WNKO MOVE-IN

[OhioMediaWatch]

Except for one thing - the WNKO CP basically abandons any decent signal back in Newark:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WNKO&service=FM&status=C&hours=U

The station is not "moving to New Albany", anymore than WRXS moved "to Dublin", WLZT "to Ashville", etc.

That's the COL/Wide Spot On The Road.  WNKO becomes a Columbus station with the move.

Is the assumption here, like with WHIZ/102.5, that the current local owner sells to someone - presumably, an existing Columbus market operator?  How many rimshot/new signals can Saga own in C-bus?   

And, then, of course, there's the economy, and the depressed price of signals in 2009.  Assuming Saga or whoever can mount the purchase, are WHIZ/WNKO taking a price hit due to the economy?

[Nu_Roo_2]

Except for one thing - the WNKO CP basically abandons any decent signal back in Newark:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WNKO&service=FM&status=C&hours=U

The station is not "moving to New Albany", anymore than WRXS moved "to Dublin", WLZT "to Ashville", etc.

That's the COL/Wide Spot On The Road.  WNKO becomes a Columbus station with the move.

Is the assumption here, like with WHIZ/102.5, that the current local owner sells to someone - presumably, an existing Columbus market operator?  How many rimshot/new signals can Saga own in C-bus?   

And, then, of course, there's the economy, and the depressed price of signals in 2009.  Assuming Saga or whoever can mount the purchase, are WHIZ/WNKO taking a price hit due to the economy?

As far as another Saga move-in, the coverage area for relocated NKO sure looks better than any of their existing rimshots.  Speaking of the economy, I was floored by how big a hit Saga financials seem to have taken relative to its size.

[OhioMediaWatch]

Yeah, the relocated WNKO looks like a powerhouse compared to, well, 104.3.  And far worse "rimshot" stations have aimed at Columbus.  I'm looking at you, 103.1/Johnstown!  How in the world is that facility a workable Columbus market signal???  (Yes, I know that's a Bernard Radio operation, not in the Saga stable.)

I wonder if Saga is financially able to pull off a new acquisition in Columbus, given the current state of the financial markets.  It would seem to make sense that they're a given to buy either WNKO or WHIZ-FM, but I wonder if they're going to have to sell one of their existing rimshots to make it happen.  (That, again, assumes anyone can raise money in 2009 to buy even a crappy rimshot signal - 104.3, etc. - in the Columbus market.)

[schmave]

A shame, indeed. Is it now the unpardonable sin for radio to serve the community (especially outside the metro areas)?

The business of radio is selling audiences to advertisers. It's no surprise that stations move to where there are larger audiences and more advertisers.

It's unfortunate for the smaller Licking County community to lose a news media outlet to the larger Franklin County community. Especially in an era where newspapers are having trouble making payroll. If The Advocate folds its tent, WCLT becomes the biggest news operation in a county of 150,000 folks. The question is whether the WNKO move will make it the only news operation in the county.

The Advocate's not going anywhere, unless you know something I don't. I worked there for several years and still have many friends in the newsroom. There's no discussion of this at all.

[DebBonner]

I  don't think Saga would be able to buy WNKO not because they couldn't afford to or regulations but because the family that currently owns it has never had any intention of selling it.

Now I admit I haven't spoken with the owner in a while but I do know his son has shown a lot of interest in wanting to take over for his dad and is at the right age to start learning- not to mention the kid has the smarts to do it.

I know the station would like to have a stronger signal in the Columbus Metro area because they get slaughtered every book.  This is a result of the crappy way Arbitron is defined the Columbus Market.  The station is considered a Columbus Station but doesn't currently have a strong enough signal to penetrate the market.

However back to the main point.  WNKO and its sister station WHTH have been family owned forever and unless something drastic has happened I would be really surprised to learn they are selling out.

[Al Timiter]

WNKO tried to "move-in" closer to cover Columbus before but was blocked by Clear Channel who claimed interference from one of their properties. (I don't know which one...) But, CC moved that station and it opened up the opportunity. Otterbein's student station also had to move their frequency as well for this to happen. I'm guessing that the lure of more $ is motivating them, plus, even if they are keeping the station for now, it will greatly increase it's value for the next generation of Franks. So, it's an ivestment as well. Of course, that all hinges on whether radio survives it's current delapidated state....

[OhioMediaWatch]

I  don't think Saga would be able to buy WNKO not because they couldn't afford to or regulations but because the family that currently owns it has never had any intention of selling it.

Now I admit I haven't spoken with the owner in a while but I do know his son has shown a lot of interest in wanting to take over for his dad and is at the right age to start learning- not to mention the kid has the smarts to do it.

See, Deb...that I didn't know, that there was a generational thing there.  The son may well be interested in operating it as a Columbus market, though the phrase "he'll get his lunch handed to him" comes to mind.

The point still stands, though...WNKO is not a Newark station after the move.

[talkers]

WNKO tried to "move-in" closer to cover Columbus before but was blocked by Clear Channel who claimed interference from one of their properties. (I don't know which one...) But, CC moved that station and it opened up the opportunity. Otterbein's student station also had to move their frequency as well for this to happen. I'm guessing that the lure of more $ is motivating them, plus, even if they are keeping the station for now, it will greatly increase it's value for the next generation of Franks. So, it's an ivestment as well. Of course, that all hinges on whether radio survives it's current delapidated state....

It wasn't a CC station that put up the fuss, it was a Radio One Station...101.7 that was licensed to Urbana. Radio One took care of that problem when they moved the station to the Dayton area, which then allowed WNKO to move to New Albany. Otterbein put up a fuss about the move as well, but since they are a Class D NCE station, they really didn't have anything to stand on. That's why with the help of the Wolfe Family and Clear Channel, they were allowed to relocate the station to 97.5.

[Al Timiter]

wait...with the help of the Wolfe family? please elaborate!

[xmusicmatt]

wait...with the help of the Wolfe family? please elaborate!

Due to being an adj to 97.1 and 97.9,   WOBN had to have both Clear Channel (97.9 WNCI)  and Wolfe's (the owners of 97.1 WBNS) approval to move to 97.5.