WKRD 101.7 SOLD

[radiofan502]

WKRD 101.7 is being sold to Southern Belle LLC for $ 175,000. I wonder what the new format will be? And I wonder if C.C will move the WKRD 790 simulcast to another station? Maybe 100.5? Any thoughts?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I'm sure Bengalsfan will know more than I but I believe it was purchased by a Frankfort based group, so I would expect the focus to be non-Louisville based. It sold for $100K less than 1450 did...I think these people got a better deal than the 1450 buyer did. 790 doesn't go east at night, so this was a good match for them. I've learned to never underestimate the impossible (or even the unlikely), but it would surprise me if 100.5 and 790 paired up--even though they are on the same towers.

 

[DJOnAStick]

I'm sure Bengalsfan will know more than I but I believe it was purchased by a Frankfort based group, so I would expect the focus to be non-Louisville based. It sold for $100K less than 1450 did...I think these people got a better deal than the 1450 buyer did. 790 doesn't go east at night, so this was a good match for them. I've learned to never underestimate the impossible (or even the unlikely), but it would surprise me if 100.5 and 790 paired up--even though they are on the same towers.

I want to say that Southern Belle's owner is the daughter of Froggy owner, and Beaver owner, Kirby with Forever Broadcasting (Forever Communications). The Forever Communications stations in Frankfort were recently sold to what I think was his daughter. I could be wrong, but I had a friend in the Lexington market telling me about the change in ownership that he had heard through the grapevine.

Article: http://www.rbr.com/radio/radio_deals/clear-channel-says-aloha-to-kentucky-stick.html

 

[radiofan502]

101.7 has been taken off the WKRD website and the sports schedule for 101.7 ends at 12/31/11.

 

[Onesimus]

My guess is that 93.1 (or even 100.5) will be WKRD-FM after the first of the year. If not, they'll have to put U of L sports on one of their music stations (100.5 might work). This is all about revenue. Like it or not, "spoken word" formats will prosper more in the future of radio. They offer programming that can't be as easily duplicated.

 

[secondchoice]

Will 101.7 stay "aimed" or programmed for L'ville? Is there as much revenue in it's city of license or Frankfort like BobOnTheJob thinks?

 

[greg.hahn]

My guess is that 93.1 (or even 100.5) will be WKRD-FM after the first of the year. If not, they'll have to put U of L sports on one of their music stations (100.5 might work). This is all about revenue. Like it or not, "spoken word" formats will prosper more in the future of radio. They offer programming that can't be as easily duplicated.

Let's remember that UofL was happy when they were on 840 alone. No FM was needed or desired at that time. The switch to 790 is what prompted the need for an FM, due to 790 switching antenna patterns and dropping to 1000 watts for nighttime operation.

Here is the coverage map. Keep in mind that the inner red line is the only one that has any coverage at all:

Click here[url]



If you are familiar at all with the 93.1 signal, you will immediately see that their coverage area is about the same as the 790 nighttime coverage area. Little, if anything, would be gained by adding 93.1.

If Clear Channel is going to flip one of their FMs to appease UofL, 93.1 won't be the one.

 

[long-time-first-time]

You bring up excellent points, Greg. The problem is the p!$$ING contest between businesses and alumni of U of L and UK. The Wildcat supporters won't take a backseat to anyone .Sandy Gamblin claimed it cost him his job as GM when they pre-empted UK sports for U of L. The more I think about it, I agree with those who think there's a good chance the U of L games end up on 100.5 . Whether or not they simulcast WKRD the rest of the day remains to be seen. There's probably a lot of affluent Louisville boosters on the east end that won't tolerate the 790 signal at night.

 

[Craven707]

Remember back when UofL had top billing on WHAS? When there was a conflict with UK, their (UK) games were broadcast on QMF.

 

[Bengalsfan]

You guys are fun to read. And as usual, way off the mark in your assessments of the Shelbyville FM.

 

[storrs19]

Yeah, nobody dares get in the way of mighty Ripp! You better be able to find UK on at least 10 stations AM and FM or the world would end : Being an IU fan of course I'm happy with the events of yesterday.

All that aside, thanks for the link to the site projecting night time signal coverage. Seeing where I live in Floyd County I can now see why I'm able to get 790 so good.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Being an IU fan of course I'm happy with the events of yesterday.

Being a U of L fan, I'm happy with them, too! ;D

 

[BobOnTheJob]

All that aside, thanks for the link to the site projecting night time signal coverage. Seeing where I live in Floyd County I can now see why I'm able to get 790 so good.

During 790 WAKY's heyday in the 60's, the signal was great where the population was. Nothin' but cows east of there. That almost certainly was a factor in selecting that location.

 

[greg.hahn]

All that aside, thanks for the link to the site projecting night time signal coverage. Seeing where I live in Floyd County I can now see why I'm able to get 790 so good.

During 790 WAKY's heyday in the 60's, the signal was great where the population was. Nothin' but cows east of there. That almost certainly was a factor in selecting that location.

That is true. However, in Scottsburg, Indiana, where I grew up, when Super 79 was -the- radio station to listen to, 790 went <POOF> at sunset and was GONE.

Of course, we couldn't receive 1080 WKLO at all, night or day.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

All that aside, thanks for the link to the site projecting night time signal coverage. Seeing where I live in Floyd County I can now see why I'm able to get 790 so good.

During 790 WAKY's heyday in the 60's, the signal was great where the population was. Nothin' but cows east of there. That almost certainly was a factor in selecting that location.

That is true. However, in Scottsburg, Indiana, where I grew up, when Super 79 was -the- radio station to listen to, 790 went <POOF> at sunset and was GONE.

Of course, we couldn't receive 1080 WKLO at all, night or day.

I was lucky...having grown up in Cincinnati 3 miles from 1360 WSAI and 5 miles from 1230 WUBE. But even with that, I often chose 77 WABC at night. Even at age 11, I guess I knew what great radio sounded like! What did you listen to at night Greg? WLS/WCFL?

 

[romer979fm]

In Louisville in the late '60s I had 5 manual presets (like everyone else) on the AM car radio:

770 WABC
790 WAKY
890 WLS
1000 WCFL
1080 WKLO

now those were some great choices!

 

[BobOnTheJob]

In Louisville in the late '60s I had 5 manual presets (like everyone else) on the AM car radio:

770 WABC
790 WAKY
890 WLS
1000 WCFL
1080 WKLO

now those were some great choices!

Amen Brother!

 

[the marv]

Too bad the music's move to FM killed it.

 

[greg.hahn]

I was lucky...having grown up in Cincinnati 3 miles from 1360 WSAI and 5 miles from 1230 WUBE. But even with that, I often chose 77 WABC at night. Even at age 11, I guess I knew what great radio sounded like! What did you listen to at night Greg? WLS/WCFL?

Usually WLS. I don't remember listening to WCFL back then.

But when WLS wasn't coming in.... CKLW in Windsor, Canada usually was!

 

[faaradar]

I remember as a kid; we would travel from Northern Indiana back to Brunswick, GA at night...just so we could make sure that we could get WLS all the way down.