Airwaves: November 18, 2005
ABC Radio on the block
The rumor is true: ABC Radio stations, as well as the ABC Radio Network,
are for sale. Suitors include Entercom and Emmis, but Cumulus
Media is the frontrunner, at least according to published reports.
If Cumulus does win the bidding -- and so far that's still a big if, what does
it mean for local stations such as KABC and KLOS? In the short term, probably
nothing. This will be the first Cumulus stations in Los Angeles, and Cumulus
does not appear to be a company to make quick wholesale changes. However, longterm
is anyone's guess.
Just be thankful that Clear Channel or Infinity aren't in on the
bidding, at least so far: both are already at their Los Angeles market cap, so
if either bought ABC Radio they'd have to sell off every one of the stations
... and the MO for both companies is to sell only to those who agree not to compete
directly with them. Generally that means selling to religious or foreign-lauguage
groups.
This would mark the second large purchase in recent weeks for Cumulus, which
just finished purchasing Susquehanna Radio for $1.2 billion. Radio Disney and
ESPN Radio are not part of the deal.
New FM Talk
It might not happen here, but then again it just might: Clear Channel is working
on launching an FM talk station in Minneapolis at the start of the new year.
Smooth Jazz KJZI will become KTLK-FM with hosts such as Rush
Limbaugh, Sean Hannity as well as local people.
Spreading Influence
KFI doesn't just dominate the talk format here in Los Angeles COunty.
A quick look at the ratings for Riverside and San Bernardino show that it dominates
there as well. And not just in talk, as the station consistently earns either
number one or number two there.
Not bad for a station whose signal is still compromised in that area due to a
tower collapse late last year. KFI has been running on lower power since a plane
hit their tower and knocked it down in December, 2004.
For Sale
KMXE (830 AM) is for sale. The station was once home to Radio Aahs children's
programming and later became Spanish. But it has never been a ratings or commercial
success since it launched in the mid 1980s.
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Copyright © 2005 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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