Fredericks buys LHTC stations
November 26, 2024John Fredericks, owner of Disruptor Radio LLC has acquired six radio stations and three FM translators from Laurel Highlands Total Communications (“LHTC”) taking LHTC out of the radio business. The transaction began in January with Fredericks operating three of the Morgantown/Fairmont, West Virginia stations and translators under an LMA with LHTC. A new LMA has since been signed giving Disruptor operations of the cluster until the sale closes.
The stations are WRLF (94.3 Fairmont, WV), WZST (100.9 Westover, WV), WBKE (1490 Fairmont; 98.3 W252EF Morgantown), WMMN (920 Fairmont; 95.7 W239CM Morgantown), WGYE (102.7 Mannington, Fairmont; 103.9 W280FF Morgantown), and WHTI (105.7 Salem/Clarksburg).
LHTC bought four of the stations in 2016 for $700,000 and added two more in 2023 for $190,000. Disruptor paid $650,000.
Disruptor Radio owns the old WXJX, now WJFA (910 Apollo; 98.7 W254CR Latrobe) and the old WCNS, now WJFG (1480 and 107.5 W298DH Latrobe). LHTC had owned these stations prior to selling to Steve Clendenin’s Maryland Media One who sold to Frederick’s earlier this year.
Radio Insight (and hat tip to Nick M.)
I can pick up 910 Apollo, 920 Fairmont, and 1480 Latrobe from Pittsburgh’s west hills. 910 and 920 are the best signals; 1480 gets interference from a station on 1480 in Ohio, hearing the sound from the two stations mixed together where I live.
In the realm of conservative talk, their format is an alternative to the likes of Salem stations 730 and 1250, or 1320 with their variety of talk and George Noory over night, and Westwood One’s America In The Morning wake-up show, and the GD Morning Show.
You can see more about John Fredericks and Disruptor Radio at:
https://www.johnfredericksradio.com/
.. though calling 1480 and 910 Pittsburgh stations is too little information, they probably should call them ‘Pittsburgh area’.
Boomer
Fredericks moved back to this area recently from Virginia. Among other reasons he has a son who plays baseball at WVU.