Rumors And Reality

And let’s start with the rumblings first…

CBS SALE?: The folks at the Halle Building are probably used to it by now…their big boss is once again making noises about leaving below major market radio, selling off its stations in even large markets like Cleveland.

But will it ever happen?

Cleveland would certainly be a candidate, if CBS boss Les Moonves is looking to concentrate solely on markets like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, and wants to exit markets below, say, the top 15 or top 20.

But will it ever happen?

We turn to Tom Taylor’s excellent “Tom Taylor NOW” daily E-mail newsletter this morning, which points out one reason that CBS has not sold off nearly what was first expected:

Despite the CEO’s recent pronouncements about his willingness to sell radio assets outside the largest markets, dealmakers tell this NOW Newsletter they detect no change in the company’s actual expectations. They say it still wants a cash-flow multiple that’s higher than potential buyers want to put on an offer sheet.

Or as we’ve said all along, CBS isn’t just going to sell to anyone with a few million bucks.

Mr. Taylor again:

Moonves went out of his way in two recent forums to say that he wants to trim back, even putting some numbers on his plans. He’d like to go from nearly 130 stations to “the high 80s or low 80s.” But that’s not going to happen if Moonves expects to get the nearly 10-times multiples he did on his sales several years ago in places like Fresno (sold to Peak Broadcasting), Columbus and Kansas City (sold to Wicks Group-backed Jeff Wilks).

Cleveland “fits” in this discussion because it is non-major market (#30 at last check on Nielsen Audio’s rankings), and unlike even markets like Pittsburgh, CBS does not own its local TV affiliate in Cleveland (it’s CBS O&O KDKA/2 there, Raycom’s WOIO/19 here).

But will it ever happen?

The “CBS Radio Wants Out Of Smaller Markets” talk out of Les Moonves and others has been going on for a LONG time now. If that station trim is still on Les’ mind, he’s in no hurry to do it.

Now, if it DID ever happen, who buys CBS Radio’s four Cleveland stations?

Taylor has mentioned Digity, the West Palm Beach FL group owned by Dean Goodman.

But he also reports some possible upheaval with a Digity backer, and to us, it’s not at all clear large market CBS Radio stations are Goodman’s eventual target. (Tom’s item mentions “family owned” groups and an apparent interest to expand into television.)

Digity, of course, is in Northeast Ohio already…via the acquisition of NextMedia, it owns Canton’s WHBC/1480 and WHBC-FM/94.1.

Long-time personal and professional Friend of OMW Scott Fybush mentions the Alpha Media group, which is perhaps the most active commercial radio group when it comes to acquiring new stations.

Portland-based Alpha is in Ohio via its purchase of the Main Line group in Dayton. (If we recall correctly, Main Line bought Radio One’s former stations there.)

We could push these chess pieces around all day, but the only fact seems to be this: Les Moonves is talking again, and that’s it…so, our message to denizens of the Halle Building is “stand down”…

JIMBO WATCH: A former Cleveland radio talk show host is fighting for his life.

But Jim Traficant, of course, is much better known as the flamboyant former Mahoning Valley congressman (“Beam me up!”) who tried to craft a new life for himself after getting out of prison in 2009 after serving time for racketeering and corruption.

Vindicator NBC affiliate WFMJ-TV/21 reports that Traficant was working on his daughter’s farm when he was pinned underneath a vintage 3,000 pound tractor.

Traficant is reportedly in critical condition, “unresponsive and sedated”, reports WFMJ.

He’s a topic here, of course, because of his post-prison work as a radio talk show host.

In addition to filling in on [former]Clear Channel[/iHeartMedia] talk WKBN/570 Youngstown, the former congressman briefly hosted a Saturday afternoon show on sister talk WTAM/1100 in Cleveland.

Briefly, of course, because Jim Traficant was never far from wanting to return to political glory…he once again ran for Congress against former aide and now long-incumbent Representative Tim Ryan. (“Once again”, because, of course, Traficant last attempted to unseat Ryan while behind bars.)

Anyway, we’re not Ohio Political Watch…so we’ll only note that Traficant has a lot of people pulling for his recovery, especially in the Valley…

SPEAKING OF THE MAHONING VALLEY: Percy’s back!

The now-disbarred attorney who lost his Stop 26-Riverbend radio group in bankruptcy proceedings is buying a Youngstown radio station.

Our content partners at RadioInsight first noted that Percy Squire’s Sandblast, LP is buying a not-yet-on-air translator – W258CK/99.5 – from Starboard Media for $20,000.

W258CK got its construction permit late last year.

RadioInsight’s Lance Venta tells us that it’s actually Squire’s second purchase in his attempt to return to Ohio radio in one of his former markets.

Sandblast filed in July to buy a Columbus translator, W294AH/106.7. As we recall, that’s the translator that actually tried (briefly) to operate alongside [former]Clear Channel[/iHeartMedia]’s move-in from Marion, now-urban AC WZCB/106.7 Dublin. It holds a construction permit for 95.9.

It’s probably a safe bet that Squire, assuming he gets the 99.5 translator in Youngstown (and the FCC certainly has Character Issues and Adverse Findings to consider in the application), will probably mount some sort of urban-themed format.

But he’ll meet with more competition, with two existing urban format stations – Y-Town Radio Broadcasting’s “Star 94.7” (WGFT/1330 and its translator, the now-moved W234CH/94.7), and Sagittarius Communications’ WHTX/1570 Warren “Hot Jamz 1570”.

Will Squire move to a younger-skewing format on his new translator?

And how will he feed it? A translator can’t originate its own programming, so the 99.5 signal will have to be fed either by an AM station (as “Star” is doing), or via an HD2/3 sidechannel on a full-power FM station.

As of now, Forever’s WWGY/95.1 Grove City PA (one of the “Froggy” outlets) is listed as primary for 99.5, but there’s no indication that’s anything but a placeholder put in by Starboard.

Will Squire’s history cost him the translators in Youngstown and Columbus?

Well, other licensees have overcome such problems.

While we’re in the Valley topic-wise, OMW hears that Sagittarius’ WYCL/1540 Niles “La Nueva Mia” is off the air. Former owner/OMW reader Chris Lash’s Whiplash Radio is still the FCC licensee, and filed a silent STA in late August, citing damage to WYCL’s directional array.

The off-air status of 1540 has prompted the station temporarily to slot two popular Spanish-language religious programs on WHTX on Sundays from 10 AM to noon.

“Hot Jamz” also adds two local shows on Saturday, one featuring jazz and another featuring oldies, and is adding the syndicated “Quiet Storm” with Lenny Green, based at WBLS in New York City, weekday evenings…

BOB BECKER: Veteran local radio/TV personality Bob Becker’s family has had much to deal with recently.

The former Ohio Lottery host and WTAM Saturday morning host is affected by a disease that’s all too common, and he’s at an age most people don’t associate with it.

WTAM’s website catches up with Bob and Luanne Becker two years after the diagnosis:

Life changed dramatically for Bob and Luanne Becker two years ago when doctors told them that Bob had Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 58. Luanne felt like she was punched in the stomach. “This is not only my husband, who I love dearly, this is also my business partner.” she said, “I could not figure out what to do next.”

The Beckers have gotten a lot of help and support, and are trying to see a positive side in an otherwise devastating situation.

Depression and anxiety followed the diagnosis. Luanne says help was found in support groups, friends and within themselves. Being forced to slow down is seen as a blessing by the Beckers. Slowing down to smell the roses is advice commonly given but Luanne embraces the fact that her and Bob can actually do it.