NorthEast Radio Watch 6/8/2026: New Life for NJ PBS

In this week’s issue… NJ PBS enters new era – Adam 12’s new Boston gig – Audacy relocates studios – NYC morning host plans retirement  – CHUM, Flow retool in Toronto – Remembering Rocky Allen, Pittsburgh’s Negri

By SCOTT FYBUSH

*With just a few weeks left to go before NEW JERSEY‘s public TV network concludes its operational contract with New York’s WNET (Channel 13), the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority has found a new partner to provide its stations with programming.

Assuming the proposed deal is approved, Montclair State University will take over on July 1 as the operator of the stations that were once run by the state as the New Jersey Network. Since 2011, when NJN shut down, the signals have been operated as “NJ PBS,” a secondary public service in markets where all viewers already have access to bigger PBS outlets in the form of New York’s WNET, Philadelphia’s WHYY and WLVT from the Lehigh Valley.

But while the state has slimmed down its public broadcast portfolio, selling off the former NJN Radio stations to WHYY and New York’s WNYC and putting two of its UHF TV stations’ spectrum in an FCC auction, it has continued to seek partners for the remaining TV network in order to provide New Jersey-centered programming that has included “NJ Spotlight News,” produced by a nonprofit subsidiary of WNET.

We’re still waiting for details about exactly what the next incarnation of public TV in the Garden State will look like in the short transition from WNET to Montclair State, which has already begun posting job listings for its new operation. There are reportedly discussions underway to transfer the NJ Spotlight News nonprofit over to the university, which has committed to “at least six hours of New Jersey-centric programming a week, including a weekday nightly news cast and other public affairs programming, live broadcasts of the Governor’s State of the State address, the Governor’s Budget Message, and live coverage of New Jersey elections.”

A press release from the state says there were three other bidders for the contract to operate NJ PBS, which will run for five years with two five-year extensions.

And for you tower fans: there’s an interesting little irony in Montclair State taking over operations of the network, because right there on the edge of the university’s campus, there’s a big self-supporting tower that used to carry NJN’s channel 50, originally WNJM and later WNJN-TV. That license, along with Trenton’s WNJT (Channel 52), was surrendered at auction, and while there are still “channel 50” and “channel 52” signals on the air as part of the network, they operate as channel-shares on the spectrum of the remaining full-power stations, WNJB (Channel 58) in New Brunswick and WNJS (Channel 23) in Camden, respectively.

NJ PBS has hardly been alone in facing uncertainty about its future in the absence of federal funding for public broadcaster; in recent days, there have been similar partnership announcements in places like Bowling Green, Ohio, where Bowling Green University’s WBGU-TV is being handed off to Toledo’s WGTE for operation, and in Arkansas, where public pressure and donations preserved PBS programming on a statewide network that was threatening to drop its membership.

*There’s a station sale in the Garden State, as well, where Centro Biblico of NJ has found a buyer for silent WTOC (1360 Newton) and its translator W240EE (95.9 Dover). Another Spanish-language religious operator, Cantico Nuevo Ministry, is paying $30,000 for both signals, adding to its network that stretches from New Jersey to Long Island.

(Fybush Media was responsible for getting that 95.9 translator for Centro Biblico.)

*At the other end of New Jersey, The Voice Radio Network’s WIFI (1460 Florence) is applying to drop from 5 kW day/500 watts night to 135 watts day/75 watts night, dropping three of its four towers. That remaining tower would also be shared with sister station WNJE (920 Trenton), which is operating under STA from a longwire while it awaits approval to diplex with WIFI with 280 watts day, 14 watts at night.

WIFI’s “Maxima 92.9” Spanish hits format is, as you’d imagine from the station name, mostly heard on its translator, not on the AM signal.

*In upstate NEW YORK, Craig Fox launched a new “millennial hits” station May 28.

Replacing a simulcast of Fox Sports (WOLF 1490/92.5) on WQSE-LD (Channel 6/87.7 FM), “87. 6 the Spot” focuses on hits of the 1990s and early 2000s, sliding into a demographic, er, spot somewhere between its sister stations, oldies “Dinosaur” WFBL/WSEN and rhythmic top-40 “Beat” WMVN.

*In Oneonta, Townsquare has surrendered the license of its last AM station in the region, as the one-year silent period for WDOS (730) runs out. WDOS, which had been on the air since 1947, had last been carrying a “CNY News” news/talk format, which was replaced last year by a simulcast of Binghamton news-talker WNBF (1290) on sister station WKXZ (93.9 Norwich).

*After 50 years on the radio, the last 30 playing classical music in New York, Jeff Spurgeon has announced he’ll retire from WQXR (105.9) in September.

Spurgeon came from his native Nebraska to New York in 1989, working at WMXV (Mix 105) before joining WQXR (then owned by the Times) in 1997 as a newscaster. After spending some time in afternoon drive, Spurgeon moved to mornings in 2006, remaining in that spot as the station changed hands to New York Public Radio a few years later.

“What a wonderful adventure it has been to explore the world of classical music with the listeners of WQXR,” Spurgeon said. Now, after a long, rich season of 30 years at the station, it is time to conclude my part in that adventure. I am unceasingly grateful to my employers for the opportunities I’ve been given, to my colleagues for their collaboration and support, and to WQXR listeners for their kindness. I shall continue to be a listener and financial contributor, and I look forward to what’s next at the station as WQXR, later this year, begins its 10th decade of service to classical music in New York City.”

When Spurgeon steps away, another New York radio veteran, the versatile Paul Cavalconte, will serve as interim morning host.

*From Buffalo to New York City to Providence, RHODE ISLAND, listeners are mourning Rocky Allen, the radio talent known for his “Showgram” on New York’s WPLJ and Detroit’s WDVD.

Allen grew up in St. Louis and first hit the air there at KHTR (HitRadio 103) before coming to Buffalo in the late 1980s to do mornings at WKSE (Kiss 98.5), where his #1 ratings propelled him to New York and a brief run in mornings at WPLJ. After moving to Providence and WPRO-FM (92.3) in 1991, Allen came back to New York in 1993 to pair up with Blain Ensley in afternoons for the “Rocky Allen Showgram,” which ran until 1998 and returned from 2005-2008. In between those stints, Allen did mornings on WABC (770) and at WDVD with Ensley.

Last heard on New York radio in a brief weekend stint on ESPN Radio/WEPN, Allen had been suffering from colon cancer, which caused his death June 3. He was 72.

*In PENNSYLVANIA, the Beasley exodus continues, with John Kincade’s announcement that he’ll leave the morning co-host slot at WPEN (97.5 the Fanatic) at the end of July.

Kincade had been with WPEN since 2021, when he moved back north following a long career that had taken him from Philly’s WIP to Atlanta’s WQXI and 20 years at “the Fan” WCNN.

“I’m proud of what we’ve built on the morning show and very confident in the future of The Fanatic. There’s a tremendous team here both on-air and behind the scenes. I’m not retiring, and I’m excited to eventually explore what comes next professionally. Philadelphia has meant so much to me, and I can’t thank the fans enough for their support, especially during my health journey,” Kincade wrote.

Co-host Andrew Salciunas will stay in place in mornings.

*Across the state in Pittsburgh, there’s a new face coming to the VP/Programming office at Audacy’s cluster, where Mark Anderson has exited after more than 15 years.

Replacing him as brand manager of the music stations (hot AC WBZZ “100.7 Star,” hip-hop WAMO and country WDSY “Y108”) is Josh Wolff, a Pittsburgher who’s coming home after more than three years programming Cincinnati’s WRRM (Warm 98.5).

Before heading to Cincinnati, Wolff had been SVP/Programming for iHeart’s stations in Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Reading from 2019-2022 – and way back when, he was an intern for the now-Audacy Pittsburgh cluster while starting his radio career at Syracuse University’s WJPZ (Z89).

(And is that a great new job announcement he posted on social media, or what?)

*Up the road in the New Castle market, the start of June brought new calls and a new format to WKPL (92.1 Ellwood City), which traded the “Pickle” oldies format from seller Forever for the Christian network of new owner Family Life Ministries. The new calls on 92.1 are WCGF-FM.

*All over western Pennsylvania and beyond, they’re mourning Joe Negri, the venerable musician who was just short of his 100th birthday when he died May 30.

If you were a child of the 1970s, you might have known him best as “Handyman Negri” on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, but that was just one facet of a jazz and broadcasting career that included many years as music director on WTAE-TV, where he featured on the children’s show “Adventure Time,” as well as serving as an on-camera host on WQEX (Channel 16) and making frequent appearances on jazz stations WDUQ and WZUM.

*In MASSACHUSETTS, it didn’t take Beasley long to launch a new morning show on classic hits WROR (105.7), where the exit of Bob Bronson opened the way for the company to move Adam 12 down the hall from his role as executive producer of Toucher and Hardy on WBZ-FM (98.5 the Sports Hub).

In his latest role, Adam 12 returns to the music side of things, taking his name recognition from WFNX, WBCN and WBOS to the co-host position alongside Lauren Beckham Falcone on “The ROR Morning Show with LBF and Adam 12.”

*Where are Audacy’s Boston stations now that the company has sold off their longtime home at the former WSBK-TV building at 83 Leo Birmingham Parkway?

It’s not a move that’s getting much publicity, but we’re told sports WEEI, variety hits “Big 103” WBGB, hot AC “Mix” WBMX and AC “Magic” WMJX have quietly made their new home in space being rented from public broadcaster GBH along Market Street in Brighton, halfway between Leo Birmingham and the previous Entercom facility on Guest Street.

*In Springfield, Dan Williams is planning to sign off June 19 from WAQY (Rock 102), the Saga classic rocker he’s called home for morning drive since 2013. It’s just the most recent stop on a radio career that included 32 years across town at WHYN-FM (93.1), where he was partnered with – and eventually married – co-host Kim Zachary. Once Williams, 70, steps away from the mic, he and Zachary plan to move to South Carolina.

*Back in CONNECTICUT, Gois Broadcasting is selling WNEZ (1230 Manchester) and its 105.3 translator to Mabel Duncan’s Island Mango Radio LLC, which has already been programming the stations with a Caribbean music and talk format.

The $110,000 sale almost completes Gois’ exit from the Hartford market; the company had already sold off WLAT (910/101.7) to Relevant Radio and a translator at 97.5 to become a simulcast of WLCQ-LP (97.5) from Springfield – and while you’ll read other trade publications inaccurately reporting that WNEZ was Gois’ final station in town, there’s still the silent license of WKND (1480 Windsor) to be sold or surrendered before Gois becomes a Massachusetts-only operator.

*Along the Connecticut River in Wells River, VERMONT, Yankee Kingdom Radio’s WTWN (1100) is reducing power. Currently licensed at 5000 watts day, 2000 watts during critical hours, the daytimer has asked the FCC to relicense it at 500 watts, the power level it’s been using under STA since December, when it cited rising electric costs and the move of audience to its FM translator as factors making 5000-watt operation economically unsustainable.

*In CANADA‘s biggest market, top-rated CHUM-FM (104.5) is getting ready to launch a new morning show July 6.

“Nat and Josie” will succeed the legendary Marilyn Denis, whose last show on CHUM will happen June 26. The new show pairs Nat Hunter, a Toronto native who just left a 20-year gig at sister station CHQM (Move 103.5) in Vancouver, with Josie Dye, the veteran of CFNY (102.1 the Edge) and CIND (Indie 88) who’s most recently been doing afternoons on CHUM. Her afternoon co-host, Jamar McNeill, will remain in that shift solo.

“Waking up with Toronto is the most surreal feeling in the world, and doing it with Nat will be epic,” Dye said in the announcement of the new show.

*Across town, CINA Media Group’s CKFG (Flow 98.7) has a new airstaff and a familiar sound, bringing back more of the R&B/hip-hop sound of the previous “Flow” (CFXJ 93.5) before that signal was sold to Stingray and the Flow branding moved to 98.7 in 2022.

In addition to a new retro logo, the new version of Flow brings back former Flow morning man Peter Kash as its new PD and afternoon host, a return to Toronto after he’d relocated to Edmonton. Morning hosts Alicia “Ace” West and Marlon Palmer are out, with afternoon host Robert “Spex Da Boss” Lloyd pairing with “Patricia J” Jaggernauth for a new morning show.

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