Yankees Radio: Decision 2012

[mets18]

Since now that Cumulus has taken over WABC and how they like to turn there talk over to FM radio I can see how the 770 freq. can be up for grabs and sold to ESPN who is looking for a clear channel signal to bag the YANKS. This can happen because they could move it over to PLJ.
ESPN wants the Yanks rest assured but they need a signal and the FM's are too expensive where as an AM has deeper presentation into other markets and ESPN like to spread there product around.

The ironic thing is that Disney owned the 770 freq. a few years ago and decided to sell it rather than 1050 to Citadel. Obviously it is a more valuable asset but maybe that was a short-sighted decision.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Kicking around John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman seems to be almost as popular a sport in NYC as...well, Yankees baseball.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Since now that Cumulus has taken over WABC and how they like to turn there talk over to FM radio I can see how the 770 freq. can be up for grabs and sold to ESPN who is looking for a clear channel signal to bag the YANKS. This can happen because they could move it over to PLJ.
ESPN wants the Yanks rest assured but they need a signal and the FM's are too expensive where as an AM has deeper presentation into other markets and ESPN like to spread there product around.

If Cumulus turns 770 over to ESPN, that would leave them with only one station in NY, 95.5 FM, where they would likely migrate WABC. IMHO, it just doesn't make sense Cumulus would make due with just one station in market #1.

If the Yankees aren't staying on WCBS-AM, then where would they go? As of now, there are no 50 kW blaster AMs or class B FMs to go to. I thought CBS would try to keep the Yankees and move them to 660 and let the Mets go.

 

[TheBigA]

The ironic thing is that Disney owned the 770 freq. a few years ago and decided to sell it rather than 1050 to Citadel. Obviously it is a more valuable asset but maybe that was a short-sighted decision.

I think it demonstrates Disney's non-interest in owning radio stations. They make more money with less cost if they get ESPN programming cleared on someone else's radio station. Let someone else pay the electric bill for the transmitter. They won't be buying any radio stations in NYC. And I don't see them spending money for local broadcast of the Yankees when they already have a national contract with Major League Baseball. They already have the games people are interested in: The Playoffs and World Series.

 

[disney fanatic]

If Cumulus turns 770 over to ESPN, that would leave them with only one station in NY, 95.5 FM, where they would likely migrate WABC. IMHO, it just doesn't make sense Cumulus would make due with just one station in market #1.

Remember, Cumulus now owns WABC and WPLJ and a bunch of other outlets outside of New York City including WKXP & WZAD's "The Wolf" which is a country station that still carries the Yankees. Owned by the same company as WABC and WPLJ.

If the Yankees aren't staying on WCBS-AM, then where would they go? As of now, there are no 50 kW blaster AMs or class B FMs to go to. I thought CBS would try to keep the Yankees and move them to 660 and let the Mets go.

Why not put the Yankees back to WABC like they used to do since 2001. WABC is a Cumulus Broadcasting of the Tri-State Area station, and it still owns like I said is WKXP and WZAD's "The Wolf" which is 94.3 and 97.3 in the entire Hudson Valley listening area outside of New York City where all of the Cumulus stations that owns right now. Cumulus owns WEBE in Westport, CT, WRKI in Hartford, CT, WIBC in Stamford, CT, WPDH, WRRV, WRRB and WCZX in Poughkeepsie, and WKNY in Kingston, NY. All owned by Cumulus. Get the point?

 

[MarcB]

Nice try. WRKI is in Brookfield (Danbury). And there is no WIBC in Stamford.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Why not put the Yankees back to WABC like they used to do since 2001. WABC is a Cumulus Broadcasting of the Tri-State Area station, and it still owns like I said is WKXP and WZAD's "The Wolf" which is 94.3 and 97.3 in the entire Hudson Valley listening area outside of New York City where all of the Cumulus stations that owns right now. Cumulus owns WEBE in Westport, CT, WRKI in Hartford, CT, WIBC in Stamford, CT, WPDH, WRRV, WRRB and WCZX in Poughkeepsie, and WKNY in Kingston, NY. All owned by Cumulus. Get the point?

I get it! RE putting the Yankees back on WABC, Cumulus will have to pony up big to get them. The Yankees currently get $13MM from CBS, the Boston Red Sox get $18MM from Entercom. IMHO, whoever wins the Yankees rights for 2012 and beyond will have to pay at least $20MM!

Also, WABC is the flagship for Rush and Sean. WABC just paid big time to keep them on 770 AM. Premiere isn't going to look kindly on frequent pre-emptions for Yankee baseball.

BTW, WIBC is in Indianapolis, IN.

 

[pjc1961]

And also left out of the Cumulus profile were the stations that are actually the closest to NYC: WFAS-AM-1230 White Plains and WFAS-FM-103.9 Bronxville. Transmitter tower is in Hartsdale, NY with construction permits to move to the WFUV/WVIP tower location at Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx, NY.

 

[TheBigA]

Left out of this discussion is the fact that Cumulus (KABC) just lost the rights to the LA Dodgers to Clear Channel (KLAC). Cumulus inherited a lot of local sports teams from Citadel. But I don't see them spending a lot on local sports rights. Especially for AM stations. They are looking for national content they can program over multiple platforms coast to coast.

 

[radioguy39nj]

I think it demonstrates Disney's non-interest in owning radio stations. They make more money with less cost if they get ESPN programming cleared on someone else's radio station. Let someone else pay the electric bill for the transmitter. They won't be buying any radio stations in NYC. And I don't see them spending money for local broadcast of the Yankees when they already have a national contract with Major League Baseball. They already have the games people are interested in: The Playoffs and World Series.

The only stations Disney/ESPN owns are WEPN New York, WMVP Chicago, KSPN Los Angeles and KESN-FM Dallas/Ft Worth. Of all those stations, WEPN is likely the worst signal and that's the ESPN Radio flagship! Would ESPN partner with Cumulus to get a bigger signal in NYC? That remains to be seen, though I have my doubts.

All the ESPN-owned stations have local sports teams in additional to national programming. WEPN has the Knicks (NBA), Rangers (NHL) and Jets (NFL). WMVP has the Bulls (NBA). KSPN has the Angels (MLB), Clippers (NBA) and is a Jets' affiliate. KESN has the Mavericks (NBA) and this season added Rangers' baseball.

 

[blue feast]

I think it demonstrates Disney's non-interest in owning radio stations. They make more money with less cost if they get ESPN programming cleared on someone else's radio station. Let someone else pay the electric bill for the transmitter. They won't be buying any radio stations in NYC. And I don't see them spending money for local broadcast of the Yankees when they already have a national contract with Major League Baseball. They already have the games people are interested in: The Playoffs and World Series.

This is simply not true. Ratings and ad revenues for 162 regular season games plus status as "Official Radio Home of the NYY" plus access to the players, Mgr., tickets for on-air give-aways, etc., is far more important than the MLB postseason. Not even close. Very few local radio listeners are tuning into non-NYY postseason games.

 

[TheBigA]

Ratings and ad revenues for 162 regular season games plus status as "Official Radio Home of the NYY" plus access to the players, Mgr., tickets for on-air give-aways, etc., is far more important than the MLB postseason. Not even close. Very few local radio listeners are tuning into non-NYY postseason games.

I was talking about WEPN. There's not much they can put on that station that will deliver ratings and revenue. And the station is owned by ESPN, who have a lot invested in their national broadcasts, and need a NYC clear, regardless of ratings or revenue.

 

[blue feast]

I was talking about WEPN. There's not much they can put on that station that will deliver ratings and revenue. And the station is owned by ESPN, who have a lot invested in their national broadcasts, and need a NYC clear, regardless of ratings or revenue.

WEPN as currently broadcast on 1050 won't be able to get the NYY. But if the station is able to switch to either an FM (thru purchase, as they've tried) or a better AM stick, they'll be big players for the NYY radio rights, which would be far more valuable to ESPN Radio in NY than the status (and relatively small revenues) associated with being the "Official Radio Home of the entire MLB postseason."

 

[cd637299]

I was talking about WEPN. There's not much they can put on that station that will deliver ratings and revenue. And the station is owned by ESPN, who have a lot invested in their national broadcasts, and need a NYC clear, regardless of ratings or revenue.

WEPN as currently broadcast on 1050 won't be able to get the NYY. But if the station is able to switch to either an FM (thru purchase, as they've tried) or a better AM stick, they'll be big players for the NYY radio rights, which would be far more valuable to ESPN Radio in NY than the status (and relatively small revenues) associated with being the "Official Radio Home of the entire MLB postseason."

Not living in NYC, I do understand about 1050's weaker signal, and that they have ESPN ties....but is this to say that the Yankees are "too good" for 1050?*

If so, it's no wonder that the Yankees have their detractors! Oh my goodness gracious....

I will say this....my wife and I were on the way to Cape Cod last October; and it was during the 2010 playoffs.....it was sad that we couldn't get ONE sports station carrying the games with a decent signal. However, WEPN, even with an in-and-out signal, gave me my playoff fix along the way!

cd

 

[radioguy39nj]

Not living in NYC, I do understand about 1050's weaker signal, and that they have ESPN ties....but is this to say that the Yankees are "too good" for 1050?*

If so, it's no wonder that the Yankees have their detractors! Oh my goodness gracious....

I will say this....my wife and I were on the way to Cape Cod last October; and it was during the 2010 playoffs.....it was sad that we couldn't get ONE sports station carrying the games with a decent signal. However, WEPN, even with an in-and-out signal, gave me my playoff fix along the way!

cd

WEPN has a better signal to the north and northeast of NYC than they do to New Jersey and Long Island! You could hear 1050 on the way to Cape Cod, but not in New Brunswick, NJ, only 35 miles from Manhattan! You can't get them in Central and Western Suffolk County on Long Island!

Even if WEPN offers the Yankees $25MM a season, I doubt the Yankees will go there. 1050 simply cannot offer the market coverage the Yankees want.

 

[blue feast]

Even if WEPN offers the Yankees $25MM a season, I doubt the Yankees will go there. 1050 simply cannot offer the market coverage the Yankees want.

This.

 

[TheBigA]

But if the station is able to switch to either an FM (thru purchase, as they've tried) or a better AM stick, they'll be big players for the NYY radio rights, which would be far more valuable to ESPN Radio in NY than the status (and relatively small revenues) associated with being the "Official Radio Home of the entire MLB postseason."

But as I've pointed out, they are not interested in buying another station. THe primary purpose for having WEPN is to clear ESPN Radio programming in NYC. Same with WQEW and Radio Disney.

 

[blue feast]

But as I've pointed out, they are not interested in buying another station. THe primary purpose for having WEPN is to clear ESPN Radio programming in NYC. Same with WQEW and Radio Disney.

I don't follow. Are you saying they weren't in on the WQXR sale or hadn't been kicking the tires on WRXP for a while? They made legit offers for both. And if they simply wanted to clear programming in NYC, why wouldn't they just run all the network shows? Why pay huge bucks for Kay and a ton of dough for Knicks/Rangers rights?

 

[TheBigA]

I don't follow. Are you saying they weren't in on the WQXR sale or hadn't been kicking the tires on WRXP for a while? They made legit offers for both.

Really? Can you show me some proof?

 

[blue feast]

Really? Can you show me some proof?

As in a contractual document with an offer? Of course, not. However, here's some press coverage of it:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20081210/FREE/812109978

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...010_not_without_some_moving_and_shaking_.html

It's true, says McCarthy, that there were some conversations "a few months ago" and that ESPN is "always looking for opportunities."

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-12-15/entertainment/17912625_1_espn-deportes-emmis-fm-frequency