RE: Boston Globe Online / Sports / WWZN cuts staff and programming

["Paul Hopfgarten" <paul@03038.com>]

So...whether next or one owner (Disney-ABC) removed, can we assume the 1510
will eventually be leased-time ethnic of some kind eventually...

Paul Hopfgarten
East Derry NH 03041
paul@03038.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org
> [mailto:owner-boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org]On Behalf Of
> Dan.Strassberg@att.net
> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 2:00 PM
> To: Kevin Vahey
> Cc: Sean Smyth; Boston Radio Mailing List
> Subject: Re: Boston Globe Online / Sports / WWZN cuts staff and
> programming
>
>
> Ok, compared with the other two 50 kW-U Class B AMs in the market
> (WRKO, WEEI),
> WWZN does not have the signal coverage--particularly at night.
> But WWZN's 50-kW
> night signal is better than that of WROL and certainly better
> than that of WBIX
> (which so far, doesn't operate at night). Both WROL and WBIX are
> technically
> daytimers--Class D AMs--and have changed hands within the last
> couple of years
> for reported prices of $11 million. (I know--the WBIX deal was
> for $1 million
> down and a $10-million note, which may or may not ever be paid
> off, but it was
> still officially an $11-million sale.)
>
> WWZN's biggest drawback is the lease on its transmitter site,
> which eats the
> first $20,000 or $25,000 of monthly revenue. (If revenues don't
> cover that nut,
> the owner has to do so or the station will go dark, rendering the license
> worthless.) Still, the prime candidate to buy the station would
> appear to be
> Disney-ABC. Aside from the $84-million purchase of WEVD (now
> WEPN) in New York,
> I'm unaware of The Mouse purchasing other affiliates for ESPN
> Radio lately, but
> despite poor profits and a depressed stock price, the company
> goes on spending
> $$$ on AMs for Radio Disney. Disney already owns WMKI 1260, so
> the purchase of
> a Radio Disney affiliate is not an issue in Boston. I suspect,
> however, that
> ABC could justify a purchase of WWZN for price north of $11
> million. If that
> happens, does anyone want to take bets on how long ESPN Radio
> will stay afloat?
>
> --
> dan.strassberg@att.net
> 617-558-4205
> eFax 707-215-6367
>
> > Their NY station based in Newark is now running Russian programming but
> > I don't see that as an option here ( or any other language )  Salem
> > might be interested but as a major discount. Disney at a huge discount
> > "might" want to look at it to make an ESPN Boston and combine
> operations
> > with Radio Disney. The reality is the options are limited and they will
> > take a major bath on any sale.