In a concurrent development, “Radio Park,” two adjacent properties on Santanoni Avenue associated with WNBZ, has been taken off an Essex County tax auction list, according to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.
The application also includes a right of first refusal on the sale of WLPW, which Morgan’s company used to broadcast from Lake Placid at 105.5 FM. Should Morgan revive WLPW, North Country radio could buy it for $25,000 within 30 days.
Morgan’s WNBZ-FM operates out of the Gateway Building on Durkee Street in Plattsburgh and broadcasts on Translator W290AT 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh and 106.3 FM in the Saranac Lake area.
On June 17 this year, Morgan applied to the FCC for permission for the station to go silent since a transmitter was broken. The FCC granted Morgan permission, allowing him to retain the broadcast license until June 2018.
Of the five frequencies associated with Saranac Lake Radio, only WNBZ’s FM version continues to broadcast, with an automated playlist. The others have gone silent. Morgan bought the 1240-AM and 106.3-FM operations from Jim and Keela Rogers in 1998, and he later bought WIRD-AM, WLPW-FM and WRGR-FM (broadcast from Tupper Lake) from the Nardiello family of Lake Placid.
PLEASE! DON'T LET WNBZ DIE! PLEASE? It's one of my ever-disappearing connections to my HOME state! (Seeing this report and the one on Media Confidential just brought me to tears. I went into an actual depression when I thought I'd lost WNBZ. I'm in VT, doing EVERYTHING I CAN to get back HOME, and just listening to WNBZ has been my strength.)
ReplyDeleteI'll be following (on Twitter in particular) the up-dates. Let us know what we can do to help keep WNBZ alive. OK? Please?
Great News - 1240-AM WILL BE RETURNING! As of several days ago, the FCC has approved the transfer of the license to North Country Radio, Inc (the company that currently operates WSLP-93.3 in the Tri-Lakes). The plan is to bring the station back in the Spring (2018). The station will be similar to what WNBZ used to do, but will have different call letters. Look for morning news blocks as before, focusing on LOCAL, regional and national news. Extensive locally focused information on events and sports is also in the works. Hang in there - we're coming back as soon as we can! In the meantime you can contact the WSLP office in Lake Placid at 518-523-4900 for more information.
DeleteRest easy - 1240AM IS COMING BACK! The FCC has approved the transfer and North Country Radio (the company that runs WSLP, 93.3FM) hopes to have the station back up and running in the Spring of 2018! Much of what you loved will return (local, regional, national news) and more. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you can contact WSLP at 518-523-4900
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