WP: Redskins' Snyder Seeks to Buy WTEM, Two Other Stations(merged)

[bubba9497]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...052903738.html


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Redskins' Snyder Seeks to Buy WTEM, Two Other Stations

By Paul Farhi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 30, 2008; C07

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is moving closer to an agreement to buy local sports-talk station WTEM-AM and two other AM stations, in a bid to expand his fledgling but problem-plagued radio operations, people familiar with the discussions said yesterday.

A purchase of WTEM (980) would give Snyder's radio station group, called Red Zebra Broadcasting, a lock on the sports radio market in the Washington area. Red Zebra already owns three smaller stations that are WTEM's chief rivals for sports call-in and discussion programs.

Snyder has made an undisclosed offer for WTEM, WWRC-AM (1260) and WTNT-AM (570), all of which are owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting, the sources said, stressing that a sale agreement has not been reached.

Purchasing WTEM would give Red Zebra a much better signal for Redskins games and Redskins-related programming. Indeed, WTEM was the Redskins' flagship station for several years in the 1990s, before Snyder purchased the team.

The three stations Red Zebra owns -- known as Triple X ESPN Radio -- are so weak their broadcasts can't be heard without interference in many parts of the area. As a result, they attract a negligible audience.

Snyder bought the stations for $33 million in early 2006 in a bid to control his team's local broadcasting fortunes. But the strategy ran into trouble when fans complained about poor reception. Snyder tacitly acknowledged the problem last season by striking a deal with Clear Channel to place Redskins game broadcasts on Clear Channel-owned WBIG-FM (100.3), whose signal carries across the region.

Discussions aimed at the sale of WTEM and Clear Channel's two other AM stations grew out of that partnership.

Executives at Clear Channel and Red Zebra could not be reached by telephone yesterday.

A purchase of WTEM would improve Red Zebra's signal problems, but wouldn't solve them entirely. The station reduces its power at night, making it hard to hear in parts of Northern Virginia.

What's more, AM radio for many years has been the most troubled part of what is increasingly a troubled industry. In the Washington area, WMAL-AM (630) and WTEM are the only AM stations ranked among the area's 20 most popular, tying for 10th and 18th place, respectively, in the most recent audience rankings.

Snyder's current stations (broadcasting at 94.3 and 92.7 FM, and 730 AM) simulcast ESPN Radio's syndicated sports talk programs, and a handful of local programs, such as an afternoon call-in program hosted by Redskins legend John Riggins.

WTNT and WWRC carried syndicated political talk shows as well as infomercials. The stations' ratings are so low that they typically fail to register enough listeners to be included in Arbitron Inc.'s quarterly surveys.

[ljs]

Since I don't live near there, just curious, can I catch any Redskins radio on Sirius ?

[Thoth]

Can't anyone just run their original business anymore without trying to become a monopolistic conglomerate?


Sheesh.

[ArmchairRedskin]

Is Czaban a part of wtem? If so he's fired!

[letzgoterps]

Originally Posted by ArmchairRedskin

Is Czaban a part of wtem? If so he's fired!

Indeed he is.

[occidio]

I am still shocked to see how much money Snyder has to do this kind of stuff. Buying everything he can in the area.


Hes a smart business man, you can't hate on him being our owner. He spends money to make money.

[Sawyer5500]

Like someone said on this board a few months ago, Snyder should just get it over with and buy all of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia already.

[SkinsTerps26]

Redskins need their own radio network

Own TV network too

[fullnelson9999]

Originally Posted by occidio

I am still shocked to see how much money Snyder has to do this kind of stuff. Buying everything he can in the area.


Hes a smart business man, you can't hate on him being our owner. He spends money to make money.

except for Six Flags, right?

[JimmiJo]

Originally Posted by ArmchairRedskin

Is Czaban a part of wtem? If so he's fired!

And what becomes of Brian Mitchell I wonder.

[mudhog]

Why can't he just erect some big radio towers with serious mega-watt output at his already existing stations? Is there a restriction on that by the FCC?

Anyway, as a fan, I want as much access as I can get to my beloved Skins.

Buy DC101 Danny, and Quit messing around.

Hail

[Mr. S]

as long as he has a proper station for the games, which he does now in renting 100.3, I don't see any problem. I guess a lot of people want to listen to Redskins radio, but shoot, if its knocking out long-standing stations, I'd rather he keeps his hands off.

This radio venture seems to have been a bust overall and he should just give up while he can.

I really wish WMAL still did more Redskins stuff. They were the original station created for broadcasting Redskins news.

[chipwhich]

Originally Posted by fullnelson9999

except for Six Flags, right?

It's funny people keep blaming Snyder for lower earnings at six flags

Newsflash, Snyder buying six flags had nothing to do with the stock price dropping.

[Big Mac Patty Wack]

Originally Posted by Thoth

Can't anyone just run their original business anymore without trying to become a monopolistic conglomerate?


Sheesh.

Hey, Thoth, that's capitalism. You don't like it, go to the Olympics and don't come back.

[scruffylookin]

Originally Posted by ArmchairRedskin

Is Czaban a part of wtem? If so he's fired!

I'm no Czaban fan but I hope you're not implying that Snyder would be justified in firing Czaban because Czaban has made fun of Snyder or trashed the Redskins.

Unless Snyder/Red Zebra can point to poor ratings, they'd have a lawsuit on their hands if they fired him.

Of course Czaban may resign because of his dislike of Snyder and either way, I'm sure that his contract won't be renewed once it expires (whenever that is).

But I don't think he should be fired just because he's a putz.

I also find it troubling that Snyder seems hellbent to buy up all the media outlets. I was always in favor of him creating "Redskins Radio" (even though the product has been crap from day one.....as a concept I like it). But I was never in favor of him buying up everything and thus more and more only one "voice" is being heard on the local airwaves.

Not to go all Tailgate, but that's the problem in all our media outlets for the last 10 or 15 years. They are being bought (or in one glaring case on cable tv..created) by individuals/companies with an agenda and a message to sell. You get ratings because people who agree with that slant (regardless of how factually wrong it may be) like to listen/watch stuff they themselves feel.

As much as I hate some of the ripping on the Skins by WTEM personalities, I would hate it even more if they were silenced and we had a bunch of "Larry Michaels" on their air.