CBS Radio plus Entercom in SF/SJ is over by 4 FMs

The Entercom and CBS radio merger should be complete by the end of the year. In the San Francisco/San Jose market that will put the ownership over the limit by 4 FMs. Some stations will have to be sold or put in a trust while they are waiting to be sold and will not be part of the new Entercom.

The FCC rules state in a radio market with 45 or more stations, an entity may own up to eight radio stations, no more than five of which may be in the same service (AM or FM)

Here is a graphic of the recent ratings from All Access with both ownership groups highlighted. Ratings aren't everything especially these 6+ ratings that don't show how well stations do in their demo. This is all the public is allowed to see.

Cume (The total number of different persons who tune to a radio station during the course of a daypart for at least five minutes) and of course revenue and costs have a big say on what stations make the cut. See the 6+ cume at the All Access link

Don't forget the format and the station are different. The new Entercom might want to keep a good FM signal in the mix and change or tweak the format that is on the air.

It will all probably be announced soon.

Good luck to all my radio friends!

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