Family Stations Will Sell 94.7FM WFME Newark

[ty_kleinle]

WFME has a translator on 97.3 in Stroudsburg, PA where I live. I don't think a single soul listens to it, however I am hoping for either an alternative or oldies format (CBS-FM is starting to play wayyy to many late 80s music and hardly any from the 60s).

[DavidEduardo]

That's a waste of an FM signal 32,0000 watts are you kidding me? No Music belongs of FM talk belongs on AM it's not hard for young people to push the AM button on their radio dials to hear sports/talk/news

You have obviously missed the many reports in the trades that 2012 is the year of FM talk. The transition of successful AM talk, sports and news stations to FM is accelerating.

75% of Americans don't listen to AM, and the average age of listeners is increasing. Most Americans under 55 or so did not grow up using AM for anything, and don't like the poor audio and susceptibility to static and noise.

Add to that the fact that the average top 100 market has perhaps one or maybe two AMs that actually cover the market; there are only about 150 viable AMs in the entire top 100 markets!

Take a good AM talker and put it on FM, and the under-55 demo performance increased dramatically.

[TheBigA]

I am hoping for either an alternative or oldies format (CBS-FM is starting to play wayyy to many late 80s music and hardly any from the 60s).

It really depends where they put the tower.  If they keep it suburban, you may have a chance.  If they move it ten miles east, you don't.  Here's a left field idea: Suppose Greater Media finds some money and buys it?  Not very likely, but I'll throw it out.

[Jersey Maiden]

I am hoping for either an alternative or oldies format (CBS-FM is starting to play wayyy to many late 80s music and hardly any from the 60s).

It really depends where they put the tower.  If they keep it suburban, you may have a chance.  If they move it ten miles east, you don't.  Here's a left field idea: Suppose Greater Media finds some money and buys it?  Not very likely, but I'll throw it out.

I find it weird how Greater Media has so many stations in Philly but here, they're staying in the suburbs.  The only way I can see active rock moving to New York is if they buy up this frequency and blow up DHA.  Not that I think it will happen. 

You have obviously missed the many reports in the trades that 2012 is the year of FM talk. The transition of successful AM talk, sports and news stations to FM is accelerating.

75% of Americans don't listen to AM, and the average age of listeners is increasing. Most Americans under 55 or so did not grow up using AM for anything, and don't like the poor audio and susceptibility to static and noise.

Add to that the fact that the average top 100 market has perhaps one or maybe two AMs that actually cover the market; there are only about 150 viable AMs in the entire top 100 markets!

Take a good AM talker and put it on FM, and the under-55 demo performance increased dramatically.

It may work in other cities but Merlin is screwing up this golden opportunity in New York and Chicago.  Others thinking about putting spoken word on FM are going to look at WEMP's numbers and think it's not worth trying.  I think New York and Chicago are going to be safe from this talk takeover of FM and I for one take comfort in that.

[Theater of My Mind]

75% of Americans don't listen to AM, and the average age of listeners is increasing.

That probably has as much to do with the content as the technology. AM radio has evolved into the medium of choice for angry old white man conservative talk, and the audience for that isn't exactly getting younger.

Put an all-sports station, live play-by-play or a solid, local all-news outlet on AM and people still tune in. In fact, that kind of station on AM still tops the ratings in many markets.

I'm not saying you don't make some valid points, but I don't think the overall decline in AM listening is entirely due to its audio issues. A lot of its stigma is for other reasons.

[SonoSational18]

well i hope you guys get an fm sports talker in nyc good luck

That's a waste of an FM signal 32,0000 watts are you kidding me? No Music belongs of FM talk belongs on AM it's not hard for young people to push the AM button on their radio dials to hear sports/talk/news

That's like saying that Macy's shouldn't locate at the new mall because "it's not hard for young people" to drive downtown.  In retail, you go where the customers are.  In radio you go where the listeners are.  It does, in some cases, make sense to simulcast on a relatively inferior FM signal (and also inferior relative to the AM sister).  You catch those new listeners, get them hooked, and then remind them that if they lose the FM signal on the way out to the 'burbs, you can catch your favorite talkers on that AM signal.  That's why I think you'll eventually see stations like WABC, WFAN, WINS, WEPN, and WCBS on AM.  Waste of a frequency?   Maybe, but that's like saying building another McDonald's or Walgreens a mile or two away is a waste of real estate.

[tophour]

Others thinking about putting spoken word on FM are going to look at WEMP's numbers and think it's not worth trying.

No, they're going to see how poorly Merlin executed and realize that the numbers don't mean anything.

I think New York and Chicago are going to be safe from this talk takeover of FM and I for one take comfort in that.

I wouldn't take too much comfort in it, because you're wrong.  Spoken word on FM isn't a fad, it's the whole new ballgame.

[Ryan Williams]

It may work in other cities but Merlin is screwing up this golden opportunity in New York and Chicago.  Others thinking about putting spoken word on FM are going to look at WEMP's numbers and think it's not worth trying.  I think New York and Chicago are going to be safe from this talk takeover of FM and I for one take comfort in that.

WEMP's lack of early success is in no way a predictor of the success of moving WABC/WCBS/WEPN/WFAN/WINS to FM. It also does not affect the potential success of any of those established brands moving to FM. Not even close. Please try again.

[DavidEduardo]

Put an all-sports station, live play-by-play or a solid, local all-news outlet on AM and people still tune in. In fact, that kind of station on AM still tops the ratings in many markets.

That does not explain why KCBS added and FM simulcast... why WBBM did the same. Or why WTOP moved entirely to FM. Or why WXNT in Detroit became the #1 station when they put the sports on FM.

With the exception of a couple of markets, most top 100 cities have from 0 to 1 or 2 full coverage AMs. Generally, any decent AM already has a viable format which is aging and which should, soon, move to FM or die.

[XCountry285]

well i hope you guys get an fm sports talker in nyc good luck

That's a waste of an FM signal 32,0000 watts are you kidding me? No Music belongs of FM talk belongs on AM it's not hard for young people to push the AM button on their radio dials to hear sports/talk/news

That's like saying that Macy's shouldn't locate at the new mall because "it's not hard for young people" to drive downtown.  In retail, you go where the customers are.  In radio you go where the listeners are.  It does, in some cases, make sense to simulcast on a relatively inferior FM signal (and also inferior relative to the AM sister).  You catch those new listeners, get them hooked, and then remind them that if they lose the FM signal on the way out to the 'burbs, you can catch your favorite talkers on that AM signal.  That's why I think you'll eventually see stations like WABC, WFAN, WINS, WEPN, and WCBS on AM.  Waste of a frequency?   Maybe, but that's like saying building another McDonald's or Walgreens a mile or two away is a waste of real estate.

That's not what I'm saying at all in any way shape or form. it's just that AM has a farther signal than FM does and it's great to hear Yankee Games on FM but on AM is great because if you travel far distances it's easier to receive. You can get the AMs anywhere where FMs it's tougher to receive if you are out of range of the signal. I don't understand why AM has to be on FM it's just a waste they have the same exact coverage area as for AM the signal goes extremely far. I once heard WCBS 880 all the way down in Charlottesville, VA. That's far! Sure there's static but at least you can pick it up that far.