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WSRJ Sold

Covers all of Northern Lower Michigan (from Ludington to Tawas northward), as well as the Straits Area and Soo Region.
EdWalker
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WSRJ Sold

Post by EdWalker » Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:55 am

Looks like Northern Broadcast has sold WSRJ 105.5 to non-commercial Good News Media: $350,000 of which $145,000 is a gift.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.ex ... _num=82684



ftballfan
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by ftballfan » Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:03 am

EdWalker wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:55 am
Looks like Northern Broadcast has sold WSRJ 105.5 to non-commercial Good News Media: $350,000 of which $145,000 is a gift.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.ex ... _num=82684
Probably a simulcast of either Fuel FM (which is on 95.9) or the Source (currently on 1370 and 1400 AM as well as FM translators in Cadillac and Traverse City)



northradiotruth
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by northradiotruth » Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:11 am

I wonder if the people inside Northern Michigan Radio realize how quickly their business is dying? All these stations being sold for pennies on the dollar. Think of how many dozens of on-air jobs have disappeared just in the last few years. Somebody told me that three big stations Lite FM, Big Country, and Real Rock all have shows being piped in from either down in Detroit or another state. If the rumor is true and Midwestern sells, it's a good bet half of those jobs will be lost. It's due partly to radio's overall decline, partly to the current business climate and partly to poor management. It makes me sad to watch this happen but I guess it's inevitable.



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TC Talks
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by TC Talks » Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:20 pm

Radio works harder at being provocative and continues to see declines. Think listeners are looking for something fresh? Only the dug in stations have a chance.

I can't imagine a relaunch being successful ever again.

WSRJ doesn't have a great signal, that's a fair price given recent transactions.


“The more you can increase fear of drugs, crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all of the people.”
― Noam Chomsky

Posting Content © 2024 TC Talks Holdings LP.

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Jim Sofonia
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by Jim Sofonia » Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:30 pm

northradiotruth wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:11 am
I wonder if the people inside Northern Michigan Radio realize how quickly their business is dying? All these stations being sold for pennies on the dollar. If the rumor is true and Midwestern sells, it's a good bet half of those jobs will be lost.
Midwestern isn't going anywhere, they were the first to go on the air in T.C. with WTCM in 1941. It has and still is a family owned business free and clear of the hassles corporate ownership brings to the employees and the market.



NMCSpeaks
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by NMCSpeaks » Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:05 pm

mars wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:30 pm
northradiotruth wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:11 am
I wonder if the people inside Northern Michigan Radio realize how quickly their business is dying? All these stations being sold for pennies on the dollar. If the rumor is true and Midwestern sells, it's a good bet half of those jobs will be lost.
Midwestern isn't going anywhere, they were the first to go on the air in T.C. with WTCM in 1941. It has and still is a family owned business free and clear of the hassles corporate ownership brings to the employees and the market.
Really? I wouldn’t want to bet on that currently.



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TC Talks
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by TC Talks » Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:23 pm

mars wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:30 pm
northradiotruth wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:11 am
I wonder if the people inside Northern Michigan Radio realize how quickly their business is dying? All these stations being sold for pennies on the dollar. If the rumor is true and Midwestern sells, it's a good bet half of those jobs will be lost.
Midwestern isn't going anywhere, they were the first to go on the air in T.C. with WTCM in 1941. It has and still is a family owned business free and clear of the hassles corporate ownership brings to the employees and the market.
So you missed the part about an April Townsquare meeting and quiet discussions with brokers?

These have been floated out there, including in a local paper.


“The more you can increase fear of drugs, crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all of the people.”
― Noam Chomsky

Posting Content © 2024 TC Talks Holdings LP.

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Jim Sofonia
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Location: Traverse City

Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by Jim Sofonia » Wed Jul 15, 2020 6:21 pm

TC Talks wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:23 pm
So you missed the part about an April Townsquare meeting and quiet discussions with brokers? These have been floated out there, including in a local paper.
Yes I read that. They may have been up here and kicked the tires, but as you might notice they are gone now.



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TC Talks
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by TC Talks » Wed Jul 15, 2020 6:25 pm

I would agree that Midwestern is likely asking too much, but don't count on the ownership remaining the same in the future.


“The more you can increase fear of drugs, crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all of the people.”
― Noam Chomsky

Posting Content © 2024 TC Talks Holdings LP.

Realist
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by Realist » Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:33 pm

northradiotruth wrote:
Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:11 am
I wonder if the people inside Northern Michigan Radio realize how quickly their business is dying? All these stations being sold for pennies on the dollar. Think of how many dozens of on-air jobs have disappeared just in the last few years. Somebody told me that three big stations Lite FM, Big Country, and Real Rock all have shows being piped in from either down in Detroit or another state. If the rumor is true and Midwestern sells, it's a good bet half of those jobs will be lost. It's due partly to radio's overall decline, partly to the current business climate and partly to poor management. It makes me sad to watch this happen but I guess it's inevitable.
At least in Real Rock’s case, Cartman is live from the CHR station he works afternoons at in Wisconsin. Both the mid day and afternoon show are voice tracked. Was in their listening area again today listening to the mid day chick - she is not good at all. Can’t talk that great



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MWmetalhead
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by MWmetalhead » Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:22 am

Roxanne Steele was on-air at Razor 94.7 in Green Bay for many years.

When one considers the tax benefit of the "gift," Midwestern is basically selling this station for ~$250,000. Not a horrible price when one considers the signal limitations.

So much for the theory (floated by you, TC Talks?) of Good News Media being light on funds; they clearly have cash on hand.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by MWmetalhead » Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:32 am

So, to recap:
- 94.3: non-commercial
- 98.9: non-commercial
- 101.9: off the air
- 105.5: non-commercial
- 106.7: if the deal ever closes, it'll stay commercial

Wow - that is a significant loss of commercial FM service in recent months for the Grand Traverse region. I didn't count 92.3, 99.3, or 92.5 as those signals have never been more than peripheral players in the immediate area.

Who's left?
- Z93
- Real Rock 95.5/105.1
- Lite 96
- KLT
- The Bear 98.1/95.3
- Q100 (100.3/106.3/94.5)
- Big Country
- WTCM-FM (103.5)
- Bob-FM 104.5
- 106 KHQ
- Classic Hits 107.5

Even including Q100 in the above list is probably a stretch; their share of wallet in the Grand Traverse region is negligible. If we dump them, we're still left with ten unique commercial FM brands, which is pretty good for a market the size of TC-Petoskey.

Notice that I chose not to count translators or stations whose ad sales aren't primarily focused on the Grand Traverse Region (e.g. WUPS, 96.7 The Bull, Eagle 101.5 Gaylord, etc.).



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Jim Sofonia
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by Jim Sofonia » Thu Jul 16, 2020 8:16 am

MWmetalhead wrote:
Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:32 am

Who's left?
- Z93
- Real Rock 95.5/105.1
- Lite 96
- KLT
- The Bear 98.1/95.3
- Q100 (100.3/106.3/94.5)
- Big Country
- WTCM-FM (103.5)
- Bob-FM 104.5
- 106 KHQ
- Classic Hits 107.5
Umm.. you forgot one of the bigger money makers in T.C. WTCM AM 580



ftballfan
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by ftballfan » Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:32 am

Besides 106.7 (either alone or in a simulcast with 96.7), the only other possibility for a viable competitor in Traverse City would be a 101.9/92.5 combo, although I feel one or both of those frequencies will either have their license cancelled or go noncommercial.

In the unlikely event of the FCC changing the ownership caps for the TC market, 101.9 and 92.5 would become much more valuable.



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MWmetalhead
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Re: WSRJ Sold

Post by MWmetalhead » Thu Jul 16, 2020 11:50 am

Mars - I was only discussing commercial full power FM stations in my earlier post.

I definitely recognize 580's significance in terms of market share.



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