West Virginia Radio Corp. is asking the FCC for a waiver of local ownership limits so it can provide programming to five financially struggling stations owned by AJG Broadcasting in the Morgantown-Clarksburg-Fairmont market. The proposed time brokerage agreement would give West Virginia Radio attributable interests in nine commercial stations—three more than current rules allow—and seven FMs, exceeding the four-FM limit.
Company President and CEO George Pelletier argued in the filing that the AJG stations are not viable on a stand-alone basis and could be forced to go silent without the operating efficiencies and cost savings of the arrangement. “The most immediate public interest benefit of the proposed arrangement is the one most easily stated: the AJG stations are not financially viable on a stand-alone basis, and the TBA is what would permit them to continue serving their communities,” he wrote.
Under the deal, AJG would remain the licensee and retain ultimate control over finances, personnel, and programming. West Virginia Radio would supply programming under a long-term brokerage agreement. The stations involved are AJG’s rock “100.1/102.3 Rocks” (WCLG/WBTQ), classic hits “Fun 93.1” (WFGM), and classic country “104.9 Superstar Country” (WPDX-FM and its simulcast on WPDX 1300). A currently silent AJG station, WBUC (1460), is not included.
These would be paired with West Virginia Radio’s existing properties: country WKKW (97.9), CHR “Channel 102” (WVAQ), classic hits “Sky 106.5” (WWLW), and news-talk stations WKMZ (103.3) and WAJR (1440). The market currently has 26 full-power stations held by 11 ownership groups; all 11 would remain after the arrangement.
Beyond preserving the stations, West Virginia Radio said coordinating programming would allow it to introduce formats neither company currently offers and expand local sports coverage so more events can be carried to a larger audience. It did not specify the new formats or the exact amount of additional sports programming.
Pelletier acknowledged the proposal significantly exceeds FCC ownership caps but argued the rules do not account for the market’s unusual competitive dynamics. Morgantown sits near the Pennsylvania border, where nine commercial stations from the Pittsburgh area reach into the region and compete for listeners and advertisers without being counted in the metro. Using adjusted revenue figures, the companies projected the combined operation would account for roughly 60.7% of a broader competitive market once a portion of Pittsburgh station revenue is factored in.
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| George Pellatier |
These would be paired with West Virginia Radio’s existing properties: country WKKW (97.9), CHR “Channel 102” (WVAQ), classic hits “Sky 106.5” (WWLW), and news-talk stations WKMZ (103.3) and WAJR (1440). The market currently has 26 full-power stations held by 11 ownership groups; all 11 would remain after the arrangement.
Beyond preserving the stations, West Virginia Radio said coordinating programming would allow it to introduce formats neither company currently offers and expand local sports coverage so more events can be carried to a larger audience. It did not specify the new formats or the exact amount of additional sports programming.
Pelletier acknowledged the proposal significantly exceeds FCC ownership caps but argued the rules do not account for the market’s unusual competitive dynamics. Morgantown sits near the Pennsylvania border, where nine commercial stations from the Pittsburgh area reach into the region and compete for listeners and advertisers without being counted in the metro. Using adjusted revenue figures, the companies projected the combined operation would account for roughly 60.7% of a broader competitive market once a portion of Pittsburgh station revenue is factored in.