I don't think any decision on killing off one of the sports stations will take place anytime soon....as it is a big decision and will require some research of the brands, etc. They can't afford to make a mistake.
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What if there's an Entercom-CBS deal?
- Thread starter raccoonradio
- Start date
I don't think any decision on killing off one of the sports stations will take place anytime soon....as it is a big decision and will require some research of the brands, etc. They can't afford to make a mistake.
I'd be surprised if any of them did, or do so even after the deal was done. Most listeners don't know or care who owns their favorite stations. In WEEI and WBZ-FM's case, they just want to hear and talk about sports. I wouldn't be surprised if the on-air rivalry continues after the stations are co-owned -- kind of like the "rivalry" between WWE's "Raw" and "Smackdown" factions. It's all show biz once the mic is open.
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In Boston, the cap is 8 stations, with a maximum of 5 on either band.
Any station licensed within the MSA counts.
Why? They don't need any more stations.
Something else to keep in mind is that Entercom, if it chooses to swap or if the DOJ mandates, may have to part with a few more profitable stations in the cluster. As an example, there's little chance Cox would swap away a profitable cluster in Tampa or San Antonio for a couple of also-rans in Boston and Seattle.
So, Entercom might prefer to deal WKAF/WAAF, but plenty of other variables are at play.
So, Entercom might prefer to deal WKAF/WAAF, but plenty of other variables are at play.
Haven't heard anything overt, but a few oblique comments on EEI mid-day - "Glen is now gonna hug Bertrand, but their arms won't reach around each other," "Zo will come over to be on our show and Lou will go over there."
By any definition a stunning development that recasts the radio landscape in Boston. Some things to consider here:
--Hub and WEEI are top-2 or 3 billers in the market. NO WAY you mess with that, and the harder they compete the bigger the market share for sports. Already proven.
--WAAF no longer counts against Boston market cap as it is licensed to Worcester Metro after the signal split in Jan. Conceivably, the new entity can keep WZLX, Hub, WEEI, WBMX, WAAF and either WODS or WKAF. That's six FM's by my count. Genius.
--The new entity can also keep 50kw WBZ-AM, WRKO and WEEI-AM making it the best AM signal triopoly in the country.
--Wait there's more: Trump FCC wants to loosen market caps in Top10. It is very possible the new Entercom could keep the whole shebang.
--Entercom and CBS are already the two best sales organizations in town.
--Beasley people are certifiably screwed in Boston and iHeart just missed the last train out of town.
Everything about this makes sense for CBS and ETCM in Boston. What a deal!
--Hub and WEEI are top-2 or 3 billers in the market. NO WAY you mess with that, and the harder they compete the bigger the market share for sports. Already proven.
--WAAF no longer counts against Boston market cap as it is licensed to Worcester Metro after the signal split in Jan. Conceivably, the new entity can keep WZLX, Hub, WEEI, WBMX, WAAF and either WODS or WKAF. That's six FM's by my count. Genius.
--The new entity can also keep 50kw WBZ-AM, WRKO and WEEI-AM making it the best AM signal triopoly in the country.
--Wait there's more: Trump FCC wants to loosen market caps in Top10. It is very possible the new Entercom could keep the whole shebang.
--Entercom and CBS are already the two best sales organizations in town.
--Beasley people are certifiably screwed in Boston and iHeart just missed the last train out of town.
Everything about this makes sense for CBS and ETCM in Boston. What a deal!
A BIA report from 2012 didn't list most Worcester stations as being in the Boston market. WAAF, however, was included, as was WXLO, while WORC-FM, WSRS, and WVEI were not.
Granted, that report's five years old, and a lot could have changed since then. I suspect WAAF will still be considered a Boston station, but it's possible WVEI will not.
Worcester is an embedded market both measured as part of the Boston market and with its own separate report. BIA shows embedded markets separately because they are revenue focused.
The FCC has used the full MSA, not embedded markets, for establishing caps. That's why Clear Channel had to sell in San Jose to meet San Francisco market caps... although BIA lists San Jose separately using the embedded market ratings, revenue and population data.
There has been some talk of removing AM stations from the caps entirely. That would benefit Entercom greatly.
The bigger issue will be a DoJ review of concentration of revenue.
So IHeart may be on its last legs, at least here in Boston. And Beasley have screwed up their cluster.
Yes, but we've been hearing the "last leg" story for a long time....and I suspect we'll continue to hear it for a long time.
How is that?
Beasley stations do well in ratings but maybe not in sales?Someone on my FB predicted 93.7 goes away.Really? The signal is good for many and augmented by 103.7 and they make money.5 teams if you include the Revs need homes for games.Maybe C's games land on 93.7 when B's play at same time on 98.5. Instead of interrupting rock on 100.7
Herald mentions the rivalry of the sports stations. As usual whenever the papers talk about this the comments come out about what hosts the people dislike. The stations each appeal to age demos.The 30 year olds living in mom's basement and the 50 year olds living in mom's basement.
I didn't mean to imply "Beasley screw(ed) up their cluster." What I am saying is that the new merged Entercom CBS cluster will choke the life out of everything in its radius. I believe you are looking at north of a 65% share of revenue. It is an absolute beast, and Beasley and iHeart will both suffer financially. There is no getting around that, and I don't care how many FM's they have.
In the current political and regulatory climate, I'd guess that concentration of revenue no longer remains an issue unless someone is greasing the gears to their advantage otherwise.
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