The expected sale is that of CBS' WNFT (1150), which was one of theAmerican Radio Systems stations CBS was required to sell in order tosatisfy government regulations. The others (WRKO, WEEI, WEGQ, andWBMX) are going to Entercom, and now WNFT is going to MegaBroadcasting for a reported $5 million.
Mega's only current assets in New England are WNEZ (910 New Britain)and WLAT (1230 Manchester) in the Hartford market, and while WLAT fitswith Mega's group profile as a Spanish broadcaster, WNEZ runs an urbanformat, which leads NERW to wonder whether WNFT will stick with itscurrent ABC/SMN "Touch" R&B oldies format, or whether its future is asa Spanish outlet.
In any event, it's nice to see 1150 being put in the hands of an ownerwho'll likely pay some attention to it. Over the last decade, it'sbeen WHUE, WMEX, WROR, and WNFT, with formats that included businessnews, oldies, leased-time Spanish, Kidstar children's programming,simulcasts of several FMs, and a few days as a testbed for digitalAM.
Now for the surprise: "Mr. D" is selling WNTN (1550 Newton). OrestesDemetriades' Newton Broadcasting Corporation was one of the lastsingle-station owners in the Boston market, running the 10 kilowattdaytimer with a mix of leased-time programming (largely Spanish andChinese) and AC music. Late word is that WNTN is being sold to RobertRudnick's Colt Communications for $602,800. We'll have more detailson this one next week.
A third station sale in MASSACHUSETTS this week is outside the Bostonmarket. WKPE (1170 Orleans) is being donated by GramCamCommunications to UMass Boston, which will likely make it the latestoutlet in the folk-music network that includes 91.9s WUMB Boston, WFPBFalmouth, and WBPR Worcester. This is the final nail in the coffin ofcommercial AM on Cape Cod; the other one, WUOK (1240 W. Yarmouth) wasdonated to Boston University by Ernie Boch last year and becameWBUR(AM). WKPE's rock programming survives on 104.7 FM in Orleans.
WCRB (102.5 Waltham) has applied to move to the master antenna on theFM128 tower in Newton, running the standard 8800 watts from 351 metersAAT. Boston's classical station is being ousted from its current homeacross the road on the WBZ-TV tower because of the constructionproject that'll add 400 feet to that stick.
Radio people on the move: Jenny McCann's ouster as GM of WEGQ (93.7Lawrence) brought out hundreds of people to a farewell party thisweek. NERW hears that Entercom's top brass regretted firing theBoston radio veteran once the news got out, but couldn't persuade herto come back. Over at Greater Media, WBOS (92.9) program directorGeorge Taylor Morris is back on the air in the noon-3 slot, whileacross the hall, Debbie Enblom is now news director at WSJZ (96.9).And just a few weeks after his contentious interview with BostonHerald publisher Pat Purcell, WBCN (104.1) afternoon guy Nik Carterfound himself suspended for a day without pay, this time because of aninterview with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. It seems Carter didn't usea delay, thus allowing more than a few of McCready's obscenities outon the air. Out in Springfield, Glenn Stewart replaces Jon Robbins asPD at WAQY (102.1/1600). Stewart comes from Capstar New Hampshire andWHEB/WGIR.
Is the "New Hampshire Educational Radio Foundation" another BrianDodge front? We don't know...but we can tell you it's applying for91.9 in Conway.
One call change: The new channel 23 in Waterville, when built, willappear as WMPX-TV instead of the original WBDJ(TV). Can you sayPax TV? Of course you can...
WYUL (94.7 Chateaugay) has, at long last, landed on a format. Aspredicted here last time, it's a simulcast of hot AC WYSX (98.7Ogdensburg) under the slogan "Yes FM."
Over in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market, the WILK-FM calls land onthe former WWSH (102.3 Pittston), while WILP in West Hazelton isjoined by WILP-FM (103.1), the former WWFH Freeland.
On the Web: If you're looking for another way to search the FCC'sdatabase, we heartily recommend Bob Carpenter's TVFMSTNS and AMSTNSprograms, available fordownload.These shareware programs contain one feature that particularly appealsto us -- they interface with DeLorme's Street Atlas USA to make itmuch easier to create maps of your favorite tower sites. Check 'emout, and if you like them, tell Bob you read about them here on NERW!
And a final reminder: NERW readers in Connecticut, WesternMassachusetts, or anywhere else within driving distance of Torrington,Connecticut are invited to meet on Saturday, October 3, for lunchsomewhere in the Torrington area. Contact us here at NERW for moredetails if you're interested! We'll also be at the SBE convention inSyracuse on Friday, so be sure to say hello.
That's it until next Friday; see you then....