WXBK
| Broadcast area | New York metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 94.7 MHz |
| Branding | Family Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFME-TV | |
| History | |
First air date | 1947 |
Former call signs | WAAT-FM (1947–1958) WNTA-FM (1958–1962) WJRZ-FM (1962–1965) |
Call sign meaning | Where Faith Means Everything |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 28204 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 37,200 watts |
| HAAT | 174 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°47′17.5″N 74°15′18.2″W / 40.788194°N 74.255056°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wfme.net familyradio.com |
WFME is a radio station on 94.7 FM licensed to Newark, New Jersey. It is owned by Family Stations, a non-profit Christian organization based in Oakland, California. The studio, office and transmitter are located in West Orange, New Jersey and is shared with sister station WFME-TV (channel 66).
History
The 94.7 FM frequency signed on in 1947 as WAAT-FM, and was owned by the Bremer Broadcasting Company along with sister station WAAT (970 AM, now WNYM). The following year Bremer launched a television station, WATV on channel 13, New Jersey's first TV outlet. In 1958 the three stations were sold by Bremer to National Telefilm Associates, who changed the operation's call letters to WNTA-FM. During this period, the station had diversified programming such as jazz, classical music, and easy listening music.
National Telefilm split up its holdings in 1962, with WNTA-TV (now WNET) being sold to a New York City-based nonprofit educational group, and the WNTA radio stations going to Communications Industries Broadcasting. The new owners changed the calls to WJRZ-FM and initially retained the station's previous format, but in 1964 began leasing airtime to Family Radio. In 1965, the station was renamed to its current WFME, and on March 10, 1966, Family Radio bought 94.7 FM outright and began airing its religious programming around-the-clock.
In the present-day, WFME's local programming consists of community announcements; weekend public affairs; and news, weather and traffic inserts during Family Radio's Rise and Rejoice morning show. WFME originates a portion of the network's overnight program Nightwatch, hosted by station manager/chief engineer Charlie Menut. The rest of the station's schedule originates from Family Radio headquarters in Oakland.[2]
Sale to Cumulus
On January 6, 2012, Family Stations applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change the license of WFME from noncommercial to commercial. This move followed the sales by Family Radio of stations in the Philadelphia (WKDN, now WWIQ) and Washington-Baltimore (WFSI, now WLZL) markets, and quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that WFME would be sold next.[3] [4] [5] The application was approved on February 7, 2012.[6]
Those rumors were confirmed on October 16, 2012, when it was announced that Family Stations would sell WFME to Atlanta-based Cumulus Media for what was then an undisclosed price.[1] Upon FCC approval of the sale, 94.7 FM would become a sister station with Cumulus' two existing New York market stations, WABC (770 AM) and WPLJ (95.5 FM).
The details of the transaction were released to the general public on October 22, 2012[7]. The major transaction terms are:
• To aquire the licenses to WFME Newark, Cumulus' consideration to Family Stations Inc. (FSI) is $40 million AND the FCC licenses for WDVY Mount Kisco (106.3 FM);
• Five-Year Transition Period: Should Cumulus relocate 94.7FM to a location within any of the New York City five boroughs by its own volition and with authority from the FCC, an additional cash consideration of $8.5 million shall be due FSI. Should said move be accompanied by a license upgrade higher than a B1, said consideration shall be $10 million due FSI. However, the aggregate amount shall not exceed $10 million. (For example, the station is relocated six months following the closing, and the license is subsequently upgraded two years later);
• FSI will lease to Cumulus the WFME studios for a six-month period from date of closing free of charge;
• FSI will lease to Cumulus the existing WFME auxiliary transmission facilities, including space on a tower and space in the transmitter building as currently utilized for WFME, for an annual payment of One Dollar ($1) until the earlier of the relocation of WFME as contemplated above or five (5) years, and, if there is no relocation of WFME within such 5-year period, thereafter for a monthly payment of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for the ensuing five years unless WFME shall have been relocated to one of the Boroughs of New York City, New York, in which case the use of such transmission facilities should automatically terminate;
• FSI will retain the WFME call-sign and Cumulus will retain the WDVY call-sign; and
• FSI has concurrently submitted an application to convert the license of WDVY Mount Kisco from commercial to non-commercial/educational
WFME's programming was also heard on two translator stations: W213AC (90.5 FM) in Hyde Park, New York; and W247AE (97.3 FM) in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. As a result of the license status change, the translators can no longer legally rebroadcast WFME's broadcast signal and as a result both translator stations are currently silent of February 2012.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Cumulus buys WFME/New York". ALL Access Music Group. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ WFME Program Guide
- ^ Taylor, Tom (9 January 2012). "New York scramble?: Is New York-market WFME (94.7) for sale? Family Radio applies to change its crown jewel to commercial operation". TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Tom (10 January 2012). "Gotham guessing game: Yes, Family Radio's New York-market WFME (94.7) will be for sale. But not just yet". TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Venta, Lance (7 January 2012). "WFME Applies to Go Commercial, Prepares for Sale". Radio Insight. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1434672
- ^ "FCC BALH - 20121019ACU". Retrieved 5 December 2012.
External links
- Family Radio Homepage
- Facility details for Facility ID WFME ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database