By SCOTT FYBUSH
After just over 16 years as Radio Disney’s New York City outlet, WQEW (1560) fell silent Tuesday evening, just ahead of a planned Friday closing date for the sale of the station from Disney ownership to Family Stations.
Family’s $12.95 million purchase of the 50,000-watt signal was announced back in November, and we reported in NERW in December that Family had requested the calls WFME for 1560 once the deal closes.
Whenever Family puts 1560 back on the air – and it’s not clear whether that will happen right away after closing or whether there will be a delay – the new WFME will return Family Radio religious programming to New York listeners two years after Family sold its former New York-market outlet, Newark-licensed 94.7, to Cumulus. (The calls have been parked in the interim up in northern Westchester County on Mount Kisco’s 106.3, which Family got from Cumulus as part of the 94.7 deal; that signal will apparently remain in place as WFME-FM.)
More details in next Monday’s NERW…
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In this week’s double issue… Audacy, SXM join forces - Bell swaps Kitchener signals - Ford to DC, Baltimore - ESPN cuts hit NYC's 880 - Philly hall of famers named - Tynan out at WPVI
In this week’s issue… Bills extend new radio network - New leader at NYSBA - RI morning team plans retirement - WSUC alumni gather - Cuts at Corus in Canada
In this week’s issue… After Kitchener and Halifax, what will Rogers eliminate next? - Family Life makes a bigger PA buy - Saga vs. LPFM - More NY AMs fade away
In this week’s issue… iHeart cuts leave some small markets vacant - Townsquare makes more NJ moves - Format shuffles in the Connecticut River Valley - Veteran meteorologists retire - Toronto AM seeks FM voice
