Entercom shakeup: ‘Rolling the dice’?
Radio behemoth Entercom has rolled out a new format on one of its Boston FM radio stations — a station that was seen as being on the chopping block — a move that was in the works as the broadcast giant finalized its high-stakes merger with CBS last month.
The changes at WKAFFM (97.7) raise questions about all assumptions as the merged company deals with FCC rules to pare down its holdings in the Boston market — including whether it will even have to do so under the Trump administration.
WKAF-FM, which for years simulcast rock station WAAF-FM (107.3), flipped formats last month to urban music with a new lineup of on-air personalities, including morningdrive duo KJ & Kesha (KJ Carson and Kesha Monk) and afternoon-drive host Chris Malone.
The Entercom and CBS merger puts seven FM stations and three AM stations in Boston under single ownership. FCC regulations bar owning more than five FM stations in a major market.
Radio consultant and Lesley University professor Donna Halper wonders if they’re hoping for a waiver.
“What I’m curious about, is given the change of administration, we now have a new FCC commissioner who has stated that he is opposed to some of the regulations,” Halper said. “I’m wondering if Entercom is rolling the dice here in hopes they can get a waiver.”
CBS owns four FM stations and one AM, including news station WBZ-AM (1030) and 98.5 “The Sports Hub.” Entercom owns three FM stations and two AM stations, including talk radio station WRKO-AM (680) and sports station WEEI-FM (93.7).
So what stations would be sold?
“WRKO, WAAF and WEEI-AM (850) are not performing at the level that other Entercom and CBS stations are performing,” Halper said. “I’m certain they have their fans, but if we are looking at stations that could be sold, managers often look at the ratings in helping them to make that decision. It’s not the only factor, but it certainly is a factor.”
The marriage could also bring the Hub’s rival sports radio hosts under one roof — raising the prospect that some personalities and staff will be pink-slipped. The new company will be called Entercom and the blockbuster deal means it now owns the lucrative playbyrights for all four major Boston pro sports teams: the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox.
In his “Inside Music Media” column yesterday, national radio analyst Jerry Del Colliano wrote: “Entercom will do radio with fewer people. Will buy out expensive contracts. On-air quality will slip. You know this is going to happen because news is a very expensive format to do. ... What (Entercom CEO) David Field really likes is play-by-play rights and he will pick up a lot of that in this deal. That means, the cost savings have to come from the sports talk shows among others.”
Halper worries about WBZ radio.
“WBZ is one of the few AM stations that is profitable and successful,” Halper said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I am scared to death that they are going to do something with that station and I hope they don’t.”
Stay tuned ...