2/19 - DCRTV first reported rumors in early January that Redskins owner Dan Snyder (right) might be buying Clear Channel's SportsTalk 980, WTEM. Now, we're hearing more rumblings. "I was told by a CC exec in another city that Dan was the leading candidate to buy at least one of the local DC AM stations and perhaps as many as two. He wants to keep a strong relationship with (CC's) WBIG and DC101 so that he will always a AM/FM combo for the Redskins games," we're told. Snyder already owns the DC area's Triple X sports talker, but needs a better inside-the-Beltway signal for it. In addition to WTEM, Clear Channel owns two other DC area AMers - talkers WTNT and WWRC. More as we hear it.....
He ought to make a bid for CC's 100.3, as was rumored several months ago.
Then, he could spin off the Triple X cluster, but I doubt he would get the $33 million back he paid for them...
2/20 - There's a new rumor in addition to the one floating around that Redskins owner Dan Snyder might buy Clear Channel AMer WTEM, SportsTalk 980, and possibly its other two AMers, talkers WTNT and WWRC. Now we're hearing that Snyder also wants to pick up one of CC's FMers, too. CC owns five of 'em in the DC market, but Snyder's rumored to be kicking the tires of classic hits WBIG and rocker DC101, we're told. He's even talked-up DC101 morning man Elliot Segal, we hear. Snyder already owns three area weakish signals for his Triple X sports talker. More as we hear it.....
Having a city-grade FM signal would certainly give the Redskins a broadcast outlet worthy of an NFL team. Also, it will be interesting to see how Snyder would program stations that are not sports-oriented.