Entercom Communications and CBS on Thursday agreed to merge Entercom with CBS Radio, which would "put Boston's two aggressively competitive sports stations" -- WEEI-AM and WBZ-FM -- under the "same corporate umbrella," according to Katheleen Conti of the BOSTON GLOBE. " Entercom is "poised to get five Boston stations currently owned by CBS Radio." For WEEI and WBZ, the deal is "in effect a forced marriage." The stations "both attract large audiences and have long battled for ratings supremacy, with on-air personalities at each regularly taking swipes at their counterparts." Local industry observers said three stations with especially thin audiences are the "most likely to be jettisoned by Entercom." WEEI, which broadcasts ESPN satellite programming, through January "captured a minuscule 0.2 share of the market and was tied for second to last out of all Boston stations" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/3). In Boston, Jessica Heslam noted the merger "means the new company owns all the play-by-play sports" in the area, with WBZ owning rights to the Patriots, Celtics and Bruins and WEEI having rights to the Red Sox. The combined company will "own a whopping 244 stations in 23 of the country's 25 top radio markets" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/3). Also in Boston, Chris Villani notes the merger ranks Entercom as the nation's "second-largest radio firm behind iHeartMedia." The sale also includes the CBS Sports Radio Network operation that has "300 station affiliates around the country" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/3).
BREATH OF FRESH AIR: In Boston, Brian Dowling writes under the header, "Blockbuster Breathes Some Fresh Air Into Static Market." The deal "whips up the stagnant radio market that hit a low last year for mergers and acquisitions." S&P Global Market Intelligence said that less money "changed hands in the buying and selling of radio stations" in '16 than any year since '82 (BOSTON HERALD, 2/3).
CHANGE OF SCENERY: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde notes the merger "could change the South Florida radio scene drastically." CBS Radio owns WQAM and Entercom owns ESPN Radio 790 Miami. The Dolphins, for instance, "hopped" from WQAM to ESPN 790 and back to WQAM. As of now, "only the Heat" are on ESPN 790. The Dolphins, Panthers and Univ. of Miami are on WQAM. The Marlins are on the "other sports station in Miami and Broward," WINZ-AM. How it shakes out in South Florida "remains to be seen but it seems the two big sports stations in town will become just one" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 2/3).
