Update 12/1: The swap between CBS and Beasley has closed with all the stations now under the management of their new ownership.
No format changes have taken place at any of the stations. The companies have wasted no time in moving their new acquisitions to their corporate web platforms. All of the new CBS stations have moved over, while Beasley has moved their new Sports stations in Charlotte and Tampa over already.
In a press statement, Dan Mason President/CEO of CBS Radio stated, “This transaction reinforces our strategy to concentrate on large market properties. We already have television duopolies in both Philadelphia and Miami, so these new stations will be a terrific complement to our existing local broadcasting portfolio, and a welcome addition to the overall CBS family.”
Following last weeks exit of Pio Ferro as Program Director of Rhythmic CHR “Power 96” WPOW Miami, CBS has named Rob Morris as VP/Programming for their new Miami cluster. Morris most recently held the same position at the Tampa stations traded to Beasley following a long run in Minneapolis for CBS and Clear Channel before that.
Rob Morris has been named Vice President, Programming, for CBS RADIO’s cluster of stations in Miami, including WPOW-FM, WKIS-FM and WQAM-AM. The announcement was made today by Joe Bell, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, CBS RADIO Miami and is effective immediately.
CBS RADIO recently acquired the Miami stations as part of a swap with Beasley Broadcasting Group. This marks the first time CBS RADIO has owned stations in the nation’s 11th ranked radio market.
“Today marks a new beginning for our cluster of stations in Miami and I’m thrilled to be working with Rob and the great management team at CBS RADIO,” said Bell. “We have built a solid foundation in the market with a history of community service and programming excellence. We look forward to the extensive array of assets and expertise that CBS RADIO brings to our operations which will ultimately benefit the listener and our advertisers.”
Morris most recently was Vice President, Programming for CBS RADIO’s former stations in Tampa that included WHFS-FM/AM, WLLD-FM, WQYK-FM, WRBQ-FM, and WYUU-FM. He joined the cluster in July of this year. Prior to that, he was Operations Manager/Program Director for CBS RADIO’s Minneapolis stations KZJK-FM and KMNB-FM since 2012. During that time Morris oversaw audience share increases in key demographics of 85% and 31% for JACK FM and BUZ’N 102.9, respectively.
For 17 years before he joined CBS RADIO, Morris was Music Director, Assistant Program Director, Program Director and later Operations Manager for iHeartMedia in Minneapolis. During that time 101.3 KDWB won three Marconi Awards. In 2009, Morris received the “Most Influential Program Director Award’ from FMQB.
Original Report 11/26: The nineteen station swap made by CBS and Beasley in October is coming closer to finalization.
The FCC approved the transaction on Tuesday, giving clearance for the deal to close at any time. Monday, December 1 has been the projected date for closing of the deal upon which CBS will add Beasley’s Miami stations and Philadelphia FM’s, while Beasley will add CBS’ stations in Charlotte, Tampa, and “CBS Sports 610” WIP Philadelphia.
Speaking of WIP, Beasley has filed a call sign request for WTEL for the station when they take control as the WIP brand and call letters will remain with CBS’s 94.1 WIP-FM Philadelphia. The WTEL call letters were previously used in the market on Beasley’s 860 WWDB Philadelphia until 1998.
Beasley has also announced a new management team for the Tampa stations it is acquiring from CBS. VP/Market Manager Kent Dunn and Operations Manager Tee Gentry will transfer from Beasley’s Augusta group to take on the same duties in Tampa overseeing Spanish CHR “Maxima 92.5” WYUU, Rhythmic CHR “Wild 94.1” WLLD, Sports “98.7 The Fan” WHFS-FM, Country 99.5 WQYK, Classic Hits “Q105” 104.7 WRBQ, and “CBS Sports 1010” WHFS.
Joseph_Gallant 
homerjay 
oasisrulz 
Charles Everett 
Nathan Obral 
I suspect that the clock is ticking for WRDW-96.5, and that as soon as Monday (December 1st), the station will likely become KYW-FM and simulcast KYW-1060’s all-news format.
Everyone knows the clock is ticking on Wired.
It would be nice if 610 would have the same lineup and programming as the old IQ1069, Local in mornings, with Rush at his usual time slot then Hannity 3-6 and Levin 6-9 and air Ground Zero from 9 to 1AM then Coast to Coast AM from 1 until 5. 1210 preempties these shows and shuffles them around, if they don’t want them give them to 610.
This is the second time you’ve made that comment and what you want is not going to happen.
First: WPHT is not dropping Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity.
Second: Beasley has reserved the WTEL callsign for AM 610. WTEL was known for a mixed ethnic and religious format from the 1920s until 1998.
I am somewhat surprised that CBS let the WHFS calls go with the Tampa cluster to Beasley. They had been very protective of those calls, as much as they were protective of the WNEW callsign.