WLIR/WBON/WDRE SOLD

[neo11]

....the TMO cluster sold to Business Talk Radio (!), according to AllAccess. Here's the article text:

WLIR, WBON, WDRE Sold To BusinessTalkRadio.net

BusinessTalkRadio.net Pres. & CEO MICHAEL METTER has added three more LONG ISLAND stations to the company's portfolio with the purchase of TMO's Alternative WLIR (107.1), Classic Rocker WBON (98.5), and Top 40/Rhythmic WDRE (105.3) for an undisclosed price. MICHAEL J. BERGNER of BERGNER & CO. was the broker.

METTER said, "Having grown up in the NY City area, I was weaned on the heritage cutting edge Rock station WLIR and in later years was an avid fan of the former Modern Rock format of WDRE. Many groups got their start on WLIR-FM and just as it was the showcase for new talent in the past, we expect to make that happen again," he said hinting at format adjustments.

[EDIT]



[EDIT-post truncated because originating material is copyprotected. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content is in violation of Radio-Info's TOS.]

 

[islanddxer]

Not at all suprised. I knew TMO wanted to get out of the radio business, esp since they were hardly putting any money into their stations. The websites were bare bones and there are hardly any DJ's on there except for Andre and Chunky Monkey.
They also recently changed the voiceover guy on Party 105.3, they had been using those voiceovers for a long time. I kinda liked the old ones better.
Hopefully the new owners will keep the formats on WLIR and WDRE, but they need to be more live and local. People in the dance community are very worried, that the new owners will can the dance on Party 105.3. With their weak signal, they would make a big mistake trying to copy any of the other formats (CHR, Urban) which can be recieved much more clearly on WBLI and 101.7 The Beat.
The stations weren't getting many advertizers, whatever spots you heard were for clubs mainly. I knew the stations were losing money and I was expecting a sale or LMA. The new owners need to be more agressive in getting ad business, and have more remote broadcasts and promote the station.
They need to hold onto the air talent they have, especially Andre, he's been there so long he's a big part of the station.
I know some folks are suprised, I am not, hopefully the new owners will have the sense to improve on what they got. WBON however is redundant and prob the best candidate for a business talk format.
Some regular news and music mixed in might not be a bad idea either, perhaps jazz.
Anyway I'd be annoyed to see Party 105.3 canned, but we'll just have to see what happens.

 

[epete]

So how long before we see some change?

 

[MarcB]

A post of about the sale of the TMO stations was on Dr. Sniffens Board. It said WBON will be blown up on January 1st. That's when the LMA will start. March 1st is when they take over WLIR and WDRE via LMA.

 

[marko83]

Which of these stations has the best signal? They all look about the same on radio-locator. Do any of them cover all of long island?

 

[neo11]

Heading west, I would say Party is the signal that for me, manages to get out the furthest. I've been able to get them in the car up until the Nassau-Suffolk border, though not with the greatest signal. WBON is similar but I seem to always lose them a few miles before Party. They have another local station, Kjoy, adjacent to them on 98.3 in addition to a NYC station, Kiss FM, on 98.7, whereas Party only has a NYC station adjacent to it on 105.1 and distant stations on 105.5, so that may be a factor even though I believe WBON has more wattage (WDRE has more height, if I'm not mistaken, so that helps too).

WLIR is clearly the worst signal of the three even though it has by far the highest wattage, and that's largely because their transmitter is further east, covering a less populated region. It also gets massive interference from 107.1 The Peak from Westchester in many parts of Long Island, and along the South Shore, 107.1 the Breeze from NJ also comes in, so WLIR is hard to listen to outside of its primary service area.

None of the signals come close to covering all of LI or even all of Suffolk County.

 

[mkdanz]

None of the signals come close to covering all of LI or even all of Suffolk County.

The combination of WLIE and WBON (WLIE has a month to month LMA with BTRN) covers a good portion of Long Island. This gives Business Talk Radio complete LI coverage (for as long as the agreement with WLIE holds up). BTRN also owns LifeStyle Radio Network, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Lifestyle programming on the other stations.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

It'll be interesting to see what they do with the other 2 signals.

My friend in radio on LI isn't quite sure either...

 

[Ozman]

I thought you guys might have a little bit of interest of this,
In todays Greenwich time the buyers plan on moving WLIR futher west by 20 miles... umm excuse me?? I'd be suprised if the FCC would let em move even a mile west because of 107.1 the peak. what's your take on this? they as well said that WBON which I go through skin and teeth to get in greenwich will be changed to buisness talk radio... WTF.. this sucks...

Heading west, I would say Party is the signal that for me, manages to get out the furthest. I've been able to get them in the car up until the Nassau-Suffolk border, though not with the greatest signal. WBON is similar but I seem to always lose them a few miles before Party. They have another local station, Kjoy, adjacent to them on 98.3 in addition to a NYC station, Kiss FM, on 98.7, whereas Party only has a NYC station adjacent to it on 105.1 and distant stations on 105.5, so that may be a factor even though I believe WBON has more wattage (WDRE has more height, if I'm not mistaken, so that helps too).

WLIR is clearly the worst signal of the three even though it has by far the highest wattage, and that's largely because their transmitter is further east, covering a less populated region. It also gets massive interference from 107.1 The Peak from Westchester in many parts of Long Island, and along the South Shore, 107.1 the Breeze from NJ also comes in, so WLIR is hard to listen to outside of its primary service area.

None of the signals come close to covering all of LI or even all of Suffolk County.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

It looks like 107.1 WLIR is ALREADY on the move....

They have a CP to go from their licensed 6000W/279 feet to 4100W/397 feet. It looks as if the move is about 15 miles West/Northwest, with the new tower site just south of Riverhead.

 

[Ozman]

well i'll be. does anyone have any data on how this was allowed? doesn't this annoy 107.1's owners in new haven ct, as well as 107.1 from white plains. anyone know if the Cp is already on air or when it might be tried?

It looks like 107.1 WLIR is ALREADY on the move....

They have a CP to go from their licensed 6000W/279 feet to 4100W/397 feet. It looks as if the move is about 15 miles West/Northwest, with the new tower site just south of Riverhead.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

St. Thomas Seminary can't do anything about it.. because a translator is licensed as a Class D Facility and is offered no protection from anything, except an LPFM. Even so, the interference is over water so not alot could be done about it anyways.

Radio stations are only protected to a certain contour, but we listeners have gotten used to coverage beyond that. it's just gravy, and we've been lucky nothing encroached on it. As long as the new WLIR countour's don't interfere with WXPK, there won't be an issue.

 

[Indielover]

Very cool Pauly..hopefully LIR will obliterate the goddam religious translator.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

It might oblitate W296AO signal wise, but as long as W296AO doesn't do any damage to WLIR's signal... tough boogers.

 

[Ozman]

If thats the case, WLIR might Piss of WCCC 106.9 which already has a hard time in new haven around the train station. how much spacing is requred for that? kinda funny tho that at Husatonic community college a 1/2 mile or less away (right next to I-95 and where I-91 begins) where I attend an intersession class 107.1 does not interfere with 106.9... thank god I can go 106.85 . I am glad to see the religious translater cannot do anything. (now if we could only get a WCCC lp translator... not gonna happen...

Very cool Pauly..hopefully LIR will obliterate the goddam religious translator.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

Well, the spacing for 2 Class A's(of which WLIR 107.1) is on the same channel is 62 miles. However, with WCCC being on an adjacent channel and a different class, the rules are difference. it all deals with protected contours.

Suffice to say, if the FCC granted it.. it is most likely OK.. and passed muster.

 

[TowerBuzz]

Well, the spacing for 2 Class A's(of which WLIR 107.1) is on the same channel is 62 miles. However, with WCCC being on an adjacent channel and a different class, the rules are difference. it all deals with protected contours.

Suffice to say, if the FCC granted it.. it is most likely OK.. and passed muster.

I did have to laugh at the press release though! The little slight about how WLIR gave many bands their start and they were going to do that again, ooops!. Subtext; The station has not amounted to very much for many years. So they want to get back to the glory days of WLIR? GOOD because I for one have been really upset that Kajagoogoo and Spandau Balet have not received their radio props for way too long!

;D :

 

[neo11]

I'm pretty sure that WLIR CP has been in the works for a while now...I remember seeing it on Radio-Locator around a year ago if not more. It really doesn't mean it'll end up happening, especially with this sale now. Does anyone remember that WLIR was set to put a booster in Midtown Manhattan on 92.7, only a few months before they sold the frequency to Univision? Univision, of course, never utilized it since they already had La Kalle on 105.9 in the city., but I'm pretty sure it had received FCC approval.

As for the station not amounting to much in many years....it's true that even in its final few years on 92.7 it wasn't like the LIR of the 80s, but they still did have a penchant for airing a lot of music other commercial stations didn't touch.

 

[mkdanz]

I believe you are correct, I remember talking about the Riverhead move quite a while ago. As far as programming goes, WLIR is slightly better programmed musically, IMHO, than Sirius First Wave. Being an alternative and dance music fan, I enjoyed the later 92.7 days when they were mixing in the dance music.

A point in Sirius favor, IMO, is that the jocks chat it up a bit. I've heard that LIR actually has two jocks now, but I can't listen to that horrible waste of a stream so I don't know. I prefer some live flavor, and the jocks on First Wave are excellent. There is even a 'Party Out of Bounds', for those who remember...

 

[SmashTim]

Heading west, I would say Party is the signal that for me, manages to get out the furthest. I've been able to get them in the car up until the Nassau-Suffolk border, though not with the greatest signal. WBON is similar but I seem to always lose them a few miles before Party. They have another local station, Kjoy, adjacent to them on 98.3 in addition to a NYC station, Kiss FM, on 98.7, whereas Party only has a NYC station adjacent to it on 105.1 and distant stations on 105.5, so that may be a factor even though I believe WBON has more wattage (WDRE has more height, if I'm not mistaken, so that helps too).

WLIR is clearly the worst signal of the three even though it has by far the highest wattage, and that's largely because their transmitter is further east, covering a less populated region. It also gets massive interference from 107.1 The Peak from Westchester in many parts of Long Island, and along the South Shore, 107.1 the Breeze from NJ also comes in, so WLIR is hard to listen to outside of its primary service area.

None of the signals come close to covering all of LI or even all of Suffolk County.

Party's signal may reach the furthest west in the car, and I can pick them up depending on antenna placement in some rooms where I live in Massapequa (but that is really playing with the antenna). However, generally as far as a full solid signal goes (not including car signals, or palying with an antenna) WBON probably reaches the furthest west. Evn though WBON is closer to WKJY than party is to Power, party seems to have more interference from power than the Bone does from K-Joy on your average radio. Might be due to the fact Power's signal is so much stronger than K Joy's.