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PLJ SOLD
- Thread starter leethalweapon
- Start date
But Cumulus itself was under Chapter 11 bankruptcy at one point though and there's been talks of reforms for some time though after the Dickeys left Cumulus.
A couple of thoughts: So here's the selloff everyone wanted, but no rich New Yorker interested in bidding on the signal to "bring back the glory days".
How long does WABC stay under Cumulus ownership as essentially a stand-alone AM. Even granting they need that signal to clear Cumulus syndicated product, it doesn't make that much sense. Who in the world would buy WABC as a stand-alone and what would they do with it?
Would reducing the number of commercial stations in New York and other markets that are part of this swap help the revenue of the remaining ones?
How long does WABC stay under Cumulus ownership as essentially a stand-alone AM. Even granting they need that signal to clear Cumulus syndicated product, it doesn't make that much sense. Who in the world would buy WABC as a stand-alone and what would they do with it?
Would reducing the number of commercial stations in New York and other markets that are part of this swap help the revenue of the remaining ones?
That's an interesting theory. I will say that's one reason why commercial broadcasters didn't oppose the establishment of NCE stations at the lower end of the FM dial. Then again, that was done ten years before the band became relevant.
I'll also add something I said earlier: When Cumulus bought WFME from Family Radio 6 years ago, it replaced a non-commercial religious station with a commercial country station. So by selling 95.5 to EMF, it is essentially returning a station to the religious folks. Of course, they get a better signal in the exchange. But they're also paying a lot of cash for it.
My 'god' I post this little joke also on the dentist board last evening, he deleted it...pff.
I was thinking Hubbard Radio would get its feet in the door to save it from EMF.....Exit fun radio, enter brainwash radio.
Religious broadcasting may not be someone's cup of tea. But there is no obligation, nor does it make for good business, to shell out millions of dollars to "save" a station from another qualified buyer willing to put up the necessary cash. That's not how business works.
In the 1970s, WCAS 740 Cambridge, MA, a daytimer with a unique folk/folk-rock/blues/jazz/etc. format, was the target of religious broadcasters twice, but (quoting Wikipedia here)...
Of course, the white knights who rode in to save fair 'CAS from the God Squad back then didn't have to come up with millions of dollars to get the job done, and they wound up going broke anyway and the station became WLVG, with a black Gospel music format. (As most radio geeks know, this station eventually became Bob Bittner's donation-supported standards/soft AC WJIB.) And no citizens group, even if it had a billionaire sugar daddy behind it, would ever be so worked up about a struggling New York City AC that it would try to outbid EMF or anyone else for it.
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I don't recall seeing a price for the sale, vis-a-vis WPLJ alone.
In other words, when the deeds of these WYAY and K-whatevers are scrutinized, and closing fees are settled, and be-wigged figures bang the final gavel, how much did WPLJ per se wind up costing EMF ?
Are things separated that way?
In other words, when the deeds of these WYAY and K-whatevers are scrutinized, and closing fees are settled, and be-wigged figures bang the final gavel, how much did WPLJ per se wind up costing EMF ?
Are things separated that way?
Click on the little triangle and report him to the ADA.
In an interview following the announcement yesterday, the Cumulus CEO said that Chicago is one of their best clusters in the company. So probably not Chicago.
Interesting news from the Radio Insight site:
Concurrent with the sale applications, Entercom has applied to move 94.7 WNSH Newark NJ to one of the Lyndhurst NJ towers currently utilized by iHeartMedia’s 710 WOR New York. From the new site WNSH will operate with 40kW/166m. That brings the station as far east as it can go without creating interference to 94.3 WWSK Smithtown NY. 94.7 WMAS-FM Enfield CT/Springfield MA will add a directional null to the southwest to remove interference to WNSH while remaining at its current 50kW/55m antenna.
Concurrent with the sale applications, Entercom has applied to move 94.7 WNSH Newark NJ to one of the Lyndhurst NJ towers currently utilized by iHeartMedia’s 710 WOR New York. From the new site WNSH will operate with 40kW/166m. That brings the station as far east as it can go without creating interference to 94.3 WWSK Smithtown NY. 94.7 WMAS-FM Enfield CT/Springfield MA will add a directional null to the southwest to remove interference to WNSH while remaining at its current 50kW/55m antenna.
WPLJ doesn't have much of a present-day legacy. There are those of us who fondly remember its album days as the "Love" and later freeform WABC-FM, then the AOR WPLJ. That era ended nearly 36 years ago. Some will remember its early Top 40 glory days in the mid and late 80s. After that, it was pockets of brilliance and mediocrity competing with Z-100 and the various AC stations over the years. Its demise, along with that of other Cumulus stations, can be traced back to the poor management skills of the aptly-named Dickey brothers who previously ran Cumulus.
You don't wanna do that. I've noticed that the tenor of the proprietor's posts is going downhill rapidly. An adjustment in meds is likely the answer (getting old does suck), but who will broach the subject? Best to stay here where we're all a bit nuts, but the management seems to still have a grip on the rudder.
WPLJ had quite a long period of brilliance in the '90s with their groundbreaking Hot AC format, Scott & Todd in the morning, and Rocky Allen in the afternoon. Scott Shannon kept the station a steady, if mediocre, performer for many years, but when he left, the wheels started to come off. They kept tinkering with the music playlist every few months, and Todd's morning show has been lackluster. Meanwhile 102.7 finally ended its long string of unsuccessful formats and turned out to be a strong competitor to WPLJ.
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andreajesus
Guest
well....let's see - since it's EMF involved....plus Entercom acquiring Nash 94.7 (which has a history as a Christian "caster").....
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andreajesus
Guest
maybe not - at the same time that 'PLJ is being sold to EMF....Entercom is also acquiring Nash 94.7, which has a long previous history in the Christian genre...so anything could happen....
I’m confused... doesn’t EMF already have WKLV? Why do they need another New York signal? Or is EMF going to bring Air1 to WPLJ or WKLV?
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