.
A similar swap was planned in the Tri-Cities with KEGX/106.5 and KEYW/98.3. After the swap, the 98.3 frequency would've been sold to keep Townsquare under the ownership caps.
The way it's working out, I think is a win for the communities these stations serve. The musical chairs that was planned more than likely won't be happening. Furthermore, the stations that would've been in the Townsquare divestiture trust would've been operating as red headed step children.
An new player in the market who wants to run the former New Northwest stations, invest in them and revitalize them is the best outcome for everyone - listeners, radio community and business.
The spiked Townsquare deal, one it's objectives was to consolidate the best performing/most powerful sticks in the market under the Townsquare banner. They wanted the 107.3 signal, but not the format. Thus, if the deal had gone down - swap formats and sell off the 92.9 frequency.
A similar swap was planned in the Tri-Cities with KEGX/106.5 and KEYW/98.3. After the swap, the 98.3 frequency would've been sold to keep Townsquare under the ownership caps.
The way it's working out, I think is a win for the communities these stations serve. The musical chairs that was planned more than likely won't be happening. Furthermore, the stations that would've been in the Townsquare divestiture trust would've been operating as red headed step children.
An new player in the market who wants to run the former New Northwest stations, invest in them and revitalize them is the best outcome for everyone - listeners, radio community and business.
crainbebo said:
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