Sheridan locks out AURN

The Pittsburgh Courier reported last week that Sheridan Broadcasting, the former owner of WAMO-AM/FM (860 Millvale/106.7 Beaver Falls) and WPGR (1510 Monroeville), locked the third floor offices of former partner American Urban Radio Network citing non-payment for broadcast services and rent. According to Sheridan’s Ron Davenport, Jr. who serves as special counsel and president for Sheridan, AURN has not paid for SBN’s news and entertainment services since April and estimates the debt at $1 million. SBC says the debt is the result of indifference by the $250 billion hedge fund Guggenheim Capital which owns Access 1 Communications, AURN’s parent company.

Meanwhile, Jerry Lopes, president of programming for AURN, tells the paper that the debt has nothing to do with Guggenheim and that the monies paid never made it to the intended parties – including the landlord and other outfits. Lopes also said that this stems from a legal battle that cost the Davenport family the majority control of AURN the past spring.