Source: Merlin To Flip WRXP To News/Talk

[radioguy39nj]

i"m gonna put down $2 and say cc flips 105.1 before labor day to fm talk

Either that or Fox Sports... but remember if CC flips 105.1, they could risk Lite FM going down too (remember 105.1 is a flanker for Hot 97, like I've previously mentioned)... however, they could add some of Power's stuff to WKTU if they wanted...

As long as Hot 97 still exists, I doubt Power's going anywhere!  Power 105.1's purpose has been to fragment Hot's audience enough to keep Lite-FM on top.  And if Hot 97 went away, Power would inherit the hip-hop audience.  CC can't lose either way.

[altexpert]

All I can say to the comment about it being a business and not a hobby is that maybe it should be a hobby.  If real music for people that love music can't find a home in major markets, what does that tell us?  Music can be viable elsewhere, and if its satellite, HD, or internet streaming, one will eventually dominate.  When RXP goes dark, I will really and truly have nothing I will WANT to listen to on local airwaves.  And RXP was never great but a lot better than nothing.  New York radio really needs another talk station like it needs another yellow cab.  I'm numb to it, because the days for being sad or sullen about it happened when the station "where rock lives" died in NY and I NEVER thought I'd see a day when WNEW would bite the dust.  Radio sucks, radio is dead across the country and its ALL OUR FAULT.  When did we get stupid about content anyway?  Where the hell is the diversity that used to be on the dial in the number one market in the country?  

[Nathan Obral]

IMHO, if WRXP is indeed going news/talk, I doubt it will sound anything like 92.3 FREE-FM or 102.7 FM Talk.  The model to follow would be WTOP DC, KTAR-FM Phoenix and KIRO-FM Seattle, news and news/talk stations Bonneville successfully migrated to FM.

I've listened to KTAR-FM Phoenix and KIRO-FM Seattle online and while they don't shy away from politics, they are also very entertaining.  Infotainment, anyone?  KTAR-FM and KIRO-FM are the go-to stations in Phoenix and Seattle when a major news story breaks in those markets.  Both stations have substantial local programming.

The FM Talk tsunami might soon be coming to New York!

BUT... remember that WTOP, KIRO, AND KTAR all were successful AM stations in their own right - with nearly a combined 250 years of heritage - before then-owner Bonneville moved all three to the FM dial. Big difference from a potential upstart in 101.9, which won't have the "heritage" nameplate that WABC and WOR do.

If traditional news/talk is what Randy may be aiming at for 101.9, he'll have to make it almost all local a la his two former haunts - WLW/Cincinnati and WGN/Chicago. He has a shot at competing against 710 and 770, but does he have the money to pull it off?

[Nathan Obral]

i"m gonna put down $2 and say cc flips 105.1 before labor day to fm talk

I'd take that bet. Easy $2 for me.

Even with no clearance for Glenn Beck, that is ludicrous. How in the hell would that be possible when Rush and Sean are locked to WABC in perpetuity (Sean's deal specifically ties his show to the "legacy" ABC Radio O&Os), and C2C has a home in WOR? Laughable.

CC may be dumb at times, but they aren't THAT dumb.

Either that or Fox Sports...

If you even think "SuperStation KLAC..." er... Fox Sports Radio's sorry LA-centric lineup could break a 0.1 share in NYC, please see a doctor immediately.

[radioguy39nj]

BUT... remember that WTOP, KIRO, AND KTAR all were successful AM stations in their own right - with nearly a combined 250 years of heritage - before then-owner Bonneville moved all three to the FM dial. Big difference from a potential upstart in 101.9, which won't have the "heritage" nameplate that WABC and WOR do.

If traditional news/talk is what Randy may be aiming at for 101.9, he'll have to make it almost all local a la his two former haunts - WLW/Cincinnati and WGN/Chicago. He has a shot at competing against 710 and 770, but does he have the money to pull it off?

If Randy Michaels makes 101.9 two-thirds local he can impact WOR and WABC significantly.  If 101.9 becomes another syndie conservatalker it'll be irrelevant.  Again, does Randy have the money to do mostly local?  There's a definite format hole for it in New York.

I know WTOP, KIRO and KTAR had many years of heritage going for them before they migrated to FM.  I pointed out KIRO and KTAR's programming as a model for doing news/talk in New York.  It's been a very long time since New Yorkers had a station that actually talked to and entertained them.  If Michaels can pull this off on 101.9 the station will set itself apart from WOR and WABC.  That's why IMHO, WOR could find themselves the odd man out.  

[danikayser84]

Also, CBS will probably NOT flip Now or Fresh to sports, sorry to burst everyone's bubble... ESPN missed out on 101.9 and I doubt 710 would want to trade over with 1050... WFME (or WBAI) will probably not get sold for a long time (sorry, but Family Radio will be around even after Harold Camping dies/retires likely)

As for CC flipping a station to sports? Unlikely, even if they planned on it being all live and local (besides, remember that they want to protect Lite FM )

[DToTheJ]

can someone post the link for the article at radio-insight.com ?

Well, here's a Daily News article that hints that the WYNY calls could be coming to 101.9 but, oddly enough, does not even cite a source for the rumor, let alone the domain registration of 1019wyny.com... just a vague attribution to "several sources" (does today's TRI count?):
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/06/23/2011-06-23_in_solo_show_jillian_faces_new_twist.html

[DToTheJ]

Check out Merlin's newest hire: 25-year veteran Greg Janoff, who most recently held the title of "VP, Branded Entertainment Sales at My Damn Channel."

Yes... "My Damn Channel." Not exactly a country music website.

This hire just amplifies the attitude that Merlin wants to transmit on their new stations.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/merlin-media-announces-greg-janoff-as-evp-of-revenue-124421813.html

[Barry]

What seems significant is that new hire Greg Janoff, according to Inside Radio, "Worked in sales positions for CBS radio news stations in New York and Boston."

[Nathan Obral]

The website radioinsight states that Merlin Media has registered 1019WYNY.com.
But they indicate that they do not think that the WYNY callsign, used by the previous 2 country stations in the New York area, is a harbinger that WRXP will flip to country. They still believe it will go to some sort of talk format.

WYNY was also associated with a soft rock format, too. If they did try to get the WYNY calls for a talk format, it may mean more of trying to get a callsign people might recognize. Especially after WNYM was taken.

Heck, why not try to get WEVD? Or return the WPIX-FM calls?