.....Anybody Know Howta........

[raccoonradio]

I figured conservative talk might be break even for them, or possibly a very very small profit (running
national ads)--and/or that basically they make their money on the other 2 stations, and WTTT was
a loss leader just pumping out the Salem (and other) conservatalk shows..so I agree with Eli.

[Laurence Glavin]

One caveat: Salem Communications is a publicly-traded corporation on one of the major stock exchanges.  Not only INDIVIDUALS, but private and governmental pension funds have invested (foolheartedly) in Salem's stock.  Thet have a fiduciary responsibility to "manage" their business with some degree of rationality...this move doesn't seem to qualify, UNLESS they know that Clear Channel will definitely flip WKOX-AM once the move to 750 Sawmill Brook Parkway takes place.

[DanStrassberg]

One caveat: Salem Communications is a publicly-traded corporation on one of the major stock exchanges.  Not only INDIVIDUALS, but private and governmental pension funds have invested (foolheartedly) in Salem's stock.  Thet have a fiduciary responsibility to "manage" their business with some degree of rationality...this move doesn't seem to qualify, UNLESS they know that Clear Channel will definitely flip WKOX-AM once the move to 750 Sawmill Brook Parkway takes place.

I think the move DOES indeed qualify. Radio Luz must be LMAing the station (maybe LMAing with an option to buy). For the duration of the agreement (and as long as Radio Luz holds up its end of the agreement), the LMA must guarantee Salem a specific amount of income. Radio Luz presumably assumes all of the risk associated with the uncertain income stream from the sale of advertising and the leasing of time to local churches. In an uncertain economy such as this, having someone else absorb the risk must have a quantifiable economic value.

Also, Principle's instant success with selling WJDA and WESX to the same market demonstrated that thar is gold in them particular hills. WTTT has a better signal (especially at night) than 1300 or 1230, so Radio Luz will be able to use a bigger gun to compete for the business. I think a business school type would say that Salem is monetizing one of its assets. 

[Eli Polonsky]

I figured conservative talk might be break even for them, or possibly a very very small profit (running
national ads)...

In many cases, national ads on stations that run national network programming just support the national programming so that the stations don't have to pay for it, or pay very little... and in some cases, the revenue from national ads goes only to the network for that purpose, not directly into the bank accounts of the local affiliates. The locals still have to come up with local sponsors and ads to make much profit for themselves, which was probably a tough go for conservative talk on WTTT.

One caveat: Salem Communications is a publicly-traded corporation on one of the major stock exchanges.  Not only INDIVIDUALS, but private and governmental pension funds have invested (foolheartedly) in Salem's stock.  Thet have a fiduciary responsibility to "manage" their business with some degree of rationality...this move doesn't seem to qualify, UNLESS they know that Clear Channel will definitely flip WKOX-AM once the move to 750 Sawmill Brook Parkway takes place.

I wouldn't venture to guess that investing in Salem would necessarily be "foolhearted" (foolhardy?). I'm sure several of their Christian stations nationwide, and the network overall, is probably quite successful.

Also, as for Clear Channel locally, "Rumba" on WKOX is a Spanish musical entertainment format, not a religious format. "Radio Luz" on WTTT is a Spanish religious format. Though there may be some crossover, the formats will have largely different audiences, so it may not matter to WTTT whether or not WKOX remains "Rumba" from their new transmitter site.

[FatherCoughlin]

I'd pay REAL money... "from the collection box, that is..." to hear the messages to the "Cheerfull" chap on the "TTT answering machine!  Pax Vobiscom

[raccoonradio]

Yes once again you have to wonder if WKOX might go to conservatalk--and you know of the Premiere/CC
relationship. Premiere has Rush, Coast to Coast (both on WRKO), Dr Laura (had been on WTTT) and Glenn
Beck. The Salem hosts now have no home in town (unless one or two of them are placed on WROL or
WEZE, which I doubt) and some other syndie hosts are not heard here, like Hannity (Citadel/ABC) and
Dennis Miller (Westwood One)--and I'm dealing with conservative-leaning talkers here rather than the libs
(AAR, Jones).
Boston if anything does show some commitment to local talk at least and who knows if a mostly syndicated
lineup at 1200 --if launched--would be successful. 1150 didn't show up, certainly. Would CC do mostly syndie,
and a couple local hosts? (Spend money? CC?? )

[raccoonradio]

>>so that the stations don't have to pay for it, or pay very little... and in some cases, the revenue from national ads goes only to the network for that purpose, not directly into the bank accounts of the local affiliates. The locals still have to come up with local sponsors and ads to make much profit for themselves, which was probably a tough go for conservative talk on WTTT.

Yes--for example, I know Keating Willcox runs Laura I. on WNSH and there are some national ads there,
and maybe he doesn't see any of that money but he gets to run the show--is he attracting any local
sponsors for it & other shows...?
And you have a good point about how WTTT's new format is not the same as WKOX's so maybe 'KOX would
stay Rumba. If the money's there.

[Finn]

In a presentation of PPM data analysis I heard, it was stated that foreign language listeners not only listen to a lot of radio, they are extremely loyal to the format (not the station).  Other demographics tend to either not listen as much, or are less loyal.  However, the loyalty may be driven by choices - now that spanish-language listeners have multiple choices, will they switch between stations or are they content-loyal, i.e. music vs Christian.  I would guess that there may be some back and forth, but it's content driven in addition to language.  I'd love to know if there is PPM data to indicate one way or the other yet.

[Ann from Woburn]

Greetings, fans of WTTT in its heyday as an exemplar of the conservative talk show format.  Here's the telephone complaint line, which was provided to me by the SRN corporate offices in Tennessee.  You will receive one or two callbacks from local SRN representatives.
Joe Davis
[EDIT]
Everybody, keep the dialogue up and keep those voicemails coming!  Make your complaints polite, but firm and to the point.  Spread the word! 
Already, Bill Bennett's Boston area fans are leading the way.  BTW, there's a new Boston chapter starting up.  To find out more, go to http://www.saturdaymorninginamerica.com/2.html and send an e-mail to the address shown under "Chapters Across the USA".


[Privacy issue]