Offline
This is a fascinating look at a billionaire with money to spare who bought a legendary but failing radio station and gave it a major rebound. We're talking about WABC-AM, one of the biggest stations in one of the biggest markets in the world. Here's the story of how he did it, and what may be next.
As Catsimatidis bounces back and forth between our interview and a meeting – “We’re closing a big deal in the next room,” he explains – he hints at major future announcements without providing a smidge of details. “We have additional plans for WABC that's going to put us even bigger on the map,” he teases. “I'm looking at WABC to be worldwide, an international station, not just east coast.”
When asked if he worries about AM radios being removed from electric vehicles, Catsimatidis drops another bomb: “Wait till you see the class action suit,” he says. “We carry a big bat.”
A lot of bluster, but then, he's done the impossible before.
Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station
Offline
The station boasts top-shelf talent such as...uh...Bill O'Reilly, Rudolph Giuliani and Curtis Sliwa.
Offline
They may not have the best reputations - sometimes deservedly - but whatever the station is doing, it's working. You can argue against the people, but not the success.
Offline
It's only a success if they're actually making money from it.
Any billionaire can throw their pocket change at a big signal and juice the 6+ numbers.
Offline
According to the posters here WCBS is failing even though it makes more money and gets similar numbers to WABC, and yet WABC is considered a success.
Ponderous.
Offline
WABC is somewhere around 20th in billing, WCBS (AM) is top 5.