By Adam R Jacobson
RBR + TVBR Editor-In-Chief
The Andrulonis family in recent weeks has made it clear that it loves the Carolinas, thanks to its recent acquisitions of stations in North and South Carolina (RBR + TVBR 9/21/2016).
In late August, their Colonial Media + Entertainment announced that it reacquiring Class C WFAY-AM 1230, a 1kw facility with one tower, in Fayetteville, NC; and Fort Bragg-targeted Class C simulcast partner WFBX-AM 1450, in north-suburban Spring Lake, NC — along with their respective FM translators at 100.1 MHz and 92.5 MHz — for $777,641. The stations serve the market as “ESPN Fayetteville.”
Now it’s made it clear that it’s fallen out of love with East Carolina University, following another National Anthem protest at a sporting event that has caused a divisive rift between those protesting racial injustices in the U.S. and others who find such action disrespectful.
Jeff Andrulonis, Chairman/CEO of Colonial Media, falls into the latter group.
RBR + TVBR OBSERVATION (in full below, for members only): Could Colonial’s decision to black out Saturday’s ECF-USF football game start a trend among broadcasters who are equally as livid over these protesters? Perhaps. Is that a bad thing? No: It’s freedom of speech.
