Chicago Radio: Translator Sells For Record $4.6 M

Elroy Smith

For the second time in under a week, a Christian radio group has sold one of its low-powered Chicago translators on the Willis Tower for a huge sum of money, according to Chicago Radio & Media.

Calvary Radio Network has agreed to sell W264BF, a 2 watt radio translator, for an incredible $4.6 million. The purchaser is Integrity Radio Communications, owned by former Chicago radio programming great, Elroy Smith.

The translator named W264BF broadcasts at only 2 watts from Willis Tower. However, in November 2011, the FCC granted a construction permit to Calvary Radio Network to increase the wattage to 10 watts via a new antenna.

That antenna has not yet been placed in use and the construction permit expires on November 18th of this year.

W264BH 100.7 FM (2 watts) 60 dBu Coverage

On Calvary Radio Network, Inc. has signed an agreement with Integrity Radio Communications, LLC to sell W264BF, its equipment, licenses, permits, leases, and all other assets for $4,600,000.

Integrity is headed by Elroy Smith, started as PD for WGCI-FM in 1992. Within a year after his start, WGCI-FM became the #1 station in Chicago. In 2000, he was also named as the Operations and Program Director for WVAZ-FM.  Clear Channel cutbacks knocked Smith down to only being the Program Director of WVAZ-FM, and two months later, another wave of cutbacks had Smith pushed out from the company and from Chicago radio.

According to the FCC documents on this transaction, Smith plans on launching a format on one an HD channel  for WILV 100.3 FM and simulcast it on W264BF 100.7 FM.