On October 14, 2025, longtime multicultural radio broadcasting pioneer Sima Birach died at the age of 86. Now, his son has taken the helm at Birach Broadcasting, and he’s signed off on the acquisition of an FM translator with a translator holding a construction permit for a transmitter atop the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago.
Birach is acquiring W244BQ in Park Ridge, Ill., which is being sold by Jim White‘s Ohana Del Sol for $1 million.
That’s a nice profit for White, who acquired the FM translator from Edgewater Broadcasting in a deal announced in March 2023 carrying a $315,000 price tag.
W244BQ has seen several owners across the last decade, including Richard Bonick’s Spectrum Development Group, which used it to rebroadcast WLEY-FM HD2 a decade ago. Under Edgewater ownership, the “K-LOVE” Christian Contemporary Music format used W244BQ to reach the Loop.
Terms call for Birach Broadcasting, led today by Sima Birach Jr., to pay a $250,000 deposit being held in the trust account of Shainis & Peltzman. An additional $250,000 will be paid in cash at closing, at which time a Promissory Note will be entered into that sees Birach pay the remaining $500,000 in installments totaling 1 year, at 6% interest.
Equipment includes a GatesAir Fax 500 transmitter.
