WFNX being sold to Clear Channel

[WLYNgm]

Keep in mind what CC actually gets for 14.5 million bucks - a license. A piece of paper, that
allows them to legally operate a radio station. That's all. This does not include music licensing, staff,
office/studio space, broadcast equipment (including transmitters), tower rentals, etc.  Before
the usual suspect (misinformed and uneducated civilians) start telling us all what Boston "needs",
they need to include ALL of the costs in their rants.  Then they need to balance realistic revenues
against these costs. Broadcast professionals already know this...

[NHRadio]

Actually Jeff, the price does include the studio and transmission equipment but that's all.

[xmusicmatt]

Keep in mind what CC actually gets for 14.5 million bucks - a license. A piece of paper, that
allows them to legally operate a radio station. That's all. This does not include music licensing, staff,
office/studio space, broadcast equipment (including transmitters), tower rentals, etc.  Before
the usual suspect (misinformed and uneducated civilians) start telling us all what Boston "needs",
they need to include ALL of the costs in their rants.  Then they need to balance realistic revenues
against these costs. Broadcast professionals already know this...

Clear Channel bought everything except the tower (since they lease space).. and the actual format / call letters..

Besides.. I am pretty confident clear channel is already prepping a place for the "new" station in it's Boston cluster already

[WLYNgm]

If  that is the case, I stand corrected. My point, overall,
remains the same. The return on investment has to make
sound economic sense. Again, this is a business...

[carmen]

a heartfelt eulogy in the Lynn Journal

[Signpost]

I'm still betting on Talk 1200/Talk 101.7 simulcast.. there are little additional costs to simulcasting 1200 on 101.7. 

Bingo.   Jay Severin &  Jeff Katz are expensive live humans, a huge liability in today's voicetracked/satcast world.  Rush must be costing them a fortune.         I can see why they'd want more mileage out of their talk operation.      CC did this in Albany NY, WGY already powerful enough, they still blew up a successful rock station to simulcast WGY on FM.     In Boston the reasons are even more compelling to make this move since 1200 isn't really penetrating Boston, and there's not much else they can do with 101.7 that will yield any higher ratings than they already have.   

Guarantee Cat Country in Providence would beat a country formatted 101.7 in Boston.     Remember when 97.7 was country?      I didn't think so.           As tepid as WFNX's ratings have been, their stream almost tied the terrestrial signal, which would indicate a popularity beyond the signal's reach.      Whatever else they put on that signal will have the same signal handicap (for now), but not the 29 year brand equity of WFNX.     If they were to do anything on 101.7 besides talk, the smart move would be to keep it alternative.       CC just flipped to alternative in Cleveland, where they already own WMMS, so they must not be averse to that format.     They just bailed on Spanish in Miami, likely not hot to try it here.

[DavidEduardo]

If  that is the case, I stand corrected. My point, overall,
remains the same. The return on investment has to make
sound economic sense. Again, this is a business...

And your point is well taken.

So they get the piece of paper and maybe, just maybe, $150 to $200 k in used equipment and maybe and Aeron chair or two.

The remaining $14.3 million is for the paper.

[Fenway1912]

I still think WJMN could move to 101.7 clearing 94.5 for talk.

If CC thinks they can hold most of the WJMN audience on 101.7 ( and they have the county breakdown - we don't ) - they could then move talk to 94.5

[WNTIRadio]

No way they're going to swap the #3 station in the market for talk.  At least not right now.  If the talk format somehow takes off on FM and 94.5 suddenly loses half its audience, maybe.

Right now, it makes the most sense to put 1200 on there and use it as a big-ass translator. 

As to Rush costing them money, I always thought Rush was mostly barter based, which is how he got on to 600 radio stations in the first place.  I didn't look at Rush when I was consulting an AM a little while back, but did look at Savage, Levin, Laura Ingraham, Beck etc. and they were all barter based.  So was Coast to Coast.

If it does turn out to be Talk 101.7/1200, expect a signing of Howie to follow soon after.  Katz gets the boot, Howie to mornings and Severin in the afternoon.  CC/Priemere wants Rush/Beck/Levin on to clear the barter spots in market #10.  Maybe Katz to 10-noon and a time shift of Beck?

[mgpt6]

If Talk 1200AM is simlucast on 101.7FM,  look  to see Mia 1430AM also on WXKS-FM 108   HD-2.