A huge change is coming to New York radio on August 26. It was announced on August 12, that as of that date, WCBS NewsRadio 880 will cease to exist.
Ironically, in 1987, the 1050 dial, which was WHN (which is now ESPN Sports Radio), became WFAN. Several months later, WFAN moved to its present home of 660 on the dial and replaced the iconic WNBC. Now, ESPN will move from 1050 to 880.
Got all that?
This was reported in the New York Post, the New York Times and elsewhere last week. And now, people are starting to take notice that this is a big deal for New York radio.
No longer will there be two powerhouse all-news radio stations (the other being Audacy-owned 1010 WINS); instead, there will be two digital, ALL-SPORTS talk radio stations, with the New York Mets on one, the New York Yankees on the other.
But there is a backstory which was not reported by the newspapers I read.
Audacy’s CEO is long time radio executive Mel Karmazin. Audacy owns WFAN, and for a few more days, the aforementioned WCBS 880.
Good Karma Brands’ CEO is his son, Craig Karmazin, which owns ESPN Sports Radio.
While ESPN will pay licensing fees to use the still Audacy-owned frequency of 880, it seems eyebrows become raised when a son pays to his father fees to broadcast on his father’s frequency. And competes for advertising revenue.
Don’t you think it is a bit tawdry how this came to be? Was it over a beer? Or Sunday dinner? I do.
I wonder what the FCC and other regulatory agencies might think about this arrangement. I raise the point that while it is business, it would be a question in many ways in other transactions.
Maybe it is nothing, but I question the ethics of it all.
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