WFFM & WRXZ

[makemineblatz]

They're on the auction block. Any takers?

 

[bholt]

I'd love to buy 'em, but I'm not independently wealthy.

This is an awesome opportunity for Albany-area radio for an FM talker or FM sports. If Cumulus or Clear Channel did buy them, it'd be interesting to see what format they'd put on 'em.

 

[OICUR12]

Do their signals actually cover Albany? Why are they being auctioned by a lender? What's their story?
OIC

 

[radionut925]

Do their signals actually cover Albany? Why are they being auctioned by a lender? What's their story?
OIC

To answer the first question, WRXZ has a strong signal reaching into Albany/Dougherty County, while WFFM is strongest between Cordele, Sylvester, and Tifton, give or take. As for the answers to the other two questions, it's anybody's guess what might happen.

 

[rcombs]

These stations have been bought by Educational Media Foundation....see below.





WFFM-FM/Ashburn and WRXZ-FM/Sylvester (Albany)
PRICE: $615,000
TERMS: Bankruptcy Court Order Sale
BUYER: Educational Media Foundation, headed by President Richard Jenkins. Phone: 916-251-1600. It owns 183 other stations. This represents its entry into this market.
SELLER: On Top Communications, headed by Chf Restructrng Ofcr Bryan Rice. Phone: 817-738-2400
FREQUENCY: 105.7 MHz; 106.1 MHz
POWER: 6kw at 328 feet; 6kw at 328 feet
FORMAT: Urban AC/Hip Hop; Urban AC/Hip Hop
COMMENT: WRXZ-FM/Sylvester and WFFM-FM/Ashburn, GA from On Top Communications of GA, Debtor in Possession to Educational Media Foundation for $615,000 as part of a Bankruptcy Court Order Sale.

 

[ssnake]

$615k? Wow, that's cheap! I bet those stations could definitely be profitable with that investment.

"Educational Media Foundation" -- Gotta love the vague misnomer corporate names. Reminds me of "Woman's World Broadcasting" (alter ego: Southern Broadcasting) and "Georgia Foundation of Public Broadcasting" (WKEU's noncomm oldies station). If EMF is a strictly Christian broadcaster, why not be upfront and reflect that commitment in the corporate name?

 

[bholt]

I'm curious to see what the format changes will be--especially with LOTS of Christian radio in the area...95.3 WJYF, 107.5 WTIF, 89.3 WBJY, 90.3 WAEF, 90.7 WWXC, and others. Seems kind of crowded.

Think some of the above stations might flip if WFFM/WRXZ become Christian rockers?

 

[faaradar]

They won't be Christian Rockers; they'll be K-Love.

 

[ngriffin]

EMF has two networks... K-Love, which is Christian AC, and Air 1, which is more youth oriented. Nothing says that they can't split the two signals. Considering the overlap between WFFM 105.7 and 95.3 WJYF, it might make sense.

Expect to see more of these folks. They seem to have cash to buy and their business model is low overhead, since there is no local programming. Just a transmitter and satellite dish or a translator.

 

[rcombs]

Yeah, they just paid 1.5 million for 2 FMs and a translator in NM. Part of the Clear Channel sell off.

 

[ngriffin]

Selling to a non-comm can be good business for the big chains if they are required to divest a signal. They might not make top dollar, but there is now one less signal that can compete against them.

 

[radionut925]

EMF has two networks... K-Love, which is Christian AC, and Air 1, which is more youth oriented. Nothing says that they can't split the two signals. Considering the overlap between WFFM 105.7 and 95.3 WJYF, it might make sense.

Expect to see more of these folks. They seem to have cash to buy and their business model is low overhead, since there is no local programming. Just a transmitter and satellite dish or a translator.

That's the sad but ironic part here. While this sale might be good news for people that like to listen to Christian music and/or programming, it's bad news for people that want local programming. It's surprising that a regional company such as Georgia Eagle out of Warner Robins, or RTG Media, or even Flint Media, the parent company of WBGE-Live 101.9 out of Bainbridge, didn't step up and buy WRXZ or WFFM. Instead of a potential FM news/talk or sports station, or at least something different covering the Albany market, there'll be two more stations that are satellite fed or automated.

Then again, even the stations that cover other parts of Southwest Georgia might be live and local in the mornings, but go to syndication/satellite automation the rest of the broadcast day, unless there's the Sunday morning church service at 11 a.m., or the high school football game of the week. ???