Clarion County Radio Stations Sold

After more than half a century of local ownership, a State College-based company now owns a Clarion County based radio cluster.

Seven Mountains Media this week closed on the purchase of WWCH (full service classic country) AM 1300, and WCCR (Hot AC), which had been owned by Clarion County Broadcasting, according to media broker Roger Rafson. The sale of the stations was first announced four months ago.

WWCH was co-founded by the Sheridan, Hearst and Troese families in 1960, with outgoing company president William “Bill” Hearst acquiring full control of the station – then a standalone daytime-only operation of 1,000 watts- in 1978. WWCH received nighttime power authorization in the 90s to allow reduced power operation at 28 watts, and then finally an FM translator at 94.1 and an effective radiated power of 250 watts. Since then, the station has been branded as “94.1 The Goat”.

In 1985, Clarion County Broadcasting put WCCR (known as C-93) on the air, with formats varying between classic rock and CHR over the years, but currently has a Hot AC format.

Clarion County broadcasting also briefly owned stations outside its home market, with one in Kane in the early 90s and two stations in Oil City following the death of those stations’ founder in 2004.

Seven Mountains Media also owns WKFT (101.3 FM), which is licensed to the Clarion County borough of Strattanville. That station, which first went on the air in 2013, simulcasts the signal of DuBois-based WIFT (102.1 FM, Bigfoot Country). The company, upon a recent deal with Forever Media, now owns 67 radio signals across central Pennsylvania and the Twin Tiers region.

Seven Mountains Media will also acquire the station’s employees and studio building in Clarion Township, according to Hearst, who is unrelated to the same-named family whose media empire controls Pittsburgh-based ABC affiliate WTAE-TV. In a note of historical significance, longtime KDKA radio and TV personality Larry Richert began his career at WWCH, as did longtime Pittsburgh Pirates public address announcer Tim DeBacco.

WWCH stands for William Curtis Hearst, Hearst’s father. Hearst decided to sell the station after his daughter Kristan, who helped him run the station four years ago, decided to pursue other business interests.

Hearst says he plans to spend his retirement in the area and continue his commitments in the community, including Rotary, the Clarion Cemetery Board, and the Alzheimer’s Walk.

PHOTO: Clarion County Broadcasting President Bill Hearst poses in the WCCR-FM studio with daughter Kristan Hearst (submitted).