CPs and Purchases

NERW is reporting some ownership changes and construction permits in our region.

• The deal to sell WNTJ (850 AM Johnstown) from Forever to Birach was closed over the weekend. WNTJ has moved back to it’s 1490 position in Johnstown which was re-acquired by Forever last fall from 2510 Group. Birach paid $300,000 for ‘NTJ and sister station WCND in Shelbyville KY. With the 850 signal comes a 115-acre site in Somerset County with a 9-tower array blasting the 10kW signal which Forever reportedly wanted to unleash. NERW seems to think that Birach might move the signal elsewhere, but 850’s directional signal is short spaced between WKNR in Cleveland and WEEI in Boston…not to mention 4 860s in the region.
•  FCC permission has been granted in the form of a CP for Renda Broadcasting to build a 6-tower array at the Allegheny/Washington County line in the South Hills for 910 AM. This is the latest development in the attempt to move 1360 WPTT (McKeesport) to 910 AM (Mt. Lebanon). 910 is presently licenced to Apollo as WAVL. WAVL has also been granted a CP for a 5-tower array east of Pittsburgh. WPTT is currently operating at 5kW daytime; 1 kW nighttime from two different sites. The new site and dial position will enable a 7kW daytime only signal. (A night power application will probably be filed in the near future.) WAVL currently operates a 5kW signal daytime and 7 watts at night. The new location and position will allow a 6.7kW daytime and 69 watt nighttime signal.