Posted by Craig on November 03, 2009 at 10:04:59:
This seems to be a trend for Clear Channel. Rather than have Rush and other Clear Channel talk shows on a competitor's AM station, they're building new FM stations around Rush.
Rush has been heard on WSJS Greenboro-Winston-Salem and WPTF Raleigh for years. Both stations are owned by Curtis Media. Both are the top rated AM stations in their markets. Both markets are pretty large, 43 and 45 respectively. Both stations are powerful... 600 WSJS has 5000 watts and a simulcast on 1200 at 10,000 watts. 680 WPTF is 50,000 watts.
In Greenboro-Winston-Salem, Clear Channel is blowing up a Latino 80s/90s station to build a new talk station for Rush. In Raleigh, the second-ranked Country station is getting axed for a new talk station, also to be built around Rush.
WPTF and WSJS have their own morning shows and WPTF also has a local PM show. But much of the rest of the day consists of Clear Channel syndicated talk shows including Hannity and Coast to Coast/George Nouri, which will also likely be switched to the new Clear Channel FM stations.
Clear Channel has created new FM talk stations in Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and New Orleans, pulling Rush off the big AM station in the market to set up a rival talk station on an FM it already owned. Here in NYC, all of Clear Channel's FMs are doing quite well, unlikely to switch to Talk. But it's not out of the question that CC looks at all the money Rush earns for Citadel-owned WABC and wants to keep it for itself.
Craig
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