CBS Selling off 50 Stations

[Alan Tolz]

> Hopefully whoever buys the CBS cluster will keep 93.7 and 1080 just  the 
> way they are.  WZMX is rhythmic, but their audience goes beyond  the 
> African American community.  There are quite a few young, white,  suburban 
> listeners as well.  The situation is most likely similar to  WJMN.  They 
> are near the top of the overall ratings, and I'd be  willing to bet their 
> 18-49 and 25-54 numbers are very respectable  considering the format. 
> Revenues may lag behind the numbers a bit,  but billing is still 
> substantial.

They are currently billing between $4-$5 mm, putting them 9th in a 10 horse 
race with only WURH on the FM side billing less.
If they were to take 10% of the market revenues as a "WEEI network" station, 
they would bill $6.5 - 7.5 mm.
And you are correct, they are top3 everywhere A 18-49, but the 25-54's are 
marginal.

> WTIC has the reputation for being the news and information station  for 
> Connecticut, and yes, the home of the Red Sox and the Huskies.   Any 
> change to that formula would be a big, big mistake.  The LAST  thing they 
> should do is turn it into "WRKO south."  Even if they  couldn't go full 
> blown news like WBZ, keeping the drivetime shifts  local and using a 
> information intensive format clock is essential.   You just don't mess 
> with a station that routinely hovers around a  eight share, and is 
> currently the number one rated station in the  market 12+.

I agree with you, though the long standing in-market joke is that WTIC AM 
could turn off their transmitter for 90 days and get a 6 share 12+.
BTW, I'm not saying this is what Entercom SHOULD do, just what their 
proclivities are based on their history in Boston.  Gee...maybe they can add 
WCCC FM to teh cluster while they're at it and regionalize Hillman. :-)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Tomm" <nostaticatall@charter.net>
To: "Alan Tolz" <atolz@comcast.net>
Cc: "Kevin Vahey" <kvahey@comcast.net>; 
<boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: CBS Selling off 50 Stations


> Hopefully whoever buys the CBS cluster will keep 93.7 and 1080 just  the 
> way they are.  WZMX is rhythmic, but their audience goes beyond  the 
> African American community.  There are quite a few young, white,  suburban 
> listeners as well.  The situation is most likely similar to  WJMN.  They 
> are near the top of the overall ratings, and I'd be  willing to bet their 
> 18-49 and 25-54 numbers are very respectable  considering the format. 
> Revenues may lag behind the numbers a bit,  but billing is still 
> substantial.
>
> People in CT are split down the middle when it comes to sports--some  are 
> New York fans, others root for Boston teams, and quite a few mix  it up. 
> I'm a CT native and love the Sox and Celtics, but I'm also a  lifelong 
> Giants fan.  After the whole Bob Kraft moving the Patriots  to Hartford 
> thing which got rescinded at the last minute, there are  plenty of people 
> there who have a bad taste in their mouth regarding  the Pats. 
> Considering how much coverage WEEI gives the team, it  would probably be a 
> turnoff to many potential listeners.  Besides,  UConn basketball trumps 
> everything else in season.  Even UConn  football is building a loyal 
> following.  The areas of the state with  the most partisan Boston fans 
> live in the extreme east and north-- 
> which are covered well by 105.5 and 103.7.  A Hartford WEEI just  isn't 
> needed and probably wouldn't be profitable.
>
> WTIC has the reputation for being the news and information station  for 
> Connecticut, and yes, the home of the Red Sox and the Huskies.   Any 
> change to that formula would be a big, big mistake.  The LAST  thing they 
> should do is turn it into "WRKO south."  Even if they  couldn't go full 
> blown news like WBZ, keeping the drivetime shifts  local and using a 
> information intensive format clock is essential.   You just don't mess 
> with a station that routinely hovers around a  eight share, and is 
> currently the number one rated station in the  market 12+.
>
> Dave Tomm
> "Mike Thomas"
>
> On Aug 4, 2008, at 12:39 AM, Alan Tolz wrote:
>
>>> Just wondering is Entercom would go into Hartford and >possibly 
>>> makeWTIC part of the EEI network
>>
>> IMO, based on the historical difficulty CBS and Clear Channel have  had 
>> monetizing urban ratings in Hartford, and Entercom's recent  history of 
>> moving toward FM with WEEI programming , they would be  better served 
>> taking 93.7 and making it part of the WEEI network.
>>
>> WTIC AM would likely morph into a "WRKO south" from 10 AM forward  and on 
>> weekends.  They could actually do Hartford a service by  upgrading the 
>> morning drive to a BZ type news format, but that is  expensive and given 
>> their history, I woukdn't bet on it.
>>
>>
>
>