Why is WOLL leaving?

[Ai4i]

According to Radio Locator, 105.5 has a CP to move their transmitter from WPB to Port Saint Lucie.
Has got to involve some shuffling around of stations.

 

[ScottBurns]

I cannot fathom any particular reason why they would be doing this. The only possibility is that WOLL is throwing in the towel in Palm Beach County and focusing on St. Lucie and Martin Counties. WOLL's reception is weak is parts of southern Palm Beach County. But still, one would think that they would want to focus on where the largest audience exists...

 

[Faraway]

The only possibility is that WOLL is throwing in the towel in Palm Beach County and focusing on St. Lucie and Martin Counties. WOLL's reception is weak is parts of southern Palm Beach County. But still, one would think that they would want to focus on where the largest audience exists...

WOW! Interesting post. Did you see the just released Spring ARB for WPB-Boca?? WOLL is almost always a top three station but this time number one. The money demos are there, too. In no 'way, shape or form' do they appear to be "throwing in the towel" in PB County.

 

[jmtillery]

The move appears to be due to WOLL going from a directional antenna pattern to a non-directional pattern. As for any other reason(s) Clear Channel is moving WOLL's tower away from Palm Beach, I really don't know unless it has anything to do with a potential ownership cap issue. It could be that Clear Channel had too many local West Palm Beach signals.

 

[Ai4i]

I sent station management an Email but have received no reply.
I fear I could have startled whomever read it.
What is this guy saying... ???

BTW...does any one know whether "Cup of Joe" Raineri over on Seaview is related to the late, "Cup of Mike"?

 

[jmtillery]

I fear I could have startled whomever read it.

I tend to have that same effect on some people.

 

[Radio-X]

The move appears to be due to WOLL going from a directional antenna pattern to a non-directional pattern. As for any other reason(s) Clear Channel is moving WOLL's tower away from Palm Beach, I really don't know unless it has anything to do with a potential ownership cap issue. It could be that Clear Channel had too many local West Palm Beach signals.

I wonder if this is the same reason why WKGR moved from St. Lucie to Palm Beach recently? Swapping places on the tower?

Radio-X

 

[jmtillery]

The move appears to be due to WOLL going from a directional antenna pattern to a non-directional pattern. As for any other reason(s) Clear Channel is moving WOLL's tower away from Palm Beach, I really don't know unless it has anything to do with a potential ownership cap issue. It could be that Clear Channel had too many local West Palm Beach signals.

I wonder if this is the same reason why WKGR moved from St. Lucie to Palm Beach recently? Swapping places on the tower?

Radio-X

I hadn't really thought of it that way, but what you suggest may explain at least part of why 105.5 is moving away in order to bring in the bigger signal and remain within local market caps.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Clear Channel did the same thing to WFMX 105.7 in Statesville, NC (which falls in the Charlotte market). WFMX was in the name of a holding company because of the market cap. The station had been playing Country music for ages. The moved the station to a suburb of Greensboro crippled the power a little and changed to Urban. No more cap problem but man were people bummed out about it.

 

[glc]

Very interesting.

105.5, of course, was originally allocated to Vero Beach and was the first frequency for WAVW. The Love Doctors got their start there.

There's gotta be a format flip somewhere in here too, as the 105.5 format is almost identical to to what's on C.C.'s WQOL 103.7. Skip Kelly even does v.t. for both.

 

[txchipk]

When CC went private in 2008, it constituted an ownership change at the FCC. In markets it had been grandfathered in owning stations above the normal cap limits, it lost its grandfathered status as a result of the ownership change. So, they put some stations, like WOLL, into a trust (Aloha Trust) since, in this case, they owned 5 FM stations (WRLX, WZZR, WLDI, WKGR, WOLL) in the West Palm Beach market and the limit is 4. In its application, WOLL's facility is moved out of the market into the Fort Pierce market and CC takes ownership of it back from the trust. Citadel had to do the samething recently as part of its chapter 11...excess stations it owned in Albuquerque, Charleston, etc. were put into a trust. It was able to reclaim the one in Charleston (WMGL) it put in the trust due to another one its Charleston stations (WNKT) being relocated out of the market to another market.

Of course, once the 105.5 facility moves, if they feel the format is valuable enough to keep in the market, CC can move the format to one of the other 4 signals it still owns.

 

[Ai4i]

Well described but we do not understand what a trust is. Does CC own the trust and are they moving the stations from their living rooms to their kitchens? Who ultimately profits from the trust owned stations' spot sales? We long for the days of one station per band per market.

 

[jmtillery]

Well described but we do not understand what a trust is.

A Trust is a legal, but seperate, entity managed by a Trustee, usually an independent attorney. It is called a Trust because the Trust Maker is placing trust in another person to hold and manage the assets placed in Trust.

In the case of the Aloha Trust, Clear Channel still "owns" the stations in the Trust, but has nothing to do with the management of said stations placed in Trust. The Trustee oversees the management. Should the Trustee sell any of the stations placed in Trust, Clear Channel recieves the proceeds, less any management fee paid to the former Trustee. It's a way of taking the Trust stations out of Clear Channel's direct "hands" on a temporary basis until the matter that resulted in forming the Trust can be resolved to satisfy FCC and DOJ rules. In a way, it is as you described by taking the furniture out of your house and placing it in your neighbor's home allowing your neighbor to take care of your furniture.

By way of example, wealthy individuals usually form a Trust to place all their assets with said Trust becoming the legal owner of said assets (real estate, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, automobiles, etc.). The Trust maker (individual) then becomes Trustee who manages the assets held by the Trust. This is done to avoid probate when the Trustmaker passes away as there is nothing to probate since the Trust is recognized by the courts as the legal owner with perpetual existence. The beneficiaries then become the new Trustee(s). At the passing of the Trust maker, no ownership of the assets have changed since the legal owner (the Trust) did not die with the Trust maker or Trustee.

This is different than the way the Aloha Trust is set up in that Clear Channel is not the Trustee but Clear Channel is the beneficiary.

 

[jmtillery]

Well described but we do not understand what a trust is.

A Trust is a legal, but seperate, entity managed by a Trustee, usually an independent attorney. It is called a Trust because the Trust Maker is placing trust in another person to hold and manage the assets placed in Trust.

In the case of the Aloha Trust, Clear Channel still "owns" the stations in the Trust, but has nothing to do with the management of said stations placed in Trust. The Trustee oversees the management. Should the Trustee sell any of the stations placed in Trust, Clear Channel recieves the proceeds, less any management fee paid to the former Trustee. It's a way of taking the Trust stations out of Clear Channel's direct "hands" on a temporary basis until the matter that resulted in forming the Trust can be resolved to satisfy FCC and DOJ rules. In a way, it is as you described by taking the furniture out of your house and placing it in your neighbor's home allowing your neighbor to take care of your furniture.

By way of example, wealthy individuals usually form a Trust to place all their assets with said Trust becoming the legal owner of said assets (real estate, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, automobiles, etc.). The Trust maker (individual) then becomes Trustee who manages the assets held by the Trust. This is done to avoid probate when the Trustmaker passes away as there is nothing to probate since the Trust is recognized by the courts as the legal owner with perpetual existence. The beneficiaries then become the new Trustee(s). At the passing of the Trust maker, no ownership of the assets have changed since the legal owner (the Trust) did not die with the Trust maker or Trustee.

This is different than the way the Aloha Trust is set up in that Clear Channel is not the Trustee but Clear Channel is the beneficiary.

I should further expound by saying that Clear Channel's ownership in the Aloha Trust is an indirect ownership interest via the appointed Trustee. The Aloha Trust is the actual owner or licensee of the stations held in the Trust and not Clear Channel Communications.

 

[Ai4i]

This is why you broker stations and I drive a taxi

 

[jmtillery]

This is why you broker stations and I drive a taxi

There is absolutely nothing wrong with driving a taxi. At least you have a job which is more than what some people can say for themselves.

 

[Ai4i]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with driving a taxi.

spoken like the statesman that you are.
Be sure to let us know when you run for public office.

 

[jmtillery]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with driving a taxi.

spoken like the statesman that you are.
Be sure to let us know when you run for public office.

I don't know that I will ever campaign for public office, while at the same time I never say never. Maybe I should consider campaigning for Chairman of the FCC which ironically is an appointed office. Perhaps I may stand a better chance at winning the race for Dog Catcher provided I am campaigning unopposed.

A true politician's answer to every question is something along the line of "I'm very happy you asked that question, and I will be happy to answer it for you. I understand about the very issue you are referring, and believe me, I, too, share your concern. And I can assure you that my staff and I are working on resolving that very issue right now. I can further assure you that, once elected, I will implement a plan that will be firm, yet fair, to everyone in this fine community. Next question please."

 

[glc]

There's gotta be a format flip somewhere in here too, as the 105.5 format is almost identical to to what's on C.C.'s WQOL 103.7. Skip Kelly even does v.t. for both.

Was dial flipping on the way into work this am and noticed that WQOL has gone back to calling itself "Oldies 103.7" and the playlist has shifted from Classic Hits of the 70's and 80's to stuff like the Beatles and Neil Diamond, etc. again.

Hmmmm....isn't "Oldies" a dirty word in C.C. land???

 

[RadioGuy2004]

Apparently not. The word or positioner Oldies is not a negative connotation...well, at least to this lower end 25-54 male....it just means music you can understand from an era gone by. *Insert sarcastic remark about current Top 40 and Hip Hop music here if you wish!*

KLTH Portland: formerly K-HITS 106-7 under CBS before the swap to CC; now Oldies 106.7

WRIT Milwaukee: ORIGINALLY Oldies 95.7; then My 95-7, then 95.7 WRIT, now Oldies 95.7 (again)

WQOL Vero Beach: originally Q 103.7, then Oldies 103.7, then 103.7 WQOL, now back to Oldies 103.7, using the same jingle package as Majic 102.7/Miami. When I've been up to Stuart, PSL, and Vero and drove through many times, 103.7FM always used to go on my radio until they became a KOOL 105.5 shadowcaster. I'm listening online right now; subjectively speaking, MUCH BETTER!

But the question still remains, formats aside, why IS WOLL moving back up to Port Saint Lucie?? 105.5 is a competing signal in WPB, and I don't think they're over the limit in that market, are they?