WFNX being sold to Clear Channel

[reelyreal]

Some interesting info on the Hispanic population in Boston:

-Since 2000, the Hispanic population in the Boston metro area has grown 48% (compared to 45% Asian growth and 16% non-hispanic black/african american, and a 6% decrease for non-hispanic whites.)

-Median Hispanic age in Boston is 28 years

-60% of that Hispanic growth occured in just 6 cities, led by Boston, Lynn, and Revere.

- 1/3 of all spanish-speaking households are linguistically isolated, meaning no family member over age 14 is fluent in English.

-As of 2007, Massachusetts had the largest hispanic population in New England, and was 15th nationally

-While 2/3 of the nation's Spanish speaking population is Mexican, it's a different case in Boston.  27% is Puerto Rican, 21% is Dominican.  Add in the 4% of Cubans and that's over 50% of the Boston Hispanic population is from the Caribbean.

THE MONEY:

In 2007, Hispanics spent $1.2 billion in MA.  They contributed $1.6 billion to the gross state product.  There are 2,960 hispanic owned firms.

17% of that population work in managerial/professional roles, 26% in technical, sales, and administrative support.

[Fenway1912]

Arbitron says 7.2% Hispanic for Boston. 

For all of the Boston market, yes, but most of the areas WFNX is sketchy or inaudible in are outer suburbs with few Hispanics.  Take the areas it comes in best - Lynn, Revere, Chelsea, Salem, Malden, Somerville, the various neighborhoods of Boston (Eastie, Dorchester, Brighton, etc), and I think you'll see a higher # than 7.2%

Still, without looking up all the exact figures, I'd bet that's quite a bit lower than many of the Top 10 markets - LA, SF, NY, Houston, Dallas...

Of the Top 10 - I am thinking Philadelphia is less than Boston and I don't think there is a major FM Hispanic signal there.

Thing is in the inner city Portuguese may well be as strong as Spanish. Brazilian community is very strong in Everett, Somerville and Allston.

[Baholden1994]

Boston doesn't need another Country station that's just silly there's already one on a strong signal 102.5 what Boston really needs is a Mainstream Urban or Urban AC outlet since they are the largest city and metropolitan in the country without any Urban format station they switched Day part timer WILD 1090 to Chinese talk in June 2011 and they haven't had an Urban outlet on the FM radio in Boston for like six years now back when it was Urban AC WILD 97.7 that aired R&B music. Before that it was Mainstream Urban Hot 97.7 Boston's Hottest Hip Hop and R&B which went on the air around December 1999 then they switched Hot 97.7's format on October 23, 2005 to Urban AC WILD 97.7 which only lasted for almost a year then Entercom purchased WILD 97.7 from Radio One on August 21, 2006 probably because of bankruptcy. On that day WILD 97.7 became a simulcast of WAAF 107.3 out in Worcester which airs Active Rock today it's called WAAF 97.7/107.3.

[raccoonradio]

Fybush's new NERW column (subscription based) mentions such things as how country wouldn't work (wouldn't penetrate suburban areas); conserv. talk also would have the same problem...urban
would be a possibility but could cannibalize some of Jam's audience; then there's Spanish-language as has been speculated but he also says some kind of alt. rock/modern rock might be worth it

Would guess CC would announce the new format only when FCC approval comes and maybe there would be a week or so for a last gasp of FNX before new format (emanating from Medford or
wherever) would start... a shut off from the Lynn studios, a power up from the new studios etc
http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html

[raccoonradio]

There is a petition on change.org to ask Clear Channel to NOT change...that is, to keep WFNX
the same format or something similar, alt. or modern rock, local band exposure, etc. So far
about 1,900 people have signed it (goal 2,500)

Of course if they did decide to keep it the same it would be with different calls, no more "Boston Phoenix Radio" identity or features, but perhaps their own take...something similar but not
the exact same identity as what FNX has now.

[Bill_W]

Of the Top 10 - I am thinking Philadelphia is less than Boston and I don't think there is a major FM Hispanic signal there.

Clear Channel had one on 104.5 in Philly.  It wasn't there very long.  They then moved it to AM for awhile and kept it on FM on an HD sub-channel.  They got rid of it on AM and the FM sub-channel within the last year.

[WNTIRadio]

There is a petition on change.org to ask Clear Channel to NOT change...that is, to keep WFNX
the same format or something similar, alt. or modern rock, local band exposure, etc. So far
about 1,900 people have signed it (goal 2,500)

Of course if they did decide to keep it the same it would be with different calls, no more "Boston Phoenix Radio" identity or features, but perhaps their own take...something similar but not
the exact same identity as what FNX has now.

Let's see... 2,500 people in market #10.  That's not even a halfway decent AQH.  Good luck with that.  I'll bet CC already had a format and plans for the signal when they bought it.  Most people don't spend $11 million without a plan to get a return on it.  2,500 P1's aren't going to change their mind.  Neither will 25,000.

Bet on talk 1200 being a simulcast and branded as "Talk 101.7".  Makes the most sense, gives it more visibility and doesn't really cost CC anything since they're not blowing up a signal they already own.  And they're not going to touch Kiss or Jammin, that's for sure. 

[magnadan]

<<Bet on talk 1200 being a simulcast and branded as "Talk 101.7".>>

If that was the case, they'd probably have bought the domain already.  It's still available.

I too am betting on talk, but with a different name.

[raccoonradio]

http://www.bostonsnewtalk.com was used for awhile under the prog talk days. Guess what: it
redirects to Talk 1200. They could conceivably just keep that....

[radiorama1]

Listening for a bit this morning,

No DJ,

Dead air,

The same network spot crapping out midway thru being played seemingly every commercial break ("Fox Sunday..."
then silence),

More dead air,

And that annoying hum in the right channel that is seemingly getting worse...

My lord, talk about a station on LIFE SUPPORT...

They have taken this once great station and GUTTED IT from the inside out... very sad.

It's only a matter of time now. Time to pull the plug.

R.I.P. FNX.