Holy Radio Sale!

ABC RADIO MERGES WITH CITADEL:
The $2.7 billion merger will split the ownership of 1440 and 92.5 in the Minneapolis market for the first time. The new Citadel will own 22 current ABC stations in 9 markets, including KQRS, 93X, and the Drive 105 trimulcast in the Twin Cities. However, Disney will retain ownership of ESPN Radio and Radio Disney, as well as owned-and-operated Radio Disney affiliates, including KDIZ/1440 (Golden Valley-Minneapolis) and WKSH/1640 (Sussex-Milwaukee). Citadel will own the ABC Radio Networks and ABC’s 24-hour formats, such as Real Country and Oldies Radio. After the merger is complete, Disney shareholders will own 52% of Citadel, while current Citadel shareholders will own 48%. Citadel currently owns stations in 49 markets, including Des Moines. (2/7/2006)

My $.02 on this mess.

KQRS/92.5 -- Won’t budge, but the recent flopping around of the playlists isn’t helping them.

KXXR/93.7 -- Country (ya heard it here first), K102 is a tasty target as the only game in town.
Other options include Oldies (against Clear Channel’s KQQL/107.9 Anoka/Twin Cities) and moving a re-vamped Drive 105 format up to 93.7

Drive 105 -- Spanish (ya heard that here first too). The Drive 105 format as it is now...as much as I love it...doesn’t have the numbers to survive. I’ve thought it was a filler format for quite a while. There are three rim-shot AM stations doing a Spanish format of some sort....and one far rim-shot FM. Drive 105.1/Lakeville blankets St. Paul. Drive 105.3/Cambridge covers the north metro...Drive 105.7/Eden Prairie covers the heart of Minneapolis. All the key Hispanic areas.

I have a hard gut instinct that 93X will be Country before the end of the spring book. Drive 105...not so sure on that, but it’s my instinct. KQ92...a change there would be suicide for Citadel.

--

Other thoughts on what *could* happen...

Infinity lets Citadel “Jack” 93X and Infinity puts up a 93XRT Radio Chicago clone on 104...which could kill Cities 97 rather quickly as well as damage KS95’s floundering ship. Chance: Doubtful

KS95 goes HotAC and takes dead aim at KDWB. Chance: Winter storm in hell first.

100.3 KTLK stays talk. KSTP/1500 goes all news. Chance: 30%. Hubbard isn’t always known for taking the signs given. KS95/AM1500 have proven that. The survival of a niche fem-talker on 107.1 is proof enough of that.


So spinning the dial after it’s all said and done (in my mind)

88.5 - JazzFM owned by Minneapolis Board of Ed. Nothing changes.
89.3 - KCMP (The Current) MN Public Radio - Adult Alternative
89.9 - KMOJ - Community/Urban
91.1 - KNOW - MN Public Radio - News/Info
92.5 - KQRS - (KQ92) Stll Classic Rock
93.7 - KXXR (Kicker Country) - MMM...that country cowpie at K102 looks soooo good. $$ is the driver here.
94.5 - KSTP-FM (KS95) will forever be the bastard AC child in the market. Just give it red hair.
95.3 - KNOF-FM - Rev Grace Adams will die before that station changes.
96.3 - KTTB-FM (B96) - Still Hip-Hop/R&B
97.1 - KTCZ (Cities 97) - Still cookie cutter, repetitious Clear Channel blandness.
98.5 - KTIS-FM (Life-FM) - Non-commerical...raised almost $5M in 3 days of a pledge drive.
99.5 - KSJN MN Public Radio - Classical
100.3 KTLK - Talk Radio..on FM...draws are Rush and “Dr.” Laura.
101.3 KDWB - No Change. The Juggernaut is feeling the pressure from B96, but keeps on.
102.1 KEEY (K102) The only country station. Vulnerable to a big stick attacker. See the 93.7 comment.
102.9 WLTE (Lite 103) Yawn...Lite Rock.
104.1 KZJK (104.1 Jack-FM). It’ll survive because it costs Infinity so little to run.
105.1/3/7 Drive 105 - Spanish AC by summer. It’s a boomer market and horridly underserved.
106.1 KLCI (Bob 106) - Covers the NW metro, shows up in the ratings. Reality: a non-player.
107.1 WFMP - Smooth Jazz. Currently a female leaning talker...so-so ratings, would be an easy target for a flip.
107.9 KQQL (Kool 108) - Oldies. If 93.7 goes Oldies, watch Clear Channel scramble for a new format.


That’s all from the mind of the Big Bear on this one. I’ll update my life tomorrow.