Sheridan Broadcasting Sells WAMO to Religious Organization

[PghRadioListener]

A Pittsburgh institution will soon be gone.

[EDIT]

http://kdka.com/local/WAMO.sold.Sheridan.2.1010923.html


[EDIT-quote exceeds fair use standards.]

[only1moore]

This is a shocker! WAMO is one of my favorite Urban stations.

Now the big question is who will fill the void. Any guesses?

[Todd]

This is a shocker! WAMO is one of my favorite Urban stations.

Now the big question is who will fill the void. Any guesses?

I'm just as shock as you are about Wamo flipping.  How long has the station been around?  I could see Kiss FM going in the urban direction when Wamo flips.

[only1moore]

This is a shocker! WAMO is one of my favorite Urban stations.

Now the big question is who will fill the void. Any guesses?

I'm just as shock as you are about Wamo flipping.  How long has the station been around?  I could see Kiss FM going in the urban direction when Wamo flips.

Well, lets look at the possible scenarios, based on my random observations...

WKST: If they do fill the void, it won't be a full blown urban. More like a Rhythmic Top 40.

WBZW: They would have to beat WKST to the punch first if they're going to jump into the soon-to-be vacant fray. Like WKST, it'll probably be a Rhythmic as well.

WLTJ: A long shot, plus they do have a Urban AC on their HD subcarrier.

[MsMusicRadio]

This would solve the problem of how to really differentiate Star and B. Guess Lynn Cullen is gone again.

[farker]

I swear there are more than 35 people let go.

[only1moore]

Well, here's the PG's article about how it went down and why they're telling its listeners not to resort to a "Save WAMO" campaign...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09136/970713-67.stm?cmpid=newspanel0

Meanwhile, one has to wonder how much the trio, especially the FM, is really worth. Hmmm...

[MsMusicRadio]

They should allow some one else to have the WAMO calls and continue the heritage. I guess they can be sold. Candidates?

1) 92.9
2) 93.7
3) BOB
4) Star
5) SAM
Maybe give up a Froggy.
 
OR--------CC could flip either the X (doubtful) or 3WS to the "BEAT" brand.

[Parttimer]

Reality check:

According to WPXI last night the combo sold for $9mil. That's pretty low for a full-market FM signal in a top-25 market.

WAMO was never a cash cow. If you recall, most of their time was spent on the huge 105.9 signal. Clear Channel gave them about $10 million to trade 105.9 for 106.7, which CC had bought from the old Beaver Falls owners. For a time they were barely listenable in the inner city until they were able to move 107.1 further east, which allowed the relocation of the 106.7 stick to Wexford. (During that time they actually pulled good numbers in Youngstown, that's what a rimshot 106.7 was when they took it).

Urban is a tough sell in this market. You have to remember that ratings do not always equal revenue.

I will absolutely guarantee you that no one will change formats in reaction to this, and no one will pick up the call letters (not on FM, anyway). I'd bet on Stevens and Ingram maybe grabbing them for 770 or something like that,if it happens at all.

You will likely hear a few more Urban titles on the B. Keith Clarke was an Urban/CHR programmer in Jacksonville, and it would distance them from Star and help both stations. CBS has a couple of very successful Churbans in Wild 98.7 in Tampa and 102 Jamz in Orlando, but I don't see them moving that far here. Kiss already plays more Urban stuff than the B, so you might not notice much of a difference there.

Star 100.7 will not flip to urban.

But it's really sad to see an iconic station like that go away.

[Todd]

Reality check:

According to WPXI last night the combo sold for $9mil. That's pretty low for a full-market FM signal in a top-25 market.

WAMO was never a cash cow. If you recall, most of their time was spent on the huge 105.9 signal. Clear Channel gave them about $10 million to trade 105.9 for 106.7, which CC had bought from the old Beaver Falls owners. For a time they were barely listenable in the inner city until they were able to move 107.1 further east, which allowed the relocation of the 106.7 stick to Wexford. (During that time they actually pulled good numbers in Youngstown, that's what a rimshot 106.7 was when they took it).

Urban is a tough sell in this market. You have to remember that ratings do not always equal revenue.

I will absolutely guarantee you that no one will change formats in reaction to this, and no one will pick up the call letters (not on FM, anyway). I'd bet on Stevens and Ingram maybe grabbing them for 770 or something like that,if it happens at all.

You will likely hear a few more Urban titles on the B. Keith Clarke was an Urban/CHR programmer in Jacksonville, and it would distance them from Star and help both stations. CBS has a couple of very successful Churbans in Wild 98.7 in Tampa and 102 Jamz in Orlando, but I don't see them moving that far here. Kiss already plays more Urban stuff than the B, so you might not notice much of a difference there.

Star 100.7 will not flip to urban.

But it's really sad to see an iconic station like that go away.

How long has WAMO FM been on the air now? Aside from KDKA and WDVE, was WAMO the next longest running formats on the Pittsburgh airwaves?