PA, MD Radio: Connoisseur Media Sells-Off Another Signal

Connoisseur Media has agreed to sell Classic Rock 94.3 WQCM-FM, licensed to Greencastle, Pa., and serving the Hagerstown/Chambersburg market, to Family Life Ministries, Inc., a New York nonprofit Christian broadcaster. The deal is pending Federal Communications Commission approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The sale would take the market’s classic rock station off Connoisseur’s roster and give Family Life a new outlet for its Christian format in south-central Pennsylvania. Family Life approached Connoisseur about the station as it looks to expand coverage in the region, pairing WQCM with a signal it recently bought in Hershey.

“We were approached by Family Life Ministries, who wanted to expand their Christian formatted radio broadcasts into the Hagerstown/Chambersburg market. We already have three other strong stations serving the market, so we were open to discussions,” said Jeff Warshaw, founder and CEO of Connoisseur Media.

Rick Snavely, president and CEO of Family Life Ministries, said the station fits that expansion. “Family Life is excited to expand its coverage in south central PA as WQCM will be a nice addition to our recently purchased signal in Hershey,” he said. “Family Life’s programming that combines Contemporary Christian music, relevant Bible teaching, family-oriented drama, and news from a biblical worldview, has been widely received over Family Life’s 43-year history of broadcasting.”

Connoisseur will keep its other three stations in the market: Hot AC Mix 95.1 WIKZ in Chambersburg, CHR Live 96.7 WDLD in Halfway, Md., and Oldies 96.3, which includes 800 WCHA and translator 96.3 W242BY in Chambersburg and 1410 WHAG in Halfway. WQCM is a Class A FM operating at 3,500 watts, the weakest FM signal in Connoisseur’s local cluster. A launch date and branding for Family Life’s programming on 94.3 have not been announced.

Michael J. Bergner, doing business as Bergner & Co., was the exclusive broker. Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP represented Connoisseur Media. Hardy, Carey, Chautin & Balkin LLP represented Family Life Ministries.

The transaction continues Family Life’s recent growth in Pennsylvania, following purchases of stations in the state from Cumulus Media and Forever Media’s Froggy 104.3/105.5 in Pittsburgh. It also fits a broader reshuffling of former Alpha Media properties under Connoisseur, which in July sold a 94.5 frequency in California’s Bay Area to Christian broadcaster K-LOVE for $2 million.