Absolutely not a full market signal but the point is that it can be suprising how far out it travels. Imo it's current format is best fitted for it's targeted area. It's no competition for WBLS but an alternative to those who can hear it and after the demize of Kiss-Fm it is the only other adult urban station in the market.
There are a few problems with that. Once you cover the cost of engineering and building a new site, you would essentially be a brand new station that now needs to compete with the likes of WHUD for listeners, and more importantly, scarce advertising revenue. Second, the area is already so saturated with signals from NYC, it's hard to see a "suburban focused" 103.9 be impactful.
They already have a station with similar coverage on 96.7. For what would they use the third station?
Ethnic might be the way to go, there are many ethnic groups "underserved" by radio in NYC. The issue becomes a math problem. Can that market generate enough ad dollars to justify the purchase price and leave a profit for the owner? If the price is too high, the answer is no. Another way out for Cumulus might be to just donate the station to a non-profit and take the tax deduction.
Unless you're talking about a very broad format, ethnic will probably look a lot like WVIP. Brokered block programming. I bet WVIP does rather well with its Caribbean focus (especially since it is privately owned without a boatload of corporate debt). Multicultural does several Asian formats on their AMs. Is there room for another player?
Large groups don't issue financials on individual stations. Add in the fact that the corporate "office" adds back a percentage of corporate expense to each station, so there is some unseen non-local costs.
There are no "Bronx Metro" ad buys. Any NYC metro buy is going to show this one as a 0.2 to 0.4, somewhere around 30th in the market, making it a "no buy" as well. Remember, because of the size of the market, a huge percentage of buys there are agency originated and are mostly done by the numbers.
That's probably another indication that WVIP 93.5, broadcasting from the same location as WNBM with a similar signal, is doing the right thing by carrying brokered Caribbean programming. They apparently do not feel the need to subscribe to the PPM ratings, and do not rely on agency buys. The folks leasing time from them are either running infomercials, or selling ad time to businesses serving the local Caribbean community.
Actually yes.... until the pandemic.
Tagged your other forum post.Actually yes.... until the pandemic.
..... in part,
" That sale left Cumulus with just one station in the New York market and it has signaled plans to sell urban AC “Radio 103.9” WNBM, licensed to Bronxville. "
SOURCE:
INSIDERADIO.COM
specifically here:
Cumulus Closes On $450,000 Sale Of Five-Station Albany, GA Cluster.
Cumulus Media is operating in one less market now that it has closed on the sale of its Albany, GA cluster to Rick Lambert and Charles Spencer’s First Media Services.www.insideradio.com
the dots reps DJ ( fill in name) ....
An remember that WVIP was one a very respected, profitable and well listened to station in its suburban market area. But, as FM "ate" the AMs and younger people never developed a big interest in local affairs, a community AM in the suburbs ceased to be viable.
Two exceptions are WVIP FM's station WVOX AM in New Rochelle, and WRIV AM in Riverhead NY. WVOX has block programming, with numerous shows focusing on the local area.They received authorization for an FM translator, but I don't know whether it will actually be built.
The CP was granted 1/21/18 and would have expired on 1/21/21. I can't readily determine whether it was extended under the FCC's waiver program because of COVID, but even if it was, there's not much time left. There were some issues with potential interference from the proposed site that held things up.
WVOX was on the translator at 106.3 fm and on WVIP hd3 i believe. Don't believe it's carried there anymore