It’s a Class D daytime-only AM radio station that must power down after dark to protect distant Class A KOA-AM in Denver, and in recent times has been home to the Spanish-language Adult Regional Mexican Hits “Juan” format. Now, it is being donated to Hudson Valley radio station operator Bud Williamson.
Williamson, known for his now-defunct string of Jazz-formatted FM translators across the Mid-Hudson Region of New York and today for Classic Hits “WALL Radio,” is getting the license of WAXB-AM 850 in Ridgefield, Conn., from The Berkshire Broadcasting Corp.
Williamson’s Hudson Valley Public Radio, a non-profit that sees WKZE-FM 98.1 co-owner Katie Berghorn as a 25% interest holder (as is Williamson), is earning the facility. The other 25% interest holders are Juli Williamson and Berghorn’s business partner at Americana-focused WKZE, which serves Dutchess and Ulster Counties in New York and Litchfield County, Conn., Andrew Gladding.
What does the future hold for WAXB? The answer could come from WJZZ, which is licensed to HVPR. At present, it is airing a dance-music presentation as “Pulse 87” on its Class A 88.1 MHz signal best heard in rural areas of Orange County, N.Y.
Expansion of WJZZ to WAXB may be in the works.
