www.fybush.com is reporting that Steve Kingston & Patty Steele (leaving WPLJ-New York) are buying the station under "Cortona Media."
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WSJF/105.5-St. Augustine Beach to be sold
- Thread starter N1WVQ
- Start date
Yes, WSJF is Spanish Tropical. The flip is scheduled for January to a mainstream contemporary format. I read about all this in All Access last week. Here's the link:
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/84206/steve-kingston-s-cortona-media-buying-florida-fm?ref=search
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/84206/steve-kingston-s-cortona-media-buying-florida-fm?ref=search
Hard to imagine they want to slug it out in mainstream contemp with the Jax signals. That could be a smokescreen.
If past is prologue, WRNR-FM up in the Annapolis-Baltimore market might give some clues. They've done well with alternative/progressive rock up there. RNR is considered Baltimore's cool station among those with radios strong enough to pick up the rimshot signal, and does well enough in the (local) upscale Annapolis region to keep Steve & Patty & Don on their respective yachts. Maybe they see St. Augustine as a parallel to Annapolis?
FWIW, they're no strangers to Florida--they owned and operated Island 106 & 97X in Panama City for many years.
If past is prologue, WRNR-FM up in the Annapolis-Baltimore market might give some clues. They've done well with alternative/progressive rock up there. RNR is considered Baltimore's cool station among those with radios strong enough to pick up the rimshot signal, and does well enough in the (local) upscale Annapolis region to keep Steve & Patty & Don on their respective yachts. Maybe they see St. Augustine as a parallel to Annapolis?
FWIW, they're no strangers to Florida--they owned and operated Island 106 & 97X in Panama City for many years.
V
vadar
Guest
Don't they simulcast with 105.7? How is the signal of this station?
Currently it is a simulcast. yes. The maps on a certain radio-locator website are fairly accurate for 105.5 and 105.7, except that the B-grade coverage for 105.5 in Jacksonville isn't as reliable as it would appear.
105.7's signal is somewhat comparable to WJXR's.
105.5 is very much a "St. Augustine and south of Jacksonville" station, comparable to the pre-Renda WSOS. I wouldn't even consider it a Jacksonville station, as the press is calling it (and Tama before them).
105.7's signal is somewhat comparable to WJXR's.
105.5 is very much a "St. Augustine and south of Jacksonville" station, comparable to the pre-Renda WSOS. I wouldn't even consider it a Jacksonville station, as the press is calling it (and Tama before them).
V
vadar
Guest
Is this kinda like a LPFM? Any listeners here?
No, this isn't even close to an LPFM. It's a licensed commercial Class C3 FM.
When TAMA had it, they ran the Smooth Jazz format from Broadcast Architects. Smooth Jazz 105.3 (WJSJ/ Fernandina Beach) and 105.5 (WSJF/St. Augustine Beach)
When TAMA had it, they ran the Smooth Jazz format from Broadcast Architects. Smooth Jazz 105.3 (WJSJ/ Fernandina Beach) and 105.5 (WSJF/St. Augustine Beach)
RMarino, you make a very good point in very small station ownership comes with risks. I suspect there may be more to this story than what we are lead to believe but I prefer to deal in realities. Here we have Patty Steele who is giving up a gig on morning drive in the biggest market in the country in exchange for ownership and/or participation in a bedroom community radio station. Sure, St. John's County is an affluent market but on the scale these guys are talking, I'm in a wait and see position.
Now, if we all read some "Green Acres" tale of wanting to give up the rat race of the Big Apple for less stress - maybe that would be a little bit believable. Then you add live and local to the mix and it makes you wonder even more how they can pull this off. As far as talent salary, they would have to pay more than unemployment insurance. LOL.
I just wonder if more stations could be involved forming some network. They keep talking about an exciting morning show and to me the biggest impact would have to be Lex and Terry - but on such a small station or even a network of small stations. I would think that's likely. I have no idea how much L&T would cost a station but I suppose a lot would have to do with coverage area. For the live and local, maybe Patty could sit in the studio doing news, traffic and weather along with something syndicated. We'll just have to see how this all pans out but I feel L&T are not out of Jax for good.
Now, if we all read some "Green Acres" tale of wanting to give up the rat race of the Big Apple for less stress - maybe that would be a little bit believable. Then you add live and local to the mix and it makes you wonder even more how they can pull this off. As far as talent salary, they would have to pay more than unemployment insurance. LOL.
I just wonder if more stations could be involved forming some network. They keep talking about an exciting morning show and to me the biggest impact would have to be Lex and Terry - but on such a small station or even a network of small stations. I would think that's likely. I have no idea how much L&T would cost a station but I suppose a lot would have to do with coverage area. For the live and local, maybe Patty could sit in the studio doing news, traffic and weather along with something syndicated. We'll just have to see how this all pans out but I feel L&T are not out of Jax for good.
T
TSL2
Guest
Should be a good local station for St. Augustine that super serves the community. Anything else would be a huge mistake.
They're looking for a LIVE/LOCAL morning show.
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