WAAF

[Wimmmex]

What everyone is missing here is that WAAF is still doing very well in Worcester County.

It ain't broke, folks.

Entercom is depending on this station to be a BOSTON station, and rack up BOSTON sales and spot buys, so, yes...it IS broke.

There is not enough money in Worcester County for this station to be considered "not broke".

(I assumed they've already sucked up all the money there is to be had in Worcester for them.)

 

[inorm99]

[Whatever, this where you're wrong headed. Boston isn't Seattle, yes. But Boston has a longer and richer history of great music, and much better radio.
Right now, it sucks. There's a large gaping format hole that needs to be filled.

QUOTE=leethalweapon;6276815][/QUOTE]

107.7 KNDD (The End) is a better example of a more current/recurrent based (Entercom) Alternative station. It's my go to station when I want to stream an Entercom station.

https://1077theend.radio.com/playlist[/QUOTE]

 

[CTListener]

Entercom is depending on this station to be a BOSTON station, and rack up BOSTON sales and spot buys, so, yes...it IS broke.

There is not enough money in Worcester County for this station to be considered "not broke".

(I assumed they've already sucked up all the money there is to be had in Worcester for them.)

It's doing as well as a station playing any current rock can hope to do in a city where most of the remaining rock listeners still drool as they await the latest from the rattling husk of Aerosmith and wonder when Boston is getting back together. (Are they still spray-painting "Clapton Is God" on the walls of the Wonderland T station these days?)

The transmitter move and pattern change were indeed part of a plan to position WAAF as a Boston station, but that was back when there was still at least a glimmer of mass recognition of new artists and new music in the rock genre. It isn't hurting Entercom to have WAAF bump along with whatever revenue it can get from its blend of active and classic rock, especially since only WZLX among music stations in Boston skews male. (Entercom has a nice "wall of women" built up with Magic, BMX and the much-ridiculed Amp, which is still useful in preventing Kiss for getting all the CHR ad revenue.) It's a nice complement to WEEI. I just can't make a case for dropping familiar tunes and artists to push "who the hell are they" acts the labels themselves aren't interested in pushing, not on a commercial stick like WAAF's. From here, I don't see how it would boost ratings or advertising.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

The transmitter move and pattern change were indeed part of a plan to position WAAF as a Boston station, but that was back when there was still at least a glimmer of mass recognition of new artists and new music in the rock genre. It isn't hurting Entercom to have WAAF bump along with whatever revenue it can get from its blend of active and classic rock, especially since only WZLX among music stations in Boston skews male.

Not true anymore, the new hard classic rock format on 92.9 WBOS is very male skewed. Trying to rock harder and skew a bit younger than WZLX. They call it "The Next Generation of Classic Rock". (No '60s music, only a few '70s warhorses, mostly newer hard rock). WBOS actually went up a little bit with the new format in the all-ages ratings in the last book, that may show how bland their previous version of "alternative" was.

 

[raccoonradio]

WAAF does still have the Bay State Rock local music show Sunday nights.

As for the End in Sacramento, a listener of KDND 107.9 died of water intoxication due to the Hold Your Wee For a Wii contest.10 station employees were fired including the three morning DJs (this was about a dozen years ago) and later the license was turned in to the FCC and it shut off but the End branding moved to KUDL 106.5. Thought The End had ceased but saw online it had moved.

 

[CTListener]

Not true anymore, the new hard classic rock format on 92.9 WBOS is very male skewed. Trying to rock harder and skew a bit younger than WZLX. They call it "The Next Generation of Classic Rock". (No '60s music, only a few '70s warhorses, mostly newer hard rock). WBOS actually went up a little bit with the new format in the all-ages ratings in the last book, that may show how bland their previous version of "alternative" was.

Oops, forgot about that flip. Sorry. But wouldn't you say the ratings jump is more likely a byproduct of playing more older music that more listeners know than what it was playing as a "bland' alternative station? Look at the market's ratings leader. You won't find a blander presentation and playlist in Boston radio than WROR's, but everyone knows the songs and has for years, and is perfectly fine with hearing them every week, year after year. For the rock generation WBOS is now chasing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Enter Sandman" are "Stairway to Heaven" and "Another Brick in the Wall" time-shifted 25 years,

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Oops, forgot about that flip. Sorry. But wouldn't you say the ratings jump is more likely a byproduct of playing more older music that more listeners know than what it was playing as a "bland' alternative station? Look at the market's ratings leader. You won't find a blander presentation and playlist in Boston radio than WROR's, but everyone knows the songs and has for years, and is perfectly fine with hearing them every week, year after year. For the rock generation WBOS is now chasing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Enter Sandman" are "Stairway to Heaven" and "Another Brick in the Wall" time-shifted 25 years,

That's true, Classic Hits likes "bland", they want to hear the songs they know and love over and over, even if Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd have been replaced by some degree with Nirvana and Metallica on stations like WBOS that can skew toward "newer classics" since the '90s are now at least twenty years ago.

However, unlike Classic Hits, some listeners to an "alternative" station may still be looking for something a little more adventurous than the bland and always familiar, and if they get bored they can tune to college stations, or more likely switch to one of the many new non-broadcast sources of digital music playback.

 

[KarsonWithaK]

It's doing as well as a station playing any current rock can hope to do in a city where most of the remaining rock listeners still drool as they await the latest from the rattling husk of Aerosmith and wonder when Boston is getting back together. (Are they still spray-painting "Clapton Is God" on the walls of the Wonderland T station these days?)

(Entercom has a nice "wall of women" built up with Magic, BMX and the much-ridiculed Amp, which is still useful in preventing Kiss for getting all the CHR ad revenue.)

Not to be that guy, but it's WWBX. WBMX is now the call letters for a station in Chicago.

 

[MarkW]

#1 Why duplicate something that is already available.

WEEI's signal is subpar to the west of Boston. The concept I envision is similar to what's being done with WVEI-FM in the Providence market.

#2 This option doesn't solve anything. Why sell it to someone who will then have a chance to program against you. Whoever buys is is back at square one, deciding what to do with it.

Who said anything about selling it to a buyer who would program against Entercom's Boston cluster? That signal is no longer viable as a Boston-targeted commercial FM station in any event. If someone bought the thing to program it commercially, they most likely would target the Worcester market, not Boston.

A more likely buyer would be a non-commercial broadcaster, such as EMF.

If WAAF generates more than, say, $2 million in Broadcast Cash Flow annually, I'd be surprised. I bet they're closer to $1.5 million. Shareholder value is not being maximized by holding onto that dog of a station.

 

[Wimmmex]

If WAAF generates more than, say, $2 million in Broadcast Cash Flow annually, I'd be surprised. I bet they're closer to $1.5 million.

Maybe David Eduardo can find us the billing numbers for WAAF?

MODERATOR COMMENT: Sorry Wimax. I clicked "edit" instead of "respond" and deleted most of your post.

 

[TheBigA]

A more likely buyer would be a non-commercial broadcaster, such as EMF.

Explain how that's an improvement for the people of Boston. I have no problem with non-coms. But why EMF? Why not the rock fans of Boston collectively raise the money it takes to buy the station, and program a rock station better than the corporate folks. It's being done right now in Seattle.

 

[davideduardo]

If WAAF generates more than, say, $2 million in Broadcast Cash Flow annually, I'd be surprised. I bet they're closer to $1.5 million.

Maybe David Eduardo can find us the billing numbers for WAAF?

Reported to be just under $7 million, which is down nearly 25% since the recession years. That's about 13th in billing rank.

How profitable the station is would depend on how the owners allocate cluster overhead. But something around or under $2 million sounds reasonable.

The question is what other format could even do that?

 

[MarkW]

Explain how that's an improvement for the people of Boston. I have no problem with non-coms. But why EMF? Why not the rock fans of Boston collectively raise the money it takes to buy the station, and program a rock station better than the corporate folks. It's being done right now in Seattle.

1. I never suggested that it would be an "improvement" for the people of Boston, and frankly, I don't see why that obligation should fall on my shoulders! The relevant question, in my view, is what scenario creates the most value for Entercom's lenders and shareholders? If the station is only generating annual BCF of $1.5 million to $2.0 million, any offer above $12 million should be given serious consideration. Anything above $15 million should be given super serious consideration.
2. I'm unfamiliar with your Seattle reference. Care to explain?

EMF clearly has plenty of cash on hand; they seem able to acquire major market stations at will. I am not sure they would be the only theoretical non-comm suitor, but they are clearly the most obvious one.

I bet as time moves on, WAAF's billing will be considerably less than $7 million. With WBOS programming Rock and earning better ratings than WAAF, I only see WAAF's revenue performance slipping from recent historical levels. Too bad, as a #13 rank in Revenue is impressive for a station with such soft ratings in the Greater Boston area. Cannot help but wonder how much of that figure comes from accounting gimmicks associated with combo sells involving WEEI, though.

 

[TheBigA]

1. I never suggested that it would be an "improvement," and frankly, I don't see why that obligation should fall on my shoulders!

Because you're the one who wants to "put it out of its misery" and "just sell the damn thing." They aren't constructive ideas, and they ignore the existing fan base and customer base the station currently has. There's a reason why Entercom has chosen not to blow this station up, contrary to your belief they should.

2. I'm unfamiliar with your Seattle reference. Care to explain?
.

There are two community owned FM stations in Seattle where private citizens banded together to raise money to buy a license and program it for the community, not stockholders or Jesus: KEXP and KXNX.

https://www.knkx.org/

https://www.kexp.org/

There is no reason why the people of Boston can't do the same thing.

 

[CTListener]

There are two community owned FM stations in Seattle where private citizens banded together to raise money to buy a license and program it for the community, not stockholders or Jesus: KEXP and KXNX.

https://www.knkx.org/

https://www.kexp.org/

There is no reason why the people of Boston can't do the same thing.

They have -- at least the African-American community has -- in years past. Unfortunately it's been in the form of very professional sounding pirates: Touch and Big City.

 

[TheBigA]

They have -- at least the African-American community has -- in years past. Unfortunately it's been in the form of very professional sounding pirates: Touch and Big City.

I'm aware of them, and the problem is they're illegal. The Seattle stations are legal.

 

[CTListener]

I'm aware of them, and the problem is they're illegal. The Seattle stations are legal.

True. Here in Connecticut, back a few decades, we had noncommercial WPKN Bridgeport purchased by a community coalition after the University of Bridgeport, with which it had been affiliated, sold itself off to Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. WPKN remains a community station today. Unfortunately, it is still programmed like a college station, except instead of students, it's folks from the Bridgeport area dropping by for a few hours to play their favorite tracks from whatever genre they like most, which means the audience is generally small and transient. I guess enough people with niche tastes or involvement with the various political and social causes addressed on WPKN's talk shows donate enough to keep it going.

 

[TheBigA]

I guess enough people with niche tastes or involvement with the various political and social causes addressed on WPKN's talk shows donate enough to keep it going.

The two stations in Seattle are professionally run. With multi-million dollar budgets. KEXP just moved into new $15 million studios with a performance hall. All paid for by donations. I'm still waiting to hear why this can't be done in Boston. Any special laws or rules that I don't know about?

 

[Wimmmex]

I bet as time moves on, WAAF's billing will be considerably less than $7 million. With WBOS programming Rock and earning better ratings than WAAF, I only see WAAF's revenue performance slipping...

When the marketplace changes, as it is for WAAF, it's time for a retooling...not giving up, throwing in the towel and selling....

any offer above $12 million should be given serious consideration.

I would say if they are billing 7 Million....and posting 1 million profit, then the sale price would have to be $20 million or so to make it make sense.

Again, $7 Million is a lot of money....why say goodbye to it and simulcast?

 

[davideduardo]

I bet as time moves on, WAAF's billing will be considerably less than $7 million. With WBOS programming Rock and earning better ratings than WAAF, I only see WAAF's revenue performance slipping from recent historical levels. Too bad, as a #13 rank in Revenue is impressive for a station with such soft ratings in the Greater Boston area. Cannot help but wonder how much of that figure comes from accounting gimmicks associated with combo sells involving WEEI, though.

WBOS billed less than half of what WAAF did last year... of course that was with the "old" format. But WBOS had fallen nearly 50% in revenue in the last 5 years.

And WAAF is really not billing out of proportion for its share in sales demos.