WNOW FM

[nuffsaid]

Seems this Spanish powerhouse in the NC/SC markets of Greenville, Charalotte, and Winston/Greensboro could be in the process of being sold. This was one of the Davidson stations and is currently in an LMA with a family trust but it appears this is coming to an end. There may be a bidding war for this little jewel in the Carolinas for it has a great signal over Charlotte and the other markets mentioned. Will it go to a Spanish broadcaster or one of the big guys who know how to run a radio station? Look for something to happen soon.

 

[MarkSC]

Bet it won't be for 24 million, like the deal they had that collapsed.

 

[charlestondxman]

WNOW could make a lot of sense for CBS. They could move their talk station there or simulcast 610. They already air Tar Heels basketball and football night games there.

They could also grab more sports rights.

 

[carolinaradio]

CBS already has 5 FM's - I believe they're maxed out. So is Clear Channel.

Greater Media might be a potential candidate, as they just own 1110, 107.9, and rimshot 99.3. They might be interested in putting WBT on FM.

 

[nuffsaid]

No way that station is worth 24 million dollars! It might sell for 12 to 15 but NEVER 24! Don Curtis could pick up the station and do a Classic Hits or a Hispanic format which would compliment his Hispanic station that was launched recently in the Greensboro market. WNOW would give them a real "regional" footprint that would cover three major cities in NC. Sanchez could pick up the station and take the monkey off his back and compliment his cluster of Hispanic stations in Charlotte. The station is held by a Trust and it is my understanding they would like to be rid of it and it may happen sooner rather than later. A smart broadcaster will make something happen here soon.

 

[charlestondxman]

Oh, I forgot. But Greater Media could make sense.

 

[nuffsaid]

The Chalotte big guys have had the opportunity to bid on this station for a number of years and have made no advancements, that we know of. I personally feel that a buyer will come to the table soon and announce the purchase of WNOW. Curtis Media Group has the experience to operate this station, they have the financial resources, and they have a need to expand their Hispanic footprint in the Carolinas. They own stations in Raleigh and Greensboro and the addition of WNOW's signal would give them a regional presence that could be hugely profitable in national and regional sales. Let's not forget this company runs a first class operation with highly trained sales and marketing people who will cash in on the available revenues with this additional signal. Let's wait and see what happens over the next few months.

 

[ncscradiogeek]

I am going on record as saying I think it will become WBT-FM. As for curtis getting it I could also see that haoppening if WBT does not buy it.

 

[Lhsh]

I am going on record as saying I think it will become WBT-FM. As for curtis getting it I could also see that haoppening if WBT does not buy it.

Unless they change frequency and buy it out, there is already WBT-FM and it is licensed to Chester, SC.

 

[artsutton]

I am going on record as saying I think it will become WBT-FM. As for curtis getting it I could also see that haoppening if WBT does not buy it.

The "going rate" on a FM signal in a market like Charlotte is about $3 per person inside the 60 dBu. WNOW has nearly 2.7 million people in its 60 dBu so that puts it at $8.1 million. Might go for $4 per person if someone really wanted it. Don Curtis has never overpaid for a radio station in his life. He won't start now. I'm sure the owners of WBT wish they had waited to buy since that combo is probably worth half what they paid just a few years ago prior to the financial collapse.

This might help put it in perspective. Entercom is paying $25 million for a full market, on the air, fully built, revenue producing with goodwill full market FM in San Francisco a top 10 market. No way a C1 in Charlotte is gonna bring anything close to that amount. Those days are behind us.

 

[DudeFan]

Art, what do you think about the price on Richard Peterson and Mike Willis's deal for WZMJ Batesburg-Leesville - $460,000

 

[ncscradiogeek]

LHSH surely you know how easy it is to cghange call signs right?
Move WBT-FM to 105.3 and sell or shut off 99.3!

 

[KyleSmith1988]

LHSH surely you know how easy it is to cghange call signs right?
Move WBT-FM to 105.3 and sell or shut off 99.3!

If Greater media gets it, I'd hope we see:
1110 & 105.3 WBT-AM/FM
99.3 The Link (full time talk format - it's already in mono)
107.9 - A new 24/7 Hot AC formatted station similar to 97.3 WKBC.

also maybe they can try buying 106.1 (the other Spanish station)
and then simulcast 99.3 & 106.1 (they don't really overlap too much)
and 106.1 can complement 99.3 in places closer to Charlotte where 99.3 is weak...Probably won't happen.


Or a miracle, 105.3 can go back to Gaffney Broadcasting (I'm in Gaffney).
Former WAGI programming is now on 104.3 W282AX (WZZQ) here....lol all very unlikely.

 

[nuffsaid]

Going back to the Gafney folks is not a possibility. 106.1 is owned by Norberto Sanchez (LMA'd) and he is doing Hispanic. I would think that Sanchez would love for somebody to take 105.3 off the Haspanic format and give him some room to breath. It is my understanding the folks that LMA 105.3 are kicking butt on the revenue scene with sellers in Charlotte, Greensboro, Statesville, and certainly Greenville. It has been reported that Curtis Media is looking carefully at the station and that would be a huge boost for their group and a major pain in the revenue butt for Sanchez. I do like the WBT ideas but do not feel Greater Media would make such an investment. Would certainly make sense and give them the dominance in the market they need to be more successful.

 

[tylerSC]

Is WNOW now trying to be a Charlotte market station or a Greenville-Spartanburg station? If it is still liscensed to Gaffney, then that technically makes it a GSP station. Although it is no longer formatted as a local Gaffney station. And since they moved their antenna to the WBTV tower in Gaston County, their signal is not as good in Greenville as it used to be. But I do get it clearly on my home radio, however it becomes spotty in some areas in the car. But 105.3 would indeed give WBT a better simulcast FM signal than 99.3, which was basically only designed to get WBT into Gaston and Cleveland counties when 1110 fades after dark.

 

[nuffsaid]

TylerSC most likely has not checked the WNOW signal lately. The signal is huge with city grade over Charlotte, for the most part Winston-Salem, and all point in between. That signal is HUGE! If I were a broadcaster looking to upgrade, and had the money, WNOW would be a great asset, who cares about Greenville when you have a city grade over market #24?

 

[tylerSC]

Yes, they clearly made the economic decision to make 105.3 a Charlotte market station, rather than a local Gaffney or Greenville-Spartanburg station. But I can still receive it here in Greenville, even the HD version with rabbit ears in the house. Just not always as clear in the car. But is this station actually for sale, or do they intend to keep it a Spanish/Hispanic station for Charlotte? I would like to see Cox have a Charlotte radio signal again, and that would serve as an outlet for their WSB talk shows Neal Boortz and Clark Howard, as well as Sean Hannity. IMO, the WBT lineup is a bit weak, although Rush apparently gets good ratings. But since they already own Channel 9 and TV64, I'm not sure if FCC rules will allow them to own another radio station. And they sold 103.7 a number of years ago, and they don't even use the WSOC call letters anymore. But back to topic ...what is the future for WNOW? Are their changes ahead?

 

[nuffsaid]

I am not sure the $3 and $4 per head would hold in this market. WNOW is certainly worth way more than the 8 million that was bantered around earlier. I'd say WNOW, when not if it is sold, will go for somewhere between 12 and 15! Since you guys are tossing potential buyers around, has anybody thought of Radio One? Not sure it would benefit the poor representation they currently they have in Charlotte. The owner to benefit most would be Norberto Sanchez, when the staion is sold it will take his 800 pound gorilla off his back and free up his less than stellar sales staff to find new excused not to sell! Wow, did I say that?

 

[JOHNNY on the RADIO]

Since you guys are tossing potential buyers around, has anybody thought of Radio One?

On August 31, 2011, Radio One announced its intention to sell off their Charlotte stations to Davis Broadcasting.

 

[tropicanamedia]

Going back to the Gafney folks is not a possibility. 106.1 is owned by Norberto Sanchez (LMA'd) and he is doing Hispanic. I would think that Sanchez would love for somebody to take 105.3 off the Haspanic format and give him some room to breath.

The way that NORSAN and its crew is programming its stations is pittyful. They just might gain revenue because there will not be another avenue for the Hispanic market to advertise but, for them to increase ratings will be a long way!

It is my understanding the folks that LMA 105.3 are kicking butt on the revenue scene with sellers in Charlotte, Greensboro, Statesville, and certainly Greenville. It has been reported that Curtis Media is looking carefully at the station

I was listening to their station in Greensboro and I didn't hear any local (Triad) advertisement, mostly was National and the Triangule.

and that would be a huge boost for their group and a major pain in the revenue butt for Sanchez. I do like the WBT ideas but do not feel Greater Media would make such an investment. Would certainly make sense and give them the dominance in the market they need to be more successful.

I Agree!