According to the 98.5 WSAX Facebook page, the stations general manager has retired and the station will now be run by Goldchip Foundation and has switched to a Christian station that will still play some jazz music.
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98.5 WSAX changes ownership and format
- Thread starter RadioListener21
- Start date
Interesting I don't see any updates on the FCC Database about WSAX-LP - also it does not appear they ever got things sorted out with their transmitter site. Last I knew they were still broadcasting off a light post at Whitehall High School - which they actually got in trouble with the FCC for since their licensed site was a tower off Route 270/ East Broad St and they lost access to that site and in the process of trying to find another site their engineer passed away - FCC ended up issuing a Notice of Violation but I believe they were granted an STA to run at an alternate site but I see no movement ever to have actually relocate.
The Jazz was always enjoyable to listen too and did fill a niche that isn't fulfilled by other signals in the market.
Based on the url of the folks who are running the station now - it appears it's the group that did run gospel music on AM 1580 at one point before Delmar/ICS got involved and flipped AM 1580 to "My 92.9" before the other string of formats that has been there.
The Jazz was always enjoyable to listen too and did fill a niche that isn't fulfilled by other signals in the market.
Based on the url of the folks who are running the station now - it appears it's the group that did run gospel music on AM 1580 at one point before Delmar/ICS got involved and flipped AM 1580 to "My 92.9" before the other string of formats that has been there.
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K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I suppose you can have a LMA for a LPFM. That wouldn't show up in the FCC database.
I had a lot of trouble getting the station over in Grandview so when I listen, I would use the TuneIn on Alexa. I turned it on and noticed a lot of Jesus stuff which led going to the Facebook. It was enjoyable and I wish someone could of kept it going.
Another note, with this change the last full time Jazz station in Ohio is no more.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
And if the format can't even survive on a LPFM, what conclusion is obvious?
Actually Cleveland has a Jazz station - WCSB which runs Ideastream's "JazzNEO" format.
I thought that got taken out.
No WCSB was previously a college ran format and the license turned it over to Ideastream who put their JazzNEO format there.
Speaking of 98.5 was listening today - decent music mix but I could do without the heavy reverb station IDs! Praise seems to be more community focused than Joy 106.3 so it will be interesting to see how this LPFM stands up against big corporate broadcaster running a similar format. Praise advertises a lot of local preachers/talk and seems to focus a lot of local gospel artists.
The WCSB license was NOT transferred. The university entered into a Public Service Operating Agreement (The non-com version of LMA) with Ideastream, but they maintain ownership and control of the license.
Lance, I know its being LMA'ed my comment "turned it over to ideastream" was directed at programming not the ownership of the license.
Former Columbus resident, now living in Florida. Hadn't listened to WSAX in a long time, but did yesterday. More R&B than jazz -- and most of the music was definitely Christian praise. WSAX had really programmed a unique format with local artists and a variety of jazz genres. The audience was undoubtedly small, and severely limited by the signal, but it will be missed.
IF you haven't heard about the kerfluffle with Cleveland State University's station, WCSB, they are now have an all jazz format after being "sold" to Ideascream Media. So there is still an all jazz station in Ohio. Poke around on the Cleveland board and you can read all about it, it's too big of a mess to go into here.
Ehh, never mind. I guess I should have read through the thread before commenting. Other's beat me to the punch.