WRBP 101.9 sold in Youngstown

[rubberchicken]

Bernard sells 'JAMZ 101.9' to Educational Media Foundation for a measly $500,000. 500k for a decent class A signal. It will surely become K-Love or Air1 soon.

[mavtv]

Are you sure? I know that they just updated their website (http://www.jamz1019.com/) as did both 1500 WASN and 1330 WGFT and the station just got a  resolution from the city of Youngstown (http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Radio-Station-Honored-By-Youngstown-City-Council/E6tNsfJq602v6EzP-pYb2Q.cspx)

Youngstown City Council took time Wednesday to recognize the city's number one urban radio station.

During Wednesday's meeting, council members presented a resolution to Skip Bednarczyk. He is the market manager for WRBP-JAMZ 101.9 FM.

The resolution was in recognition of continued success in the urban format, and for keeping the radio station highly rated, profitable and on the air in Youngstown.

"This type of a format is going away in several markets, but because of the profitability, and the ratings success here, it's a viable factor in the marketplace," said Bednarczyk.

Bednarczyk said listeners can expect more new music, contests and community involvement from JAMZ in the coming weeks and months. They plan to partner with area churches, and put kids to work cleaning up around the city this summer.

I know there was a plan involving WASN-AM to be spun off and that WGFT-AM had got signal upgrades this past spring, but to be sold and leave the market without a urban format when they were the 5 th highest radio station in the market I think their is more to the story that just a simple sell.

Bernard sells 'JAMZ 101.9' to Educational Media Foundation for a measly $500,000. 500k for a decent class A signal. It will surely become K-Love or Air1 soon.

[Kent]

Are you sure?

The trades are reporting so.

[mavtv]

Are you sure?

The trades are reporting so.

It is official:

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101503338&formid=314&fac_num=63498

Legal Name of the Assignee:
EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION

Mailing Address
5700 WEST OAKS BLVD.
ROCKLIN CA 95765

Telephone Number (include area code)
(916)251-1600

E-Mail Address (if available)
EFILE@EMFBROADCASTING.COM

[danikayser84]

Isn't 101.9 in the signal range of 107.1 (former WEXC)? One of these would probably end up Air 1...

As for Urban listeners, I think they'd be close enough to Z107.9 although don't quote me on that

[mavtv]

Isn't 101.9 in the signal range of 107.1 (former WEXC)? One of these would probably end up Air 1...

As for Urban listeners, I think they'd be close enough to Z107.9 although don't quote me on that

Yes it is which does not make any sense as to why EMF would buy 2 radio stations in Youngstown and Z-107.9 dropp out in the Boardman area so it does not cover the whole market.

[the golden boy]

EMF bought two stations here in Jackson, MS right before the holidays. They put K-Love on a blowtorch signal and Air1 on the less powerful sister station.

[OhioMediaWatch]

EMF bought two stations here in Jackson, MS right before the holidays. They put K-Love on a blowtorch signal and Air1 on the less powerful sister station.

If that's their pattern, 101.9 will go K-Love, leaving Air 1 for Greenville PA-based rimshot 107.1.

Oddly enough, it'd almost be a returned format to 107.1.  It was run as a "Christian rocker" under Beacon Broadcasting, before going to mainstream AC as "C107.1".  Though I suspect the "Air 1" playlist will be a bit tamer than "Freq 107" had.

[xmusicmatt]

Oddly enough, it'd almost be a returned format to 107.1.  It was run as a "Christian rocker" under Beacon Broadcasting, before going to mainstream AC as "C107.1".  Though I suspect the "Air 1" playlist will be a bit tamer than "Freq 107" had.

If 107.1 goes Air1 it will be Christian CHR .. which is def tamer than what Freq 107 was... Freq was straight up Christian rock at the beginning.. If I am not mistaken they started to get a little softer before their demise. 

(note: Christian CHR and Christian Rock chart wise do share a lot of songs).

I did look at both coverage maps.. Looks like 101.9 puts a stronger signal over Youngstown, I am pretty confident to say it will air KLove... they could flip 107.1 to Air1 however since it's signal is more North East of Youngstown.. they could actually keep it KLove to cover more real estate.. Who knows at this point.


Matt
http://www.positiverockradio.com/

[static_cling]

Bernard sells 'JAMZ 101.9' to Educational Media Foundation for a measly $500,000. 500k for a decent class A signal. It will surely become K-Love or Air1 soon.

...and the market loses another opportunity for an independent operator to step in and shake things up. I realize the station has effectively been for sale since the moment Bernard took over, but this sale disappoints me to no end.