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WNKU sold.
- Thread starter Bizman
- Start date
Yes, NKU is a separate institution from the University of Kentucky. UK has only its one campus in Lexington.
Interesting. This reminds me a lot of WRAS, the radio station of Georgia State University. It was for many years a popular alternative station in Atlanta. Then the college sold it to a company that turned it into the city's second NPR affiliate, running news and talk programming most of the day. Greatly angered the station's audience. However, the move kept the station away from religious companies mentioned in the OP article.
There are a lot of college owned NCE stations that are likely to be on the market soon. The choice is either to go religious or all-NPR. None that I know of get to keep their alternative music format. That is, unless the people of the community form a non-profit, raise money, and buy the station.
There are a lot of college owned NCE stations that are likely to be on the market soon. The choice is either to go religious or all-NPR. None that I know of get to keep their alternative music format. That is, unless the people of the community form a non-profit, raise money, and buy the station.
You mean to the same buyer? Maybe. They can reassign as a noncom in the commercial band. But that diminishes the value.
WPAY is a 100K station, and at one time was a huge commercial country station blanketing that market. I agree they might make more selling them individually.
The fact that the station was dependent on the subsidy from the university is what made it so vulnerable. As I always say, it pays to have other revenue sources. People who love these music formats are going to have to step up to the plate and donate money, or they'll go away.
WNKU Sold to Bible Broadcasting for 1.9 million
I'm guessing this is just for the 89.7 frequency. 1.9 million seems low if it included 105.9 and 104.1. Sad to see a 30 year voice for local music go,but it's the sign of the times.
http://www.wlwt.com/article/wnku-sold-to-bible-broadcasting-corporation-for-dollar19-million/8787739
I'm guessing this is just for the 89.7 frequency. 1.9 million seems low if it included 105.9 and 104.1. Sad to see a 30 year voice for local music go,but it's the sign of the times.
http://www.wlwt.com/article/wnku-sold-to-bible-broadcasting-corporation-for-dollar19-million/8787739
Update 105.9 is still for sale. 104.1 WNKE-FM (104.1 MHz) in New Boston, Ohio, will be sold to the Educational Media Foundation for $700,000 plus 75 percent of the sale of a Wisconsin station it owns, WEKZ-FM.
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/02/14/wnku-to-be-sold-to-christian-group.html?91a913
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/02/14/wnku-to-be-sold-to-christian-group.html?91a913
John Kieswetter with some more info
http://wvxu.org/post/nku-sells-2-fm-stations-religious-broadcasters#stream/0
Too bad, was hoping someone would keep it around.
http://wvxu.org/post/nku-sells-2-fm-stations-religious-broadcasters#stream/0
Too bad, was hoping someone would keep it around.
Biz Journal is wrong - EMF is actually selling WEKV-FM 94.9 in nearby South Webster, Ohio.
I am guessing their 88.3 WUKV-FM will switch to Air1 once they take over 104.1 thus the reason for selling 94.9 as they do not need that much overlap in such a rural area.
All the FCC cares about is there's a signal on the frequency. It's up to the people to be more involved in their local radio stations.
Colleges around the country are getting out of the broadcasting business. It's an open invitation to EMF. The way to prevent it from happening is to have a local community group organize, raise money, and offer a competing bid for the stations. That's what they did in Seattle.
NKU was in a rush to sell WNKU so there was no time for anyone to raise that kind of money for the station. There were attempts to organize and try to make an offer for the station which is why supporters requested more time from the university before accepting an offer who made the highest bid. The station was in the red for the last 4 years due to poor management from the university. I know they were considering an LMA with the University of Cincinnati but that also never materialized. It's a shame that NKU saw dollar signs instead of trying to work something out with the supporters of the station who kept them going for the last 30 years.
It appears that existing public broadcasters from WVXU attempted to engage with NKU regarding the station, and the University wasn't responsive.
This is part of the problem - if the licensees aren't responsive or transparent with the community that lessens their opportunities to organize and come up with an offer. In many cases, it seems these licensees are going for the easy money and not considering the product or mission whatsoever.
This is part of the problem - if the licensees aren't responsive or transparent with the community that lessens their opportunities to organize and come up with an offer. In many cases, it seems these licensees are going for the easy money and not considering the product or mission whatsoever.
The Bevin administration pressured NKU into selling it to a far-right "ministry."
That's what happened in Seattle too, until the community group embarrassed the parties into reconsidering. If the group is well organized, they can also challenge the license transfer with the FCC and in court. There is recourse here.
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