In this week’s issue… Red Apple adds WCRN – Pebbles out at Hot – CT AM seeks move – Razz retires in Philly – Utica simulcast ends
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*Ever since he bought WABC (770) six years ago, it’s been no secret that John Catsimatidis has had his eye on expanding his media empire far beyond NEW YORK, where he made his fortune with Gristedes supermarkets and Kwik Fill/Red Apple gas and convenience stores.
And after pushing the WABC simulcast out to a few other smaller acquisitions on Long Island (WLIR 107.1 and WLID 1370) and upstate (WRCR 1700), Catsimatidis’ Red Apple Media is making its first significant buy outside the New York metro area, with a $1.45 million deal to buy WCRN (830) in Worcester, MASSACHUSETTS from Carter Broadcasting.
The deal, which includes an immediate LMA, marks the end of nearly a half-century for the Carberry family’s radio ownership. Starting in 1977 with the acquisition of WRYT (now WROL 950) in Boston, Carter at one point owned a chain of stations stretching from Maine to Rhode Island and westward to Chicopee. By 2001, the Carter group had slimmed down to just WACE in Chicopee (since sold to Holy Family) and WCRN, which it had put on the air in 1994 as one of the last new 50 kW AM stations in the country.
In recent years, WCRN has carried a somewhat awkward mix of WFXT (Fox 25) news simulcasts, leased-time syndication (including the Howie Carr show in afternoons) and overnight music. We’d expect much of that programming to be replaced by talk from WABC and the syndication arm Cats has tried to create at the New York station, as well as the “Worldwide News” network WABC just announced last week. Will it have much impact in an area that doesn’t much care for “New York” anything? And will Catsimatidis look for further expansion closer to Boston, where several other AM signals are very much for sale as well? We’ll be watching, and listening.
Looking to get into station ownership? Our StationSale division has some great new listings for you, including a very successful multimedia combo including radio/digital/print in one of the finest small markets in the region, a major market FM translator opportunity, a profitable Midwest FM, an inexpensive entry into a fast-growing Western market, and a turnkey profitable FM/AM/translator small-market combo that’s ready for a new owner. Drop me a line at scott@fybush.com and I’ll set you up with an NDA and all the details…
And if your noncommercial FM station is ready to think about translators, there’s a filing window coming this fall from the FCC and it’s the perfect time to start making plans.
In this week’s issue… Ed Levine to retire - Family Life adds in Pittsburgh - Cumulus layoffs hit PA, Scripps makes news cuts - Penn State officlally sells WPSU - Remembering Canada's Lloyd Robertson
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
