All news 1067

[buddysomeday]

Hearing rumors that they will broadcast from the old CNN radio network studios; I was wondering if they might move the CNN call letters to the FM (106.7) unless another FM already has them.

[secondchoice]

The WCNN calls and 680 AM belong to the Dickey Family, They run Cumulus but do not own Cumulus* a public corporation yet.  I guess, they could make a deal with themselves.  Of course the deal could not be too sweet for the Dickey family because I am sure the Cumulus stock holders would sue.

http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CMLS/tab/8

[BarryATL]

Unless something has changed, it has been reported on this board by some of the engineering types that they will be broadcasting from the old Kicks studios.  They have been working on the studios for quite some time.

[buddysomeday]

I've heard that too but I hear they are leaving 210 Interstate N to another building in the same complex.

[wpb1999]

One of my Cumulus ebgineeer friends has been there at WKHX studios working on the barely alive Kicks board. I do think it is nice that WYAY gets most of the space at Interstate North. All I hope is that they produce a new SweetJack commercial. It sure will be a news hub... But, if they are broadcasting Atl-Biz-Chron, theyigt just move over there.  I heard that Time Warner could possibly be selling the CNN Radio space to Lincoln Financial. Wouldn't you love to be the station broadcasting from "The CNN Center in Downtown Atlanta".  I also heard that Pat Garret could possibly be returning as the VO for WYAY-All News

[jabba17]

The WCNN calls and 680 AM belong to the Dickey Family, They run Cumulus but do not own Cumulus* a public corporation yet.  I guess, they could make a deal with themselves.  Of course the deal could not be too sweet for the Dickey family because I am sure the Cumulus stock holders would sue.

http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CMLS/tab/8

They (Dickey) could probably license the calls to Cumulus for a dollar or something to keep it on the up and up.

But would Time Warner take issue with WCNN branding if the news product was not CNN's?  I've often wondered how Time Warner has felt about 680 continuing to use the WCNN calls all these years, including the time when Cox was LMAing WCNN for all-news.

[FLjack2]

I heard that Time Warner could possibly be selling the CNN Radio space to Lincoln Financial. Wouldn't you love to be the station broadcasting from "The CNN Center in Downtown Atlanta". 

This is HIGHLY unlikely.  CNN Radio's space is on an upper floor inside the CNN Center, inside CNN's office area(s).  One would need CNN ID badges and clearance to get into that area. 

Now, you might be talking about the old WCNN/WALR space on the main floor of CNN Center where they would have access from their own entrance from the mall area.  This is also unlikely since that space has been ripped out for many years.

[secondchoice]

The WCNN calls and 680 AM belong to the Dickey Family, They run Cumulus but do not own Cumulus* a public corporation yet.  I guess, they could make a deal with themselves.  Of course the deal could not be too sweet for the Dickey family because I am sure the Cumulus stock holders would sue.

http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CMLS/tab/8

They (Dickey) could probably license the calls to Cumulus for a dollar or something to keep it on the up and up.

But would Time Warner take issue with WCNN branding if the news product was not CNN's?  I've often wondered how Time Warner has felt about 680 continuing to use the WCNN calls all these years, including the time when Cox was LMAing WCNN for all-news.

I think the MTM verses WKRP comes into play.  Once the FCC issues Call letters, the station has to use them at least for the station ID and has "full rights" to use the call letters of course the prior user of the calls (if there is one) might have some trade marks / intellectual properties and then lawyers get involved.  Turner (Ted was running things back then) got out of the radio business and sold the NC TV station so they did not have a station to hold the call letters. 

[BarryATL]

One way or the other, the new station would be better served with a new set of call letters.  WYAY is just too difficult to say over and over all day long.  It does not stick with you like WBBM or KNX.

[jabba17]

The WCNN calls and 680 AM belong to the Dickey Family, They run Cumulus but do not own Cumulus* a public corporation yet.  I guess, they could make a deal with themselves.  Of course the deal could not be too sweet for the Dickey family because I am sure the Cumulus stock holders would sue.

http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/CMLS/tab/8

They (Dickey) could probably license the calls to Cumulus for a dollar or something to keep it on the up and up.

But would Time Warner take issue with WCNN branding if the news product was not CNN's?  I've often wondered how Time Warner has felt about 680 continuing to use the WCNN calls all these years, including the time when Cox was LMAing WCNN for all-news.

I think the MTM verses WKRP comes into play.  Once the FCC issues Call letters, the station has to use them at least for the station ID and has "full rights" to use the call letters of course the prior user of the calls (if there is one) might have some trade marks / intellectual properties and then lawyers get involved.  Turner (Ted was running things back then) got out of the radio business and sold the NC TV station so they did not have a station to hold the call letters. 

I'd forgotten about MTM vs "WKRP In Dallas, GA".  I guess TWX wouldn't (couldn't) have an issue as long as Cumulus always used the calls in their entirety (no 'CNN like 'GST), didn't use the old original WCNN logo that contained the CNN logo, and didn't try to develop any branding that obviously played on the "CNN" part of the calls in any way (i.e., no "Cumulus News NOW!"). 

But on the other hand, since CNN is now out of radio, what if Cumulus licensed the CNN name and logo for its own news network, with a future WCNN-FM as the flagship?