WLKK PD Rivers Out

[tbolt909]

Actually, the estimates are that it bills about $50 k a month. That covers costs and more. It is combined with other cluster stations and is as useful as a high on the dial AM can be today.



But there are options for both, not all with the traditional radio business model.

If true, that's 600,000 a year. Not bad for a station with no listeners. It seems unlikely that any local advertisers are buying KB exclusively.

As for 107.7 FM, Entercom likely wants to keep it. The Buffalo cluster only has 2 FMs in STAR and KISS. Having a 3rd FM (even a limited signal) makes the ledger look a little better. David Field is trying to spin all these RIFs as positive change for future growth. Some people survived the voyage on the Titanic...

 

[davideduardo]

If true, that's 600,000 a year. Not bad for a station with no listeners. It seems unlikely that any local advertisers are buying KB exclusively.

It averages about a 0.6 in 25-49, as an example.

As for 107.7 FM, Entercom likely wants to keep it. The Buffalo cluster only has 2 FMs in STAR and KISS. Having a 3rd FM (even a limited signal) makes the ledger look a little better. David Field is trying to spin all these RIFs as positive change for future growth. Some people survived the voyage on the Titanic...

No, they keep it so nobody else gets it. It's resale value is minimal, but it is better to have it as a protection. And that is just what Buddy said.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

No, they keep it so nobody else gets it. It's resale value is minimal, but it is better to have it as a protection. And that is just what Buddy said.

He wasn't the only poster on these here boards who alluded to this ↑ And need you be reminded, he also said he was gonna buy the joint... so there's that.

 

[Buddy Shula]

Actually, the estimates are that it bills about $50 k a month. That covers costs and more. It is combined with other cluster stations and is as useful as a high on the dial AM can be today.



But there are options for both, not all with the traditional radio business model.

WLKK bills nothing close to 50k per month. And bolt, i am correct. I have been talking to the brass.. the station and cluster that you were speaking of is not apples to apples with the Buffalo. You can think what you want, but the reason they will not sell 1077 NOW, it because of stockholders. Trust me. I know this. Unless it was an absurd offer, they are not selling off parts of the cluster. Believe me, I wish they would.

I am in the buying mode. When the house of cards comes down, which it is beginning , it will be there to pick it up.

 

[Buddy Shula]

Folks, I should also remind you that I own an ad agency , Media One Buffalo, LLC. My agencies subscribes to Neilson in all NYS markets. We represent some major clients, which anyone in Buffalo would know the names of.

I sincerely don’t understand how corporate TV and Radio companies are even surviving right now. I was talking to a rep in NYC and she was saying PPM was the worse thing that ever happened.

Ad sales for all media’s are down right now. Radio listening habits have changed full circle. All markets are experiencing very awkward books and ratings. Outdoor is dying as less people are driving. TV is cleaning up with viewership, but the clients are fretting spending money, I have never seen Buffalo News deals like I am getting now.

It’s crazy. My clients are loving it since rates have dropped so much, but I am really concerned about how these huge companies are making money.

In some cases, in some markets, when I purchase ads for a client, I am getting buy 1 station, get three free. That’s very concerning. Furthermore, I know seasoned marketing professionals in all media’s who are thinking of getting out of the business because of the corporate pressure. It’s a really weird time from all angles.

It’s one thing to purchase a station to own, but it’s a totally different animal to run it. If you don’t have great sales and revenue, you’ll be filing chap 11 very soon.

 

[davideduardo]

WLKK bills nothing close to 50k per month. .

I was referring to 1520, not the FM.

 

[TheBigA]

Ad sales for all media’s are down right now. Radio listening habits have changed full circle. All markets are experiencing very awkward books and ratings. Outdoor is dying as less people are driving. TV is cleaning up with viewership, but the clients are fretting spending money, I have never seen Buffalo News deals like I am getting now.

And what you're seeing is just indicative of the real problem, which is that no one is spending money, no one is buying stuff, no one is leaving the house because they're afraid of getting the virus. I used to fly once or twice a month, rent cars, and stay in hotels. I haven't done that once since March. Not once. I needed to get the oil changed in my car, and I held off because I don't want a stranger touching my steering wheel. Then today I found out I can do a drive-through oil change. Once I heard that, I was OK. But I'm not the only one who thinks this way, and that's why almost nobody is advertising except insurance companies and drug companies.

 

[tbolt909]

It averages about a 0.6 in 25-49, as an example.



No, they keep it so nobody else gets it. It's resale value is minimal, but it is better to have it as a protection. And that is just what Buddy said.

That's a 0.6 for KB in its Demo. That's really poor.

Think about what you're saying about 107.7. Does Entercom really think if they sold it someone would try Hot AC, Top 40 or Sports to compete with their formats? Not very likely. It had bad ratings when it was Sports before Entercom bought it. You say it is "protection", but what does it protect? They keep it in their portfolio because it is an FM signal.

That doesn't mean they would never sell it.
I pointed out earlier that Entercom sold WAAF this year. For the right price, they could part with it. They won't give it away to Buddy for pocket change...

 

[Delete My Account]

If it's not losing money (especially with the just announced modifications) why would they sell it just to invite a competitor to cut into their market share?

Selling to a non-comm like EMF doesn't compete with their revenues. Selling off one station to a commercial operator just cuts into their cluster.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Selling to a non-comm like EMF doesn't compete with their revenues. Selling off one station to a commercial operator just cuts into their cluster.

I know you weren’t suggesting this, using it only as an example. But for the record, EMF owns 89.9 WFBF.

… about 107.7. Does Entercom really think if they sold it someone would try Hot AC, Top 40 or Sports to compete with their formats? Not very likely. It had bad ratings when it was Sports before Entercom bought it. You say it is "protection", but what does it protect? They keep it in their portfolio because it is an FM signal.

It “protects” Entercom from having another company competing in any way with the Entercom stations.

That doesn't mean they would never sell it. I pointed out earlier that Entercom sold WAAF this year. For the right price, they could part with it. They won't give it away to Buddy for pocket change.

They won’t give it away to anybody, period. But if somebody is horny enough to throw an insane amount at them, they might think about it. Thinking and doing are two separate things.

I needed to get the oil changed in my car, and I held off because I don't want a stranger touching my steering wheel. Then today I found out I can do a drive-through oil change. Once I heard that, I was OK. But I'm not the only one who thinks this way, and that's why almost nobody is advertising except insurance companies and drug companies.

Nobody wants a stranger touching his or her steering wheel… or gearshift.

But seriously... in this market, car dealers are on; carpet and floor stores are on; attorneys and health care are on, some bars and restaurants are on, and even a few gyms, which are at reduced capacity, are on. There are full stopsets on many stations. They may be two-fers, three-fers or more as previously described... but the stopsets are full. TV seems to be selling anything that moves. Fives, tens, 30s, quick hit billboards & sponsors... it's a real smorgasbord.

 

[TheBigA]

Fives, tens, 30s, quick hit billboards & sponsors... it's a real smorgasbord.

Wonderful. How much are they paying? Full price? Buddy says they're getting four spots for the price of one. That's why you're hearing so many spots. But they're making a quarter of the money. Imagine if I told you starting tomorrow, I'm paying you one-quarter of your regular salary. Would that be OK?

In Entercom's investor conference call last month, David Field said "All in, second quarter revenues were down 54% primarily attributable to lower broadcast advertising revenues. Excluding the impact of canceled sports play by play, second quarter revenues declined 37%." How does that sound to you?

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Wonderful. How much are they paying? Full price? Buddy says they're getting four spots for the price of one. That's why you're hearing so many spots. But they're making a quarter of the money. Imagine if I told you starting tomorrow, I'm paying you one-quarter of your regular salary. Would that be OK?

In Entercom's investor conference call last month, David Field said "All in, second quarter revenues were down 54% primarily attributable to lower broadcast advertising revenues. Excluding the impact of canceled sports play by play, second quarter revenues declined 37%." How does that sound to you?

It sounds like crap.

They may be two-fers, three-fers or more as previously described... but the stopsets are full.

Which is to say, they're givin' it away. Did I really need the sarcasm tag?! Next time use my entire quote, Dirk.

 

[Buddy Shula]

I was referring to 1520, not the FM.

I would be surprised if 1520 bills 10k per month.

 

[Buddy Shula]

That's a 0.6 for KB in its Demo. That's really poor.

Think about what you're saying about 107.7. Does Entercom really think if they sold it someone would try Hot AC, Top 40 or Sports to compete with their formats? Not very likely. It had bad ratings when it was Sports before Entercom bought it. You say it is "protection", but what does it protect? They keep it in their portfolio because it is an FM signal.

That doesn't mean they would never sell it.
I pointed out earlier that Entercom sold WAAF this year. For the right price, they could part with it. They won't give it away to Buddy for pocket change...

I don’t want it for anything more than pocket change. I would pay 900k tops. They paid 13 million because they had money to burn. The station comes with no assets but the license. No property, no building. It does come with a tower that could be depreciated.

Bottom line, I could make noise with this frequency. It can make money. It’s losing money now

 

[Buddy Shula]

I know you weren’t suggesting this, using it only as an example. But for the record, EMF owns 89.9 WFBF.


It “protects” Entercom from having another company competing in any way with the Entercom stations.



They won’t give it away to anybody, period. But if somebody is horny enough to throw an insane amount at them, they might think about it. Thinking and doing are two separate things.



Nobody wants a stranger touching his or her steering wheel… or gearshift.

But seriously... in this market, car dealers are on; carpet and floor stores are on; attorneys and health care are on, some bars and restaurants are on, and even a few gyms, which are at reduced capacity, are on. There are full stopsets on many stations. They may be two-fers, three-fers or more as previously described... but the stopsets are full. TV seems to be selling anything that moves. Fives, tens, 30s, quick hit billboards & sponsors... it's a real smorgasbord.

It’s simply a bloodbath this year for all media’s. Buffalo radio is down 45% local direct according to Miller Kaplan. This is on top of what was down before Covid. While things are recovering, they are nowhere near good. Reps are being pressured.

I deal with 40 radio stations and 15 tv stations daily with my agency. The reps are friends of mine. This year is knocking the stuffing out of everyone.

It is due to debt and expenditures for these companies. Thankfully, WECK is blessed that we do not have debt. I thank the Lord for that everyday. However, like other companies, we have had to tighten our belts. We had to become more efficient in many ways. In sales, programming, office, everything.

My prediction is that you are going to see many of the corporate media giants really restructure. Radio is not raising in value. It is dropping. That is why I developed an agency. As another source of income in my wheelhouse. It has worked out great, but it is hard work. Overall, buying WECK was the best thing I have ever done. I wish I would have done it long ago. I can’t believe it’s been three and a half years already

 

[TheBigA]

Also announced that Chris Booker from WNYL in NYC will be heard in the afternoon on WLKK.

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/197652/entercoms-new-alternative-on-air-lineups/

 

[Oldbloodandguts]

Entercom and WLKK

Some observations that frequent posters here do not mention:
Entercom would be afraid to sell even one lowly station to Buddy Shula. All the way to the top of that company, they know he would kick their ass in revenue and the Miller Kaps would make their board replace every one of those bungling, over-paid radio "gurus" in Philadelphia.
WLKK's launch of the Alt Buffalo format several years ago. A sales rep asks Greg Ried how the station will be promoted. His answer? "We're going to go to Starbucks and buy listeners coffee for trying the station!" The laughter to that statement rocked the whole sales pit as Ried walked away. That was a serious answer. He never knew programming, but thought he did. He could only crush people, hence his moniker, "the Bone Crusher". His legacy carries on at Entercom in the body of Tim Holly. That's why they are dead in the water. "This town needs an enema". A betting person would know the dumpster fire has only started to kindle over at Corporate Parkway in Amherst.

 

[SirRoxalot]

"Creative tension" and "management by fear" don't motivate people to perform their best? Tim Holly wasn't the best choice to replace the fallen Leader at Entercom Buffalo? Maybe they'll bring in a real motivator, kind of like Glengarry Glen Ross.

 

[Buddy Shula]

"Creative tension" and "management by fear" don't motivate people to perform their best? Tim Holly wasn't the best choice to replace the fallen Leader at Entercom Buffalo? Maybe they'll bring in a real motivator, kind of like Glengarry Glen Ross.

I think someone like Bill Sauer would be great. He was GM at Mercury. He gets it. He understands what thinking out of the box is, plus he was very good to his people.

 

[John Gallagher]

The 2 minute promise has not worked in Buffalo. They should run zero commercials and have only major under-writers.

In fact, just do what the signal was built for- COUNTRY!

Ironically, the WLKK call were here in Erie, PA for most of the late 70s and through the 1980s. The format was COUNTRY. Image line was Great Lakes Country.