WKDN Changing From Non-Comm Back to Commercial?

[Kent]

From what I understand, CBS could buy WFSI Annapolis (107.9). With the dominance of WTOP in that area, I have to question how wise a move that would really be. The best format for 107.9 would be for them to go Black Gospel; be it with Radio-One or Clear Channel. If the Former, I'd strongly suggest that they unload some of their under-preforming operations in that area. If the latter, try to resist the temptation of selling 600 over to Family Stations.

While I agree that a start-up news operation would be a real gamble because of the high cost and low short-term revenue, I have to question the idea of doing black gospel with that stick. Radio One is already doing black gospel on 104.1, and it gets decent ratings, but there aren't too many ways to divide up a 4 share. That 4 share also cumes about half of what most similarly rated stations have. An audience based on TSL can be a problem since TSL isn't something you can sell.

 

[observer2]

I question whether CBS would buy WFSI as an all-news station or as news-talk operation that competes with WMAL. Actually, I questioned on the B/W board why they should buy it at all. Gospel is already well-covered on a R1 station (104.1) that has a signal that covers PG Co., southern MD, and the District.

CBS does seem to already have enough underperforming stations in Washington, and seems generally not well-positioned except for WJFK.

Bringing it back to Philly and KYW, CBS has established an FM sports and AM/FM news simulcast model in other cities where it owns stations in those formats. CBS' purchase of WKDN, by comparison to WFSI, seems to be more apparently logical.

 

[klutch00]

While I agree that a start-up news operation would be a real gamble because of the high cost and low short-term revenue, I have to question the idea of doing black gospel with that stick. Radio One is already doing black gospel on 104.1, and it gets decent ratings, but there aren't too many ways to divide up a 4 share. That 4 share also cumes about half of what most similarly rated stations have. An audience based on TSL can be a problem since TSL isn't something you can sell.

Black Gospel could and should work on 107.9 because there is a significant black population in Baltimore, Washington and Prince George's County. Even northern Charles county and parts of the Eastern Shore have a significant black population. 107.9 blankets virtually all of these areas with a decent signal. While 104.1 gets into Charles and Prince George's Counties, Washington an maybe parts of the Eastern Shore decently, it cannot reach Baltimore well without 104.3 'stepping all over its signal'. Moving "Praise" to 107.9 could solve the problem of filling a format and service 'hole' in the Baltimore area while enhancing service where the primary target audience resides. WCAO may be doing OK all things considered, but I'm pretty sure that advertisement revenue could support such an FM operation.

 

[observer2]

104.1 doesn't reach Baltimore, it's true. But is there room for a second Gospel station on 107.9 to compete in Washington and its Maryland suburbs? The most sensible move would have Radio One buying 107.9 and moving Gospel there, to keep the audience they have, gain Baltimore, and block CC.

But it may come down to the owner with the most resources. It may in Philadelphia as well with 106.9. I wonder what happens if that isn't CBS. Does it set other sales in motion?

 

[nd2023]

Radio One could buy the 107.9 in Annapolis, swap 103.9 and 107.9 in Philly, and simulcast Praise 107.9 in both places.

 

[klutch00]

104.1 doesn't reach Baltimore, it's true. But is there room for a second Gospel station on 107.9 to compete in Washington and its Maryland suburbs? The most sensible move would have Radio One buying 107.9 and moving Gospel there, to keep the audience they have, gain Baltimore, and block CC.

This is exactly what I suggest. Moreover under such a scenario, R1 could move Magic from 102.3 to 104.1, and either sell 102.3, 1340 or both.

But it may come down to the owner with the most resources. It may in Philadelphia as well with 106.9. I wonder what happens if that isn't CBS. Does it set other sales in motion?

MAybe a rock format could emerge on 106.9 up there; maybe even with the WYSP calls.

 

[danikayser84]

If CBS buys 106.9, I'd sooner expect KYW-FM or WPHT-FM than the return of WYSP... Merlin might also be looking to buy the signal for an "FM News 106.9"... anyone else in the running to buy 106.9?

 

[wprt949]

if cbs buys 106.9 id expect christmas music if they closed on it in november
they gotta do some stunting on that bad boy before they kick it off with what ever format that is planned

 

[imhomerjay]

No, they don't need to, any more than they "needed" to do something similar before simulcasting WIP on 94. Just flip a switch and you're done.

 

[Irishfl]

I agree they wouldn't have to, but I could see them taking advantage of the timing. Make an extra buck off the Christmas format, hurt b101 a little, while promoting WOGL as the station to for listen to for music after x-mas, and the start of KYW-FM. WIP did have a month or so of promoting the big switch, so they could start with a bang. So I doubt CBS would want to on the day of the purchase make the big switch first, and then tell people hey you can now hear us on FM.

 

[imhomerjay]

Promoting OGL is one thing, but with history as a guide, hurting B101 hardly seems to be likely. When Sunny and Now were doing the ho-ho-ho thing, the B still cleaned up. Maybe they'd have earned a few more dollars on top of it without the other stations, but that's a bit like saying you "hurt" the team that clobbered you by limiting them to beating you 35-7 instead of 40-7.

 

[Irishfl]

Well I didn't mean beat them, or even come close. Just a mini one time WOGL cluster. OGL could prevent a few ears from going to b101 by saying for Holiday music, tune to 106.9. They already go thru the effort for OGL HD 3 each year, so surely this would prove more feasible since anyone can hear it. At the same time get a few B listeners who prefer classic X-mas music, and promote the big chance.

Yes you could look at it like a 35-7 instead of 40-7 score, but I would look at it more like when a defense commits a foul as the ball is snapped, you see the flag, and you know you got a free play. Most QB's take a shot at something during free plays, cause they know even if it doesn't work they get another chance.

 

[radioguy39nj]

If CBS buys 106.9, what need is there for them to stunt when they can simply turn the switch and put KYW or WPHT on the frequency. Most likely it would be KYW simulcasting all-news on 106.9 FM, following the precedent of San Francisco and Chicago.

 

[imhomerjay]

No need at all, as is the case with most stunts.

 

[pab]

Stunts are designed to hold current listeners and attract new ones for the debut of something new. No one is listening to WKDN that CBS is interested in, and no one needs to attract eager ears for a potential KYW-FM; it's a known property.

Stunting would be anticlimactic and a waste of time.

 

[Bill_W]

Stunts are designed to hold current listeners and attract new ones for the debut of something new. No one is listening to WKDN that CBS is interested in, and no one needs to attract eager ears for a potential KYW-FM; it's a known property.

Stunting would be anticlimactic and a waste of time.

So if CBS is able to buy 106.9, the moment it closes, you start to simulcast 1060 on it and promote the hell out of it on all the CBS properties that KYW is on 106.9 & 1060? By just hearing this on 1060, people that get static under the powerlines can switch to 106.9 and hear traffic on the 2s in beautifal FM stereo. KYW does sound great on WIP HD-2. It even sounds like it is in stereo on the FM and onlines feeds. I guess if required by FCC you start to get rid of one of the AM stations, 610?

 

[jmtillery]

So if CBS is able to buy 106.9, the moment it closes, you start to simulcast 1060 on it and promote the hell out of it on all the CBS properties

Actually CBS would not necessarily need to wait for FCC license transfer approval before CBS begins programming WKDN. It is common today for a buyer to immediately begin operating a new station under an LMA [Local Marketing/Management Agreement] while awaiting regulatory approval. If CBS [or any entity] reaches an agreement with Family Stations, Inc. to acqure WKDN, expect new programming to surface on 106.9 as soon as the contracts are signed.

 

[Irishfl]

Family radio would probably want to keep programing until this Friday.

 

[radiophiler]

Much of the speculation surrounding CBS's potential purchase of WKDN revolves around a trade, because CBS is at its limit in Philadelphia because it owns two TV stations. Most of the speculation has been around trading 610 for 106.9. WIP would be FM only; KYW would be AM and FM.

However, today, the Philadelphia Union announced an agreement with CBS radio to broadcast 17 games next season ... on 610 WIP. The article on philly.com specifically says "on the station's AM feed."

Makes sense. They would not preempt other programming on the FM side for a Union game.

So, does this mean CBS is out of the running for 106.9? Or, could CBS easily amend the contract with the Union to air games on 1060 if it traded 610 for 106.9?

And does this mean Merlin Media, operator of the new FM News stations in NYC and Chicago, will end up with 106.9?

 

[Irishfl]

Well a few weeks ago I threw out the suggestion that CBS might trade 1060 over 610, because 610 still served the purpose of overflow, while 1060 would outside promoting the move to FM for a week or 2 nolonger be any use to CBS. So my position has always been 610 would be kept.