WALTON, N.Y. — It’s a small town on the western slopes of the Catskill Mountains and home in recent times for an AM that’s been one of several frequencies used in the region for “CNY News.” There is also an FM formerly home to Country music as the “Big Cat.”
At the start of 2025, a silent Special Temporary Authority request was submitted for the stations by its owner, “due to economic reasons in the market.” While Townsquare Media was unable to turn a profit, a small nearby regional operator led by Vince Benedetto feels he has the goods to make the pair a winning combination.
An asset purchase agreement has been filed with the Commission seeking its approval to transfer control of Class D WDLA-AM 1270 and Class A WDLA-FM 92.1 in Walton from Townsquare to Bold Gold Media Group.
With the acquisition, WDLA-FM will become a sibling to WHNB-FM 104.5 in Hancock, a simulcast of Country WDNB-FM “Thunder 102” in Jeffersonville. WDLA-AM is the lone local AM station licensed for lower Delaware County.
With Emilie de Lozier at Wilkinson Barker Knauer serving as the legal representative for Townsquare and Mark Denbo of Smithwick & Belendiuk handling the legal needs for Benedetto-led Bold Gold, publicly traded Townsquare accepted a $50,000 payment for the silent stations.
The deal was consummated on September 15, with a 10% deposit made to Townsquare.
Serving as the broker in the transaction is George Reed of Media Services Group, representing Townsquare Media.
With the FCC’s OK, Bold Gold will own and operate 17 full-power radio stations and 27 total broadcast frequencies across New York and Pennsylvania. The company has not yet announced format plans for the signals.
In comments supplied to Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink on Sunday, Benedetto said, “We have a deep love and connection to the Catskill Mountains and Delaware County, and we are very much looking forward to bringing our programming to the wonderful community of Walton. For a long time, we have had the privilege serving the neighboring town of Hancock, and very much look forward to extending our local programming to include even more of the residents of Delaware County.”
Dawn Ciorciari, General Manager of Bold Gold Media Group NY, added, “We’re excited to expand into Walton and have the opportunity to provide another community with our unique brand of locally focused radio. We look forward to serving Walton and Delaware County with the same local programming and community connection that Bold Gold is known for.”
