If you’re looking for “The Answer” to questions surrounding the future of a Class B AM with 10kw during daylight hours and 1kw at night, from 3 towers visible from the U.S. 301 and VA-288 interchange, look no further than John Frederick.
He’s a disruptor. Literally. And, his growing conservative Talk operation is readying its entry into the capital of the Old Dominion.
Fredericks is the Managing Member of Chesapeake, Va.-based Disruptor Media, which signed off March 11 on an asset purchase agreement that will give it ownership of WNTW-AM 820 in Chester, Va., serving the Richmond market.
Also included in the deal: FM translator W224EB, at 92.7 MHz in Chester. The signal covers the town, sandwiched between Richmond and Petersburg, and does not reach either city.
WNTW has been a 24/7 station since its relocation from 1410 MHz in 1988. It had been “The Answer,” airing Salem Radio Network syndicated talk shows, from June 2, 2014.
Now, it is poised to become a key station in Fredericks’ fledgling MAGA Radio Network, using the dba name Common Sense Media.
News of the MAGA network first surfaced in October 2019, when Fredericks’ entity acquired WJFN-FM 100.5 in Goodland, Va., from Truth Broadcasting Corp. for $155,000 through an LMA-to-buy opportunity forged in October 2018.
Fredericks is the host of the WJFN morning show, and is marketed as “America’s Godzilla of the truth.”
Truth is led by Stuart Epperson, son of Salem founder and chairman Stuart W. Epperson.
Perhaps he had a conversation with Nancy Epperson about selling the Richmond AM and FM translator to Fredericks.
That’s because WNTW and W224EB are licensed to Delmarva Educational Association, of which she serves as President.
Fredericks is paying $240,000 for the properties.
Terms call for a land lease for the tower site property, which calls for a 10-year initial term (with two five-year renewals) with $600 per month rent at 4% annual escalation, lessor responsible for ground maintenance, and a right of first refusal granted to Fredericks.
Equipment includes a Harris DX-10 main AM transmitter and an Orban 9100B AM audio processor.
Serving as legal counsel for Fredericks is Davina Sashkin of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth.
