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WPEN/950 Sold to......Family Radio!

Had the real value of 950 sunk so low that Family Radio could buy it?

And why would this happen? Greater Media isn't maxed out on the number of stations they can own in the market, are they? If they wanted to buy another FM (if one was ever for sale) they wouldn't have had to sell 950 to do it, would they?
 
I'm shocked!

I thought Family Radio was leaving the station ownership business.

As has already been speculated on the New York board, Family may sell WFME-94.7 in the Big Apple and perhaps swapping with CBS for 1010, which could either lead to WINS moving to FM or WINS being blown-up and 94.7 being used for either simulcasting WFAN or moving WFAN to FM and use 660 for something else (CBS Sports Radio Network 24/7???).
 
Darned shame Salem couldn't have picked up the superior 950 signal for its secular talk and flipped 990 off to FR. Ah well, in the internet age all terrestrial signals that stream are equal (as long as the power's on at home).
 
What a shame. Greater Media dragged its feet on the upgrade of WPEN-AM's signal literally for decades. By the time they finally went ahead with it no one cared anymore. 950 is a signal that deserves better. It won't be long before the Standard Broadcast Band will be populated with nothing but brokered time, religious and foreign-language stations.

Steve
KC2LDY
 
I remember when WPEN was "The Station of the Stars" with Ken Garland and Joe Niagara. What a great station! Of course sports on 950 was wasted after 97.5 came along...and now a format that will get zero listeners and zero ratings. With Salem on 560 and now Family Radio taking over 950..a shame. Two great signals that probably appeal to a very small audience, but Family Radio and Salem don't care.

I still enjoy AM radio. It's too bad there are fewer and fewer choices left. I know WDAS has miniscule ratings,but they sound good and it's something different. Now only if we can get a standards or at least a station that plays 50's through the 70's MOR on AM.

Remember KFRC in San Francisco at 610 AM? One of the greatest stations ever. Now Family Radio's flagship is on 610 with an incredible signal that very few people listen to. I wish the religous and brokered stations would occupy less powerful frequencies and leave the big signals for more mass appeal programming that older people would enjoy.
 
KyleAndMelissa22 said:
Honestly, I think they should keep 950 for Sports Programming in case they ever flip 97.5 again... ;)
Click to expand...

With the Sixers and Flyers residing there, 975 won't be flipping from sports anytime soon.
 
Family Radio has no business returning to the city of brotherly love.

Time for them to exit stage left and never come back.

R.D.P. <><
 
Please feel free to add names to this thread:

Red Benson, Frank Ford, Joe Grady, Ed Hurst, Bud Brees,Jules Rind, Lee Norman, Jim Tate, Bill Smith, John Lang, Chuck Daugherty, Jay Dunn, Bob Fitzsimmons, Tom Brown, Dick Harvey, Tom McClean, Kevin Fennessy, Wynne Moore, Dave Stanley, Nick Reynolds, Deane Mercier, Loren Owens, Mike St. John, Bobby Dashboard Dark, Bobby Mitchell, Geoff Fox, Rick Harris, Paul Cassidy, George Benson, Dan o'Toole, Bruce Erik Smallwood, Brandon Brooks, John Winters, Hy Lit, Joe Niagara, Jim Nettleton, Art Andrews, Ken Garland, Elaine Soncini, Jerry Stevens, Andy Hopkins, Charlie Mills, Bill Kimble, Bruce Davis, Rick Anthony, Dean Tyler, Alan Michaels, Dick Clayton, Bill Webber, Andy Kortman, Mike Bowe, Christy Springfield, Jerry Blavat...great names on a great and historic radio station, we'll never forget.
 
R.D.P. said:
Family Radio has no business returning to the city of brotherly love.

Time for them to exit stage left and never come back.

R.D.P. <><
Click to expand...
And why not? They do great programming geared toward the Christian community.
 
fennessy said:
Alan Jay, Peter Stewart, Jack Ellery, Pat Mc Call, Tom Franklin...
Click to expand...

Former News Director Bob Houck who later went to ABC Radio and WNBC.
 
fennessy said:
Please feel free to add names to this thread:
Click to expand...

John Carlton. I remember him from the newsroom at WIP, but he also had a music program Saturday mornings on WPEN in the '90s.

Also, who used to host live on Christmas mornings so everyone else could have the day off?
 
fmradio1 said:
Looks like WKDN will make a triumphant return to Philly...
Click to expand...

I think this must mean that, in two major markets (SanFrancisco-Oakland-SanJose and Philadelphia), Family will have the fourth best AM signal. Bay Area: 680, 810, 740, 610. Philly: 1210, 1060, 610, 950. I guess those rankings can be argued, but does anyone know (or even have an informed guess) on the selling price for WPEN? Didn't CCU just pay Buckley $30 million for WOR et al? Would WPEN be worth 1/4 of that?
 
DanStrassberg said:
fmradio1 said:
Looks like WKDN will make a triumphant return to Philly...
Click to expand...

I think this must mean that, in two major markets (SanFrancisco-Oakland-SanJose and Philadelphia), Family will have the fourth best AM signal. Bay Area: 680, 810, 740, 610. Philly: 1210, 1060, 610, 950. I guess those rankings can be argued, but does anyone know (or even have an informed guess) on the selling price for WPEN? Didn't CCU just pay Buckley $30 million for WOR et al? Would WPEN be worth 1/4 of that?
Click to expand...

No. FR will pay aprox. 12% (or less) of the sale price prceeds of 106.9 as a capitol expenditure investment for the acquisition of 950.
 
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