WOMP to return to 100.5 in the new year

Almost from the moment Forever Media announced the sale of four stations – the bulk of its Steubenville/Wheeling properties no less – in August, new owner Ohio Midland Newsgroup has been hinting at the return of WOMP-FM at 100.5. The callsign had previously existed on the frequency from 1959-2005. That move is slated to happen in January.

Ohio Midland Newsgroup, headed by Cody Barack, finalized the purchase of 100.5 (then WBGI-FM) Bellaire, WUKL (105.5 Bethlehem); WRQY (96.5 Moundsville) and WLIE (1290 Bellaire/W261DH 100.1 Wheeling) in early November when they joined WCDK (106.3 Cadiz) and WEIR (1430/W265ED 100.9 Weirton).

The WUKL calls were swapped with the WBGI-FM calls and Biggie Country is on 105.5. WRQY became a rock station WLIE became WLYV and started simulcasting new sister WEIR. (The WOMP calls had also been on 1290 originally.)

Forever hasn’t really left the market, but some might argue that they have. WLYI (103.5 Burgettstown) remains in their portfolio. However, 103.5 was once licensed to Steubenville as WSTV-FM and WRKY. But around the turn of the 21st Century, Forever moved it closer to Pittsburgh in an attempt to make it less regional. Meanwhile, as part of the recent sale, Forever acquired translator Colliers-licensed W235BX at 94.9 for $10.00 (that’s TEN dollars) to simulcast WOHI (1490 East Liverpool).