WFNX being sold to Clear Channel

[aaronread]

Mike did not bill well.    It was difficult to sell what was essentially an automated jukebox.    It would appear "personalities" do matter.

Billing is not just a question of sales, it's also a function of costs.   When your station is comparatively very cheap to operate, then your billing can be "good" even if you're not necessarily bringing in a larger total dollar value.

I don't KNOW for sure that, even with that definition, Mike actually billed well.  I've just heard it second- and third-hand that it did.  And that's no guarantee that it would still bill well on 101.7 in today's economic climate.   But in my armchair analysis, it still seems like a safer bet than most any other format.    Well, maybe a talk simulcast for 1200 would be "safer" but given Rush's historic problems getting traction in the Boston market, I don't think it's all that much safer.

[LAUROJRM]

Today (Thursday) May 24, 2012 (Boston-Metro) said WFNX may be turned to Country or Spanish Talk
God, I hope not Spanish Talk
They should change it to (New) Country, (play the hottest newest/new latest, and latest Country from 200-now)
or
put "Mia 1430am" on there
but, God, not Spanish Talk. They can do much better than that. (1330, 1600 already has Spanish Talk)

[raccoonradio]

Yes but they do have 2 local hosts--perhaps 3 if they get Howie (or maybe Katz or Severin
would be squeezed out but who knows)

>>I've just heard it second- and third-hand that it did.  And that's no guarantee that it would still bill well on 101.7 in today's economic climate

indeed.
By the same token imagine if WBOS decided to hire a couple of the former FNX jocks and yes,
have a little personality on their station. If the ratings are half decent it would justify their
salaries.
One comment on the Phoenix's site said that this leaves WAAF as the only rock station in
Boston. (What about WZLX? OK that's classic rock...what about WBOS for that matter)

>>(Boston-Metro) said WFNX may be turned to Country or Spanish Talk

Old news, sounds like what came out a wk ago. Not so sure.

By the way there are plenty of Spanish stations in the area. Some even have licenses

[iyiyi]

Check out the 99X thread on the Cleveland board and see what CC actually IS doing with a similar situation there.

[TSBench]

Someone said Ent. overpaid for Sox rights and MKK was helping to fund that,

Just wondering, but do you really think that is the way radio groups do accounting, or are you just reporting that that is the way 'someone' else thinks radio groups do accounting?

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
TSB

[WNTIRadio]

I looked over the details of the sale today which are up on the FCC site... wow.  You know, everyone can moan and complain about it being gone, but if I were a single station operator, and CC came along and waved $14.5 million reasons for me to sell in this economic climate, I think I would sell in a second.

I'm still betting on Talk 1200/Talk 101.7 simulcast.  Don't see CC doing a Spanish targeted format of any kind in Boston, and don't see them doing country on a limited signal.  Putting 1200 on there gives them solid signal in the city proper, and good building/tunnel/concrete canyon penetration.  I also don't see 1200 and 1430 swapping, as 1200 fills in the southern half of the metro that 101.7 doesn't reach.

As far as operating costs, there are little additional costs to simulcasting 1200 on 101.7.  Some extra royalty fees, electricity and tower site rent.  That's it.  No additional staffing needed.  If it does well, some sales people can be added which will add to the bottom line.

[raccoonradio]

I'd agree with you. CC may keep doing Mia on 1430, or maybe make it Mia 1200, and talk 1430/101.7.  BUT as you say:
>>  I also don't see 1200 and 1430 swapping, as 1200 fills in the southern half of the metro that 101.7 doesn't reach.

Good point!
The Occupy crowd can complain about their sympathizer selling out to CC but times are tough and it's payday for Stephen and his pals.

Country: would work best in suburbs. 101.7 not as strong esp as you get out to 495. Greater
can keep its only country signal in the market and not worry about 101.7 The Wolf or something.

Little extra costs? We ARE talking Clear Channel here, low cost, big profit--followers of Bill
Hanna at heart (The Hanna-Barbera honcho whose faster! cheaper! motto led to cartoon
characters being chased with the same buildings over and over again in the background! The joke goes that when Hanna died, they were thinking of having the hearse go around the block over and over as a tribute )

As for Mike 93.7 helping to defray the costs of overpaying for the Sox, I forget who said it
(probably someone involved with sports  broadcasting, and active on this board, facebook,
and boston-radio-interest) but let's just say blue font brightens everybody's day. 

[raccoonradio]

Mark S mentions in a tweet that 101.7 doesn't quite reach Marlboro and 495 and I said what about 580 and 94.9 (Tatnuck //)? That could help, if it winds up being talk.

[Fenway1912]

I looked over the details of the sale today which are up on the FCC site... wow.  You know, everyone can moan and complain about it being gone, but if I were a single station operator, and CC came along and waved $14.5 million reasons for me to sell in this economic climate, I think I would sell in a second.

Where exactly on the FCC site can you find that info....I looked but could not find it.

[reelyreal]

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101498153&qnum=5040&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

That's the asset purchase agreement, it's pretty boiler-plate.