WFNX being sold to Clear Channel

[LA_Guy]

Did Clear Channel buy 101.7 to put a new format there, or did Clear Channel really buy 101.7 to box in others in the market (Entercom, in particular) and prevent them from grabbing it first?

To the technically inclined, could CC turn off 101.7 and move 101.5 into Boston, or at least somewhere like Walpole/Sharon?

Yes they could.

If they shut off 101.7, Clear Channel could easily move 101.5 to the tower in Sharon besides Rte 95 and operate non directional. It would be crazy to do that however, because WFNX has a signal that covers dwntown Boston and within the 128 perimeter quite well - much better then 101.5 would cover from Sharon. HOWEVER, if they are looking for a wide area coverage FM (like The Sports Hub for example), 101.5 from Sharon would be hard to beat.

FNX's biggest problem is not 101.5. It is 101.9 in Falmouth. WFNX is very directional - they only send a couple hundred watts towards Falmouth from 1 Financial Center, as opposed to 1750 watts non directional at 470 feet AAT from their old Medford site (with the ability to about double the power from there in any direction but directly towards Falmouth). They had much better coverage of the metro from Medford (they pretty much came in great within the 495 perimeter) but their signal in downtown was not as good as it is from 1 Financial. Since they were programming to college students, it made sense to move downtown - but if they want a wide area station they might move it back to Medford. Who knows?

How about THIS one? a 101.5/101.7 simulcast? 101.5 covers the South Shore and West of Boston like a glove - the exact places where 101.7 is bad. 101.5 could also put up a panel antenna and cover these areas even better then they do now.

 

[LA_Guy]

They did. FNX didn't like the offer from them.

Other way around - Entercom thought Mindich was squeezing them. Mindich had been advised that Entercom did not want to blow up the other FM's.

Does anybody know how much the Phoenix paid for WLYN-FM 29 years ago?

One million and one hundred thousand dollars.

 

[wprt949]

What about 101.7 going as ESPN Radio or fox sports radio hmmmmmm

 

[NHRadio]

My uneducated wild guess: an FM for the Mia format on 1430 to compete with Costa-Eagle who has 800 Lawrence and 1570 Beverly.
Lynn and Salem have large Spanish populations.

 

[inorm99]

It's a fringe signal in that it doesn't cover the whole market. A niche format probably does best here - if not alternative, then something like urban, dance or Spanish. Boston already had a multitude of FM talk stations (provided you count sports and public outlets).

Didn't CC buy Indie 103 in LA and keep the format for awhile and try to make it work?

No, Indie 103.1 was always owned by Entravision or whatever, and they just plum blew it up.
I fully expect they radio info morons to go nuts with their stupid statements about FNX and what happened, and what should happen

 

[Fenway1912]

Seems to me the IF with WBUR is the main fly in the ointment? You would figure it would be easy to deal with interference issues with two co-owned stations.

I am missing something here. How does WBUR at 90.9 have ANY effect on 101.7????

I believe CC will go Spanish as 101.7's signal is strong enough in the Hispanic areas of Greater Boston. However I would not discount urban as it would compliment 94.5 and 107.9.

I will miss Leftover Lunch.

 

[inorm99]

Will they move the mia 1430 format to 101.7?

Jesus F ing Christ I hope not!

I hope that CC at least adds something different to the FM landscape.
HA HA HA it's Clear Channel Stupid

Would presume with the limited signal they will play to the city.
No, they will probably " play to the harbor, or maybe the harbor islands"

 

[inorm99]

disgusting

I agree

 

[reelyreal]

Seems to me the IF with WBUR is the main fly in the ointment? You would figure it would be easy to deal with interference issues with two co-owned stations.

I am missing something here. How does WBUR at 90.9 have ANY effect on 101.7????

FM receivers use an intermediate frequency of 10.7 or 10.8 MHz. FM stations that are spaced 10.8 MHz apart will interfere with reception of the signal. 90.9 is 10.8 MHz away from 101.7.

There's a lot more to IF and how it works in radio, but that's a basic explanation.

 

[JustinT]

If they shut off 101.7, Clear Channel could easily move 101.5 to the tower in Sharon besides Rte 95 and operate non directional.

But as Scott has explained many times in many places (including this thread), 101.7 cannot be "shut off" - it has to be moved. If one were to move 101.7 further north to get it out of Boston and perhaps into the Portsmouth market, then you run into issues with 101.5 WWHQ in Meredith, NH and 101.9 WPOR in Portland, ME.

How about THIS one? a 101.5/101.7 simulcast?

B101 seems to do quite well in Providence.

If CC were to simulcast 101.7 on another signal it owns, what about 93.3 WSNE? 93.3 along with 101.7 would provide decent coverage of the Boston market - sort of like a north/south version of the WAAF/WKAF pairing.

I believe CC will go Spanish as 101.7's signal is strong enough in the Hispanic areas of Greater Boston.

I agree. Just looking at Mia 1430's recently played songs, they recently played Lady Gaga's "Born This Way". Say what you want about talk radio sounding better on FM over AM, but Lady Gaga has got to be atrocious on AM. Mia 101.7, which features a broad Spanish hot AC format, could find a reasonable fan-base on FM who would never listen to music on AM - while also keeping younger listeners in the CC family.

 

[Fenway1912]

Thanks - I had a First Phone but I got it in Sarasota

I was a 'production engineer' and just needed the First to keep the union happy.

Seems to me the IF with WBUR is the main fly in the ointment? You would figure it would be easy to deal with interference issues with two co-owned stations.

I am missing something here. How does WBUR at 90.9 have ANY effect on 101.7????

FM receivers use an intermediate frequency of 10.7 or 10.8 MHz. FM stations that are spaced 10.8 MHz apart will interfere with reception of the signal. 90.9 is 10.8 MHz away from 101.7.

There's a lot more to IF and how it works in radio, but that's a basic explanation.

 

[nd2023]

Would be a good idea for Clear Channel to move Jam'n 94.5 to 101.7. Then flip 94.5 to talk.

 

[thirdendorsed]

Three thoughts.

1. It is kind of appalling that Mindich would blow out virtually the entire air staff while spending the next few months running spots and promotional events that exist precisely because of the audience that staff gave him. I don't know about severance, LMAs, or terms of the sale (and if you ran a public company would you want a bunch of alt-rock jocks teeing off on you for weeks and weeks while the closing was pending?), but I would hope if it's true the staff was blown out weeks before the sale goes through and the format changes, that they are leaving because it's part of the deal and not because Mindich is trying to squeeze every nickel out of a deal on which he is already making millions.

2. The price ought to be fascinating. It's a pure stick-price sale; Clear Channel isn't buying an ongoing business. That may mean CC can spend some money establishing a new format.

3. The most overused phrase in broadcasting is "intellectual property." WFNX has none other than identifying itself as being co-owned with the Boston Phoenix. They play music. Anyone else can copy the format at will. There are no features, trademarks, service marks, or prepared material that is entitled to the designation of "intellectual property." Please stop using the term. If you mean format, say format. Thank you.

 

[raccoonradio]

from today’s Herald. Bruce Mittman predicts (not official, just his opinion) Talk 101.7:

>>Radio industry experts say Clear Channel Communications will likely shift its news and talk station WXKS-AM to the FM dial once it finalizes a deal to buy alternative rock station WFNX-FM 101.7’s signal from Phoenix Media. “Their talk station is very expensive to run,” said former radio exec Bruce Mittman (about) WXKS-AM, whose lineup includes yakkers Jay Severin, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. “They cannot compete because it’s a limited signal. Putting it on FM would dramatically increase their coverage, which would help them with their ratings and with advertising.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/jobfind...l_buying_wfnxs_signal/srvc=home&position=also

(Note: the article says “of WXKS” not “about WXKS” which is poorly worded. It makes it sound like he works for Clear
Channel but I believe he doesn’t...which is why he says “they”..)

 

[DToTheJ]

If 101.7 gets the Talk 1200 format, now this means Jeff Katz can leave the building at 10:00 AM sharp in stereo! ;D

 

[DToTheJ]

How about THIS one? a 101.5/101.7 simulcast?

B101 seems to do quite well in Providence...

Which is mind boggling because you can hear stations with the exact same Premium Choice playlist in smaller markets like Sarasota and Fort Myers, FL but those stations actually have what sounds like a live jock in afternoon drive. Whereas on B101, you get canned liners by the VT'ed jocks not referring to the station. What does that tell you about Providence?

 

[DToTheJ]

What happens to 92.1 in New Hampshire?

What's happening to 92.1/WFEX?

Good question:
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/business/961037-192/wfnx-fm-sold-to-clear-channel-so-what.html

 

[jlehmann]

Would be a good idea for Clear Channel to move Jam'n 94.5 to 101.7. Then flip 94.5 to talk.

No way. 94.5 is as popular as it is because of how it targets a suburban audience, which would not be able to hear the 101.7 signal, especially south of Boston.

 

[4CX1000A]

Damn. I thought Clear Channel was still up to its ears in debt.

Why all the talk of Spanish? Spanish isn't even the second most commonly spoken language hereabouts. It's Portuguese.

And Country!? On a Boston station with a primarily urban coverage area? I wouldn't do it.

 

[jake1966]

I think it just shows what FM radio has become. With the influx of internet radio, satellite radio, it makes it harder to compete. (Plus all the license fees) With the station being able to keep their call letters and archives will they go internet? WBCN seems to be thriving on the internet.
Julie Kramer on FNX was one of my favorite DJs to listen to on a regular basis.