The currently-dark WHYL 960 AM in Carlisle has been purchased by Harold and Eric Swidler, the father and son duo who own WIOO Country Gold Radio (1000 AM Carlisle, WEEO 1480 AM in Shippensburg, Translator W250AP/97.9 FM in Carlisle and Translator W230AX/93.9 FM in Shippensburg) and WCAT 102.3 FM Red.
WHYL 960 began broadcasting in 1948, and continued to air until January 1, 2014, when the company that owned it filed for bankruptcy.
The Swidler's are planning on maintaining the WHYL legacy.
"They've been a leader in the community," Eric Swidler told pennlive.com. "As it goes, we felt as if we wanted to keep the heritage and station going properly and that's the reason for us to acquire and purchase it. We feel as if it really is a treasure in the community."
The station will continue its traditional Oldies format, as well as having some talkative hosts.
The Swidlers declined to say who would be taking over the legendary Ben Barber's morning show slot, though. Barber had worked on WHYL for decades. He died in February from cancer.
The Swidlers did say that the new morning host would be familiar to listeners and had worked with Barber.
I and my young at heart seniors were really glad to hear that the "oldies' were coming back to 960.as broadcast by the late Ben Barber. But the current "oldies" are music? from the 60's and up. I suppose you consider those oldies are for the baby boomers. Maybe business wise that may be true, but to completely ignore some of the music from the 40's/50's for faithful fans is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe if you included some of that music
ReplyDeleteyour current fans will come to know and appreciate it. There are singers today who do
perform some very nice music, Josh Grobin, Michael Bubble, Michael Finestein etc, but
even those are not played. I suppose that the Music of our life is now gone from your station, replaced by the same music that can be heard on other stations.