Alpha Media has been sold!

[radio_sparty]

They would be wise to move WSGW-FM to 106.3 to avoid the frequent off air and power reductions they experience at 100.5 on the Delta College tower. Flip the Core or some other format to 100.5, maybe even sell it to cut costs for the lease with Delta and to free cash for some sorely needed digital consoles at Radio Centre.

A translator for WSGW in Flint would make the most sense. 1570 had a translator at 107.3FM that could have really filled in the nulls for WSGW. Too bad both are off the air now. Not like Cumulus would have sold to a competitor anyhow.

[MWmetalhead]

The sale of Alpha to Connoisseur has been approved by the FCC.

Alpha shareholders will receive 29% of the stock in the combined company.

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/3066 ... pha-media/

[tvbobn]

Connoisseur Media has completed its acquisition of Alpha Media following FCC approval on August 13, placing it among the top ten largest US radio broadcast companies by both station count and revenue. The company unveiled a new logo alongside the announcement.

The acquisition revolved around Connoisseur’s assumption and refinancing of Alpha’s debt, which remained sizable even after its 2021 bankruptcy. Court records show Alpha exited Chapter 11 with about $115 million in obligations. Under the purchase agreement, Connoisseur repaid and retired Alpha’s outstanding credit agreements, replacing them with new facilities under its own umbrella.

[TC Talks]

I can't believe Connoisseur is a major player. I've worked with their stations since the late 90's and they are going to be a complete different group going forward. Here's hoping their ferocious culture continues. They are a bit sharky, but they generally have cared about their product.

[Realist]

Really starting to think that the change in ownership caused the tweak last week at the Core

[MWmetalhead]

I am inclined to agree.

The corporate EVP of Programming for Alpha Media, Phil Becker, was not retained by Connoisseur.

Is this the same Connoisseur that once owned WMUS in Muskegon (for a time in the 90s)?

[FixIT]

This is a different iteration of Connoisseur, but the same CEO with Jeff W. He operated a great company back in the 90s/early 2000s. Can’t recall what he owned in west Michigan… but Cumulus bought the Flint properties and still “operate” those today.

Jeff believes in doing it “the right way.” Albeit, 1990s vs today economic realities are wildly different. I’m sure that has evolved.

[TC Talks]

Jeff believes in doing it “the right way.” Albeit, 1990s vs today economic realities are wildly different. I’m sure that has evolved.

Caring about your product remains a successful formula for business. People will listen to something that is relevant.

[Colonel Flagg]

I can't believe Connoisseur is a major player. I've worked with their stations since the late 90's and they are going to be a complete different group going forward. Here's hoping their ferocious culture continues. They are a bit sharky, but they generally have cared about their product.

Jeff's father, Howard, owned Universal Broadcasting. It was mostly a foreign language/block programming group of stations, but they were in major markets, and made money. Colonel Flagg applied for the Operations Manager gig at the former 103.1 WVVX Highland Park, IL many years ago. WVVX had a fascinating alternative rock format back in the 80's. The AM, WEEF, on 1430, with a field full of towers, carried all of the foreign language programs. Completely "old school" but they were busy anytime I visited. Very unique operation in suburban Chicagoland. Jeff has broadcasting in his blood, and he's NOT Lew Dickey.

[MWmetalhead]

Lew Dickey's legacy:

https://woodruffsawyer.com/insights/spa ... mon-akazoo

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 15980.html

[Colonel Flagg]

Lew Dickey's legacy:

https://woodruffsawyer.com/insights/spa ... mon-akazoo

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 15980.html

Sad, isn't it, how Lew's major at Harvard was in Finance.

[Realist]

Really starting to think that the change in ownership caused the tweak last week at the Core

In the past 7-10 days, I’ve twice spent nearly the whole day in The Core’s listening area (can’t get them in Tawas due to adjacent station 106.1 The Point). IMO, there is no way that the straight alternative format they now have will last more than 18 months. When tuning in briefly, I barely recognized any of the music that they were playing, unless it was a re-current. The only audience for this are the college kids are at nearby SVSU, Delta and Northwood who probably don’t have a lot of disposable income. They forgot the Tri Cities are mainly a blue collar and retiree community.

I still foresee Classic Country on the horizon. Their ad executives could bundle it with the Moose.

[MWmetalhead]

I like the music mix personally, but I agree it's a strange format choice for the area.

[Mike]

IMO, there is no way that the straight alternative format they now have will last more than 18 months.

If we're talking from starting from the moment they became The Core, they've already hit that twice over now as of September 20 (but who's counting?).

If we're talking from once they started tweaking...I guess we'll see.

[Realist]

IMO, there is no way that the straight alternative format they now have will last more than 18 months.

If we're talking from starting from the moment they became The Core, they've already hit that twice over now as of September 20 (but who's counting?).

If we're talking from once they started tweaking...I guess we'll see.

I’m talking about since they tweaked