WSMT and WTZX

[LocalRadio]

Both of these stations in Sparta are owned by Clear Channel. Are they live and local or just satellite? Any information about either would be welcome. Thanks!

 

[knoxbob]

I saw a web site for those stations not to long ago but I tried a recent search and could not find anything. The best I can remember was that they have some live local people but also untilize the satellite or computer for everything else. If CC lets those stations go for a price like they did the 3 stations they sold in Crossville it might be worth looking into.
I think they might be simulcasting WTXZ with the 780 am WPTN out of Cookeville.

 

[LocalRadio]

Thanks, knoxbob! I really appreciate the information. I drove through Sparta yesterday and fell in love with the area. (Cue the theme to Green Acres)

I will contact CC Monday (tomorrow) and see if either is on the block.

Any other info from anyone would be appreciated (profitability, etc.).

 

[BigJim2627]

The stations are for sale. The Broker is Kalil and Company out of Tucson.
They want to sell Cookeville, Sparta and McMinnville as a package.

 

[scottwmro]

The stations are for sale. The Broker is Kalil and Company out of Tucson.
They want to sell Cookeville, Sparta and McMinnville as a package.

Jim,

Your correct. I tried to buy just one of the stations and my broker got a responce back that they wouldn't sell me the station I wanted. They are trying to sell all the AM's in a package.
I was going to buy and pay cash for WTZX-AM, but I was told I could do that. Can you believe Clear Channel turned down CASH! How foolish!
What I'm going to do is sit and wait. I don't think you'll find a group interested in just AM stations. I tried to buy it before when Steve Newberry of Commonwealth Broadcasting out of Bowling Green, KY had control of it, but that's when CC was on it's buying spree and I couldn't get my hands on it.
I have this gut feeling if we all sit back and wait, Clear Channel will sell to independent owners and operators, instead of small groups.
Next after Cumulus starts to fall, look for Saga to fall as well. I want to see the Clarksville, Ft. Campbell and Hopkinsville Market break up. Saga owns too much of the market up there.

 

[firepoint525]

The stations are for sale. The Broker is Kalil and Company out of Tucson.
They want to sell Cookeville, Sparta and McMinnville as a package.

Jim,
Your correct. I tried to buy just one of the stations and my broker got a responce back that they wouldn't sell me the station I wanted. They are trying to sell all the AM's in a package.
I was going to buy and pay cash for WTZX-AM, but I was told I could do that. Can you believe Clear Channel turned down CASH! How foolish!
What I'm going to do is sit and wait. I don't think you'll find a group interested in just AM stations. I tried to buy it before when Steve Newberry of Commonwealth Broadcasting out of Bowling Green, KY had control of it, but that's when CC was on it's buying spree and I couldn't get my hands on it.
I have this gut feeling if we all sit back and wait, Clear Channel will sell to independent owners and operators, instead of small groups.
Next after Cumulus starts to fall, look for Saga to fall as well. I want to see the Clarksville, Ft. Campbell and Hopkinsville Market break up. Saga owns too much of the market up there.

What do they own in that area? It has been too long since I lived there to know this myself. And I'm sure a lot has changed in the 15 years since I lived there!

 

[scottwmro]

Saga owns:

AM 540
AM 1370
FM 94.3
FM 97.5
FM 100.3 (licensed to Hopkinsville, KY)
FM 107.9 (known as Q 108)

1550 WQZQ, has a CP to move from Clarksville to Goodletsville (transmitter in Madison on WPLN-AM's Tower, so that will be gone from the Clarksville Market soon.

This will leave ONE independent owner and operator in that market, and that is 1400, WJZM. Hank Bonecutter owns the station. My cousin, Johnny Bailey, was once the majority owner of WJZM, and his partner, Charlie Malone. I'm sure Saga called Hank and wanted to buy WJZM, and if that was to happen, I would protest on that deal.

I just happen to believe (especially these small AM's), that there should be a NEW FCC RULEMAKING that any group or individual (large or small) can only own 1 AM station in a market or town. Then the FCC should encourage many individuals (like whom are on these boards who want only ONE small station) to buy a small station a good, decent, price. This way there would be more localism and different voices. I recall the days when there would be up 2 or 3 small AM's in a town like Sparta, Clarksville, Gallatin, etc. and different individuals would ONLY 1 STATION, not the whole damn town! Thank goodness we have keep it that way in Gallatin!

Don't you fellas agree? ;D

Scott Bailey
WMRO-AM, Gallatin, TN

 

[firepoint525]

When I was living in Clarksville (1992-93) and working at WDXN, they were owned by Tenn-Aire Communications out of Russellville, Kentucky, and were in the process of purchasing WJZM, WTWL-FM, and WVRY-FM. I left Clarksville before that deal was ever finalized, so I don't know what ever became of it. I know that WDXN is now 540 Sports Radio "the Fan," WVRY is now "Solid Gospel," and WTWL moved from 101.5 to 101.7 and is now WTPR-FM, simulcasting with WTPR-AM of Paris. Tenn-Aire was going to have all these stations apparently broadcasting from the building they had at the time on Dunbar Cave Road. But I don't know whatever became of any of that, because I left while it was in the process of happening, but I know it was never finalized.

 

[knoxbob]

It looks like Peg Broadcasting out of Crossville are the lucky winners of the CC stations in Sparta and Mcminnville. The application hasn't been posted on the FCC web site yet so I haven't seen what they went for. Anyone heard anything through the grapevine? They also bought 3 Crossville stations from CC for a song a few years back.