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January 17, 2023 12:55 pm  #1


Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station

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

 

January 17, 2023 2:08 pm  #2


Re: Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station

The station boasts top-shelf talent such as...uh...Bill O'Reilly, Rudolph Giuliani and Curtis Sliwa.

 

January 17, 2023 2:27 pm  #3


Re: Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station

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. 

     Thread Starter
 

January 17, 2023 2:37 pm  #4


Re: Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station

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.

 

January 18, 2023 1:10 am  #5


Re: Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station

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.  

 

January 18, 2023 11:05 am  #6


Re: Inside America’s Most Unusual Talk Radio Station

WABC is somewhere around 20th in billing, WCBS (AM) is top 5.