For the first time in its 55-year history as Philadelphia’s 24/7 source for local news, KYW Newsradio will be heard across the region on crystal-clear FM. The station will begin broadcasting on 103.9 FM on Nov. 23 in addition to its longtime home on 1060 AM.
Entercom, KYW Newsradio’s Philadelphia-based parent company, will acquire WPHI-FM from Maryland-based Urban One as part of a transaction involving stations in multiple markets, Entercom announced Thursday.
KYW Brand Manager Alex Silverman told the Philly Business Journal the FM simulcast will expand the news station’s reach into parts of Bucks and Burlington counties, where the AM signal has been historically poor, adding that interference from wireless technology has created issues in other parts of the area as well.
“People in Bucks County would complain about that all the time,” Silverman said. “And that’s not good because it's the fastest-growing area in our market. Sometimes when you are driving into Center City, you get interference when you try to listen. Now people will be able to get a crystal clear FM signal and we’ll be able to reach more people.”
“This station is the heartbeat of the community and we’re really excited about serving more listeners while providing additional access on top of 1060 AM, RADIO.COM and smart speakers,” said David Yadgaroff, Entercom Philadelphia’s senior vice president and market manager.
The addition of WPHI 103.9 FM adds another platform to KYW Newsradio’s growing portfolio. The station will continue to be available on 1060 AM, on KYWNewsradio.com, on the RADIO.COM app, and by asking Alexa, Google, or Siri to “play KYW Newsradio.”
103.9 FM will expand KYW Newsradio’s over-the-air reach into parts of Bucks and Burlington counties, where the AM signal has been historically poor, Silverman said, adding that interference from wireless technology has created issues in other parts of the area as well.
“We’ve heard the feedback — and the static,” Silverman said. “We’re thrilled to be able to fix it for you in key parts of the area, including Center City.”
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| 103.9 FM (270 watts) |
We know, you’re wondering: KYW Newsradio’s iconic jingle isn’t going anywhere, but an updated version will herald the addition of 103.9 FM, said Yadgaroff.
“We have some other exciting developments in the works,” Silverman said. “Stay tuned.”
Despite the sale of WPHI, Urban One (NASDAQ: UONE) retains two Philadelphia FM stations 100.3 RnB (WNRB) and Classix 107.9 (WPPZ), which both play throw back R&B music. WPHI was a lower-rated station, ranking No. 24 in October for total listeners in the Philadelphia market. Urban One operates 55 radio stations and majority-owns the syndicator Reach Media as well as its digital arm Interactive One, and the cable network TV One.
KYW was ranked No. 6 in the October book, just behind news and talk station WHYY. Silverman said with Philadelphia the epicenter of a heated presidential election, KYW’s ratings have been especially strong this month.
The 103.9 FM frequency is made possible by a new agreement Entercom just announced with Urban One that will enhance its positions in three key markets.
Under the agreement, Entercom will acquire the following stations in Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.:
- WPHI-FM – Philadelphia
- Hot 104.1 (WHHL-FM) – St. Louis
- 980 The Team (WTEM-AM) – Washington D.C.
WPHI joins a group of station that also includes Sports WIP-FM 94.1, Hot Adult Contemporary WTDY-FM 96.5, Classic Hits WOGL-FM 98.1, Adult Contemporary WBEB-FM 101.1, and Talk WPHT-AM 1210.
The trade will see Urban One gain stations that were once part of the Jefferson-Pilot Communications, and, later, Lincoln Financial Media family: Class C 100kw Adult Contemporary WLNK-FM 107.9 “The Link;” News/Talk combo WBT-AM & FM, with a Class A AM at 1110 kHz and a Class C3 FM in Chester, S.C.; and Sports Talk Class B WFNZ-AM 610 — which has a translator at 102.5 kHz.
In return, Entercom is getting Class C2 WHHL-FM 104.1 in Hazelwood, Mo., known as “Hot 104.1,” and the intellectual property of WFUN-FM 95.5, “The Lou.” It airs the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and nighttime programming featuring R&B artist Al B. Sure.
Soon, that programming will shift to KNOU-FM 96.3, presently Top 40, Entercom announced late Thursday (11/5).
Entercom’s other St. Louis stations are Adult Contemporary KEZK-FM 102.5, Talk KFTK-FM 97.1, Hot Adult Contemporary KYKY-FM “Y98” and News/Talk KMOX-AM 1120.
Additionally, Entercom is gaining Class B WTEM 980 AM in Washington, D.C., a Sports Talker branded as “The Team” that bolsters its presence in the market, and WPHI-FM 103.9 in Jenkintown, Pa., a Class A serving the Philadelphia market.
In Washington, D.C., WTEM joins a group of stations comprised of Sports WJFK-FM, Classic Hits WIAD-FM “94.7 The Drive,” WLZL-FM “El Zol 107.9” and Spanish-language sports WJFK-AM 1580, “El Zol Deportes.”
Entercom will continue to carry some of Reach Media's syndicated programming, including The Morning Hustle, R&B with Al B. Sure, and The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, allowing Urban One to continue to connect with its St. Louis listeners. Urban One and Entercom will begin operating the stations on November 23, 2020, under a Local Marketing Agreement.
“By adding three best in class general market formats (Adult Contemporary, Sports, News and Talk) to our existing cluster of stations (WPZS-FM, WOSF-FM, and WONC-FM) that super-serve the Black and Urban consumer, Urban One will be a dominant player across all segments of the growing Charlotte market,” Alfred Liggins, President and CEO, Urban One, said in a press release. “The ability to build scale with a complete market offering in multiple genres is what makes this deal so exciting. Rationalizing our portfolio of radio stations in this manner also helps us continue our strategy of de-leveraging the business."
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