> > I could see stations (once the need for 24/7 news talk is
> > over)just simulcasting sister stations in Baton Rouge for
> a
> > long while.
> >
> That seems to be the most likely scenario. Even stations
> that plan to focus on NO, such as WWL, will probably just
> take over some foundering or silent BR frequency and run all
> operations from there.
>
Ok, Entercon has no real home in BR.. Most of the stations are owned by major companies in Baton Rouge and BR only has one silent frequency I'm aware of right now (and Entercon probably wouldn't want to buy it due to them having to build a new tower to get it on the air again and that's on am, unless they buy the Citadel cluster which Entercon is rumored to be buying anyway) unless local broadcaster Guaranty broadcasting wants to sell out it's cluster..and right now I say nah.... It may change as they have sold some other properties (including one in Slidell that Citadel just finalized on about a month ago at max (and is now off the air from what I can tell due to Katrina) but Guaranty seem commited to their Baton Rouge and Houma clusters.
The others could just relay Baton rouge programming in for the near interim like the TV stations are doing or Even VT some jocks in from elsewhere for a while, But there is enough area to put temporary studios outside the New Orleans CBD for a while (a few actually has/had digs in Metarie in Jefferson parish..Metarie for an idea is about 7 miles west from the CBD,and the heart of Metarie is where the video footage was shot of the people getting on buses to go to Houston and elsewhere (I beleive the intersection it shows in those clips was causeway at I-10, on I-10 with the Galleria towers right behind it (and WTIX-FM and WUPL studios nearby)
There is a lot that can be done.... Look for CC and Citadel to possibly try to work the NOLA and BR clusters out of the BR cluster's offices with Nola getting some VT jocks for a while possibly)..Entercon can set something up in Metarie and be back in action with in the month or so... Hell even Citadel and Clear channel can set something up in Jefferson parish and get the cluster going (and with occupancy at 70-80% before the storm, they should have some room at these office towers after the bottom ends are redone)... Even Northshore places like Covington, or bayou places like Houma can support places for studios ... ..don't count it out yet
Unlike other cities, this area has some options and the infrastructure to do it...
Unlike other places outside the gulf coast/southern Atlantic seaboard , this ain't our first rodeo with rebuilding..the gulf coast is getting good at it.... I mean look at the Mobile/Pensacola market that had to have towers and all rebuilt after Ivan... All we luckily have to do is redo studios for the most part.....
Besides, most of the clusters had their studios high in the office towers in the CBD area..It won't be hard to go get the boards and computers (once they OK it with FEMA and the city) and get it going within a week or two....
RFLA