WFAN AM/FM

[mets18]

I think the point is that if you are going to advertise on a network, advertising on the one with a full market FM signal in the number 1 market (e.g., ESPN) vs. one that doesn't have any presence (e.g., Fox Sports Radio) is more attractive. Now, how much that is worth is debatable.

 

[luperm]

I think the point is that if you are going to advertise on a network, advertising on the one with a full market FM signal in the number 1 market (e.g., ESPN) vs. one that doesn't have any presence (e.g., Fox Sports Radio) is more attractive. Now, how much that is worth is debatable.

It's worth a lot. Otherwise Disney would not have gone through the trouble to lease the station in the first place.

 

[TheBigA]

I recall a few years ago BigA mentioned that Disney kept one station in LA for visibility or something like that. Is that the reason?

Exactly. They own it, and by owning it, they control all of the programming on it, when it airs, how it airs, and how its merchandised.

Comparatively there is no flagship to the CBS Sports Radio Network. WFAN runs as much of it as they need, when they need it. CBS Sports doesn't own a radio station anywhere, so they can't use it as an example.

 

[Kelly A]

Comparatively there is no flagship to the CBS Sports Radio Network. WFAN runs as much of it as they need, when they need it. CBS Sports doesn't own a radio station anywhere, so they can't use it as an example.

And prior to CBS getting out of radio ownership, WCBS, and to a lesser extent, KCBS in Los Angeles, were considered the flagships for CBS radio news.

 

[TheBigA]

And prior to CBS getting out of radio ownership, WCBS, and to a lesser extent, KCBS in Los Angeles, were considered the flagships for CBS radio news.

You might mean KCBS in San Francisco, or KNX in Los Angeles.

 

[FairBol]

Why would a flagship station matter to advertisers? Aren't they more interested in the network reach as a whole?

I think you read me wrong. I'm not suggesting that WFAN-AM change formats...I'm aware of their status as the most listened to sports radio station in the country. What I don't understand is why a 50,000 watt station like WFAN (which can be heard as far north as Canada, and as far south as the Carolinas) needs to have an FM simulcast.

With the range that "The Fan" has, they should have no problem with their signal being heard. It would make sense to me for Entercom to sell the FM side, perhaps to someone who would program it for Hot AC.

 

[davideduardo]

I think you read me wrong. I'm not suggesting that WFAN-AM change formats...I'm aware of their status as the most listened to sports radio station in the country. What I don't understand is why a 50,000 watt station like WFAN (which can be heard as far north as Canada, and as far south as the Carolinas) needs to have an FM simulcast.

There is zero, zilch, nada revenue from coverage outside the New York Metro Survey Area (MSA). And big AM coverage is at night only, when advertisers don't buy much radio at all, anyway.

The 50,000 watts is most needed today to overcome man made noise in the metro.

With the range that "The Fan" has, they should have no problem with their signal being heard. It would make sense to me for Entercom to sell the FM side, perhaps to someone who would program it for Hot AC.

AM is dying. It's usage by those under 55 is minimal, and decreasing every year.

I have been told that 80% of the 25-54 audience for the Fan is on FM, and the AM amount is still decreasing.

AM is like a landline phone. I only have it as a backup, but never use it. If it weren't that it is nearly free with my cable and FiOS internet, I would probably have dropped landline.

 

[davideduardo]

You might mean KCBS in San Francisco, or KNX in Los Angeles.

And before LA started growing after The War, San Francisco was considered more important as a radio market.

 

[Don CT]

There is zero, zilch, nada revenue from coverage outside the New York Metro Survey Area (MSA). And big AM coverage is at night only, when advertisers don't buy much radio at all, anyway.

The 50,000 watts is most needed today to overcome man made noise in the metro.



AM is dying. It's usage by those under 55 is minimal, and decreasing every year.

I have been told that 80% of the 25-54 audience for the Fan is on FM, and the AM amount is still decreasing.

AM is like a landline phone. I only have it as a backup, but never use it. If it weren't that it is nearly free with my cable and FiOS internet, I would probably have dropped landline.

Would the Yankees be on WFAN is they were FM only? The Yankees want their games to reach as many people and being on AM does that for them.

 

[TheBigA]

Would the Yankees be on WFAN is they were FM only? The Yankees want their games to reach as many people and being on AM does that for them.

If reach is the goal, MLB.com reaches more than AM.

 

[Don CT]

If reach is the goal, MLB.com reaches more than AM.

Isn't that blocked out to local markets?

 

[TheBigA]

Isn't that blocked out to local markets?

Then you listen to the radio. But I can get MLB.com way beyond the reach of WFAN.

 

[CTListener]

Isn't that blocked out to local markets?

No. You can always get the radio broadcast. If you click on a blacked-out game on MLB.TV, you automatically get the audio player with a message above it saying that the telecast of the game is blacked out in your area. In Connecticut, those games would be Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.