CBS SELLS W.P.B. CLUSTER

[nfladxer]

What will Happen to the CBS radio Employees in west palm beach ? Will they lose there jobs ? and is CBS radio leaving West Palm Beach?

Yes, since CBS is selling their cluster in WPB, their intention IS to leave.  It's no secret that CBS feels the greatest return on their investment lies in their major markets.  When the deal is finalized, the most likely scenario is that some positions will be eliminated, both in sales and programming, and probably in upper management, as the buyer merges WRMF with the new stations. 

[cd637299]

I wonder what'll happen with CBS's HD2's & 3's.

cd

[ai4i]

I wonder what'll happen with CBS's HD2's & 3's.

The Fan stops blowing.

[ScottBurns]

One has to think that Now 103.1 is the most obvious candidate for a sell-off.  Its format, while struggling, is too close to WRFM. Moreover, its signal strength is along the Treasure Coast and northern Palm Beach County.  The signal starts to fade a bit in places such as Delray Beach and Boca Raton.  As for the other station?  While it apparently bills well, B106.3 also has a relatively weak signal, doing well in northern Palm Beach County, with some limitations to the south.

[RadioGuy2004]

Pure speculation (FUN!):

WEAT-FM and WRMF stay as is.  Two strong C's.  I say B moves to 102.3, WIRK moves to 103.1 (a stronger C1 that covers WPB and the Treasure Coast and takes on WAVE 92.7 to the north), X goes to 107.9, NOW goes to 106.3. 

I think 106.3 and 107.9 get sold off, regardless of format. 

[ScottBurns]

107.9's signal, on the whole, is far better than 103.1's.  The most important part of the market is Palm Beach County, not the Treasure Coast.  First, 107.9's signal covers the entire county, without problems.  The same cannot be said for 103.1.  In addition, 107.9 has good coverage in a good chunk of the Treasure Coast.  107.9 has been targeting Wave for a while; in one of WIRK's "local" liners, the voiceover says, "The Treasure Coast's Country Station, 107.9 WIRK." 

I would still bet on 103.1 and 106.3, the stations with the two weakest county-wide signals, being sold off.

[nfladxer]

107.9's signal, on the whole, is far better than 103.1's.  The most important part of the market is Palm Beach County, not the Treasure Coast.  First, 107.9's signal covers the entire county, without problems.  The same cannot be said for 103.1.  In addition, 107.9 has good coverage in a good chunk of the Treasure Coast.  107.9 has been targeting Wave for a while; in one of WIRK's "local" liners, the voiceover says, "The Treasure Coast's Country Station, 107.9 WIRK." 

I would still bet on 103.1 and 106.3, the stations with the two weakest county-wide signals, being sold off.

Yes, WIRK isn't going anywhere, it's been very successful at 107.9, both in ratings and revenue.  Anyone know why 107.9 was never upgraded to one of the taller towers in Palm Beach County back when they could have done so?  Was it ever technically possible?   

[DDV49]

According to Radio Ink,Goodman plans to spin off WEAT and WHFS

[FLjack2]

According to Radio Ink,Goodman plans to spin off WEAT and WHFS

Interesting.  They plan to sell the two highest rated stations.  Hmmm.     I guess he can get the most money for them?  Personally, I would have kept WEAT and then worked to try to slowly separate the two formats of WEAT and WRMF and hold onto the top ratings.

[Kent]

If he really intends to sell WEAT, I expect he's selling it because there's a possibility of moving it into Miami (which TRI mentioned in this morning's newsletter).  Unless the DOJ mandates otherwise, I'd expect the "Sunny" format and WEAT calls to simply pack up and move to 102.3 or 103.1.  That station makes way too much money to just offload outright.