Connoisseur Media sale to Kindred

[Ace Purple]

Maybe I missed something, but I barely saw anything on here about Connoisseur selling Big Buck Country 101.5 (WXBW), its booster, and Magic 97.9 (WMGA) to Kindred for $1.3 million.

CONNOISSEUR
97.9 WMGA (Magic 97.9 - AC)
101.5 WXBW (Big Buck Country 101.5 - Country)

KINDRED
92.7 WCMI-FM (92.7 the Planet - Rock)
93.7 WDGG (93.7 the Dawg - Country)
930 WRVC (Supertalke 930 - Talk)
1340 WCMI (ESPN 1340 - Sports)

No surprise that Patrick Communications brokered the transaction -- they have become the gold standard as far as brokering radio station sales go, at least from what I've observed. If I was looking to buy or sell a station, I'd go through them.

The question now: what will Kindred do with the country format on 101.5 FM? You might think a flip would be in order, but that also seemed likely when Cumulus gobbled up Citadel and ended up with two 100kw country stations here in Nashville (with Clear Channel having a third 100kw country station here as well) but no change has happened here as of yet. Did the disappearance of the country music format from WPAY-FM create enough of a format hole to where maintaining country on 101.5 along with 93.7 would be viable, along with Clear Channel's WTCR-FM?

[Tom Taggart]

Classic country, that is, country oldies, can be a viable format, especially if paired with a station playing currents. Especially given the dominance of country in all demos in this area. Look how well WPDX-FM is doing against the WV radio's WKKW in Morgantown~Clarksburg.

[Cameron]

No surprise that Patrick Communications brokered the transaction -- they have become the gold standard as far as brokering radio station sales go, at least from what I've observed. If I was looking to buy or sell a station, I'd go through them.

You can be certain that his fee will be paid by the Connoissuer-Side of the deal.

[Ace Purple]

You can be certain that his fee will be paid by the Connoissuer-Side of the deal.

Heh, well however they worked it out, I'm happy for both sides. Connoisseur is a savvy company from all indications and they turned WMGA from a construction permit into a viable player in the market. Kindred now has the maximum four FM stations in their portfolio and managed to make a buy in a time when banks are still being super-tight on loans of nearly any sort. Good luck to them with the larger portfolio.

Classic country, that is, country oldies, can be a viable format, especially if paired with a station playing currents. Especially given the dominance of country in all demos in this area. Look how well WPDX-FM is doing against the WV radio's WKKW in Morgantown~Clarksburg.

I agree -- there is certainly differentiation between classic country and contemporary country. Plus with WPAY-FM gone there was a hole for it, which I suspect is why it flipped from Bob FM last March.

[the jive talkin one]

You can be certain that his fee will be paid by the Connoissuer-Side of the deal.

Heh, well however they worked it out, I'm happy for both sides. Connoisseur is a savvy company from all indications and they turned WMGA from a construction permit into a viable player in the market. Kindred now has the maximum four FM stations in their portfolio and managed to make a buy in a time when banks are still being super-tight on loans of nearly any sort. Good luck to them with the larger portfolio.

Classic country, that is, country oldies, can be a viable format, especially if paired with a station playing currents. Especially given the dominance of country in all demos in this area. Look how well WPDX-FM is doing against the WV radio's WKKW in Morgantown~Clarksburg.

I agree -- there is certainly differentiation between classic country and contemporary country. Plus with WPAY-FM gone there was a hole for it, which I suspect is why it flipped from Bob FM last March.

Classic Country is no more the same as a Country format than Classic Hits is CHR. In market with such a plethora of country listeners and fans, of several generations, it's only natural for stations to evolve toward different colors and shapes within the genre. The acquisition of the "Big Buck" into the same stable as the "Dawg" is quite a coup for Klirtner and Co., and changing format is the last thing I'd expect them to do!

[Big Media]

I would love to seem them flip Magic to some kind of generation x format and bring back Gary Miller for evening drive. Who else could they add to the Gen X dream team?

[Cameron]

I would love to seem them flip Magic to some kind of generation x format and bring back Gary Miller for evening drive. Who else could they add to the Gen X dream team?

Hear that, Kindred? After decades of these oldsters bashing you -and the corporation they pledged loyalty to squeezing every dime out of your pocket - you OWE them your payroll. Now hire all the out-of-work jocks in the market, dammit!

[Bob Campbell]

It's sad though that they sold both those stations for less than they paid for 101.5 from Patrick.