Re: WPLM

[Dan Strassberg <dan.strassberg@worldnet.att.net>]

At 11:48 AM 1/3/99 EST, you wrote:
>In a message dated 12/31/98 11:11:46 PM EST, dan.strassberg@worldnet.att.net
>writes:
>
><<  Chancellor could then move WXKS (AM) to 1200 with 50
> kW-U DA-N. Although the night signal west of Wellington Circle would still
> be poor, it would be a lot better than the 1430 night signal, and would
> probably be good enough that a station perceived to have an exclusive format
> could do OK.
>  >>
>Nope!   Unfortunately, NO station (with the possible exception of WQEW or a
>station in LA) doing adult standards makes money as a stand-alone.
>Furthermore, unfortunately, NO station goes with adult standards unless there
>is nothing else they think they can do. with their station.   What else can
>WPLM, WDRC, WXKS-AM, WLAM, etc  do?

1. WXKS (AM) isn't a stand alone. Chancellor also owns Kiss 108 and Jam'n
94.5 in the Boston market. The AM 1200 that I suggest might become the
successor to WXKS (AM) would not be any more of a stand-alone property than
the current WXKS (AM) is.

2. Why are you ignoring the fact that Chancellor is doing a standards-based
"swing" format on KABL (960 Oakland-San Francisco-Silicon Valley) and is
apparently succeeeding with it--succeeding to the point that the company is
reported to be exporting the format to KLAC (570 Los Angeles)? Although I
don't know it to be the case, I assume that Chancellor has other properties
in both the Bay Area and LA that it can offer in combo buys with KABL and
KLAC, just as Chancellor can offer either or both of its FMs here in combo
buys with WXKS (AM).

The swing format is supposed to be truly trans-generational; the promotion
is to the younger demos and, based on reports at Airwaves, has attracted a
lot of attention among 20-somethings. Unless you've been in SF in the past
six months and listened to KABL, neither of us has ever heard a format like
this, so you have no basis for writing it off. It was this format--if it
were on a signal that penetrated most of the market 24 hours a day--that I
suggested might work in Boston with its large college-age population. Since
WXKS is owned by Chancellor, the station is an obvious candidate for this
format. The version on KABL is produced locally, and I think that Chancellor
also plans to produce the KLAC version locally, but with Chancellor's
experience with voice-tracked syndication, there is really no need for a
separate air staff in each city.

- -------------------------------
Dan Strassberg (Note: Address is CASE SENSITIVE!)
ALL _LOWER_ CASE!!!--> dan.strassberg@worldnet.att.net
(617) 558-4205; Fax (617) 928-4205

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