Ten years ago, Clear Channel made a bold statement by bringing the Cradle of Liberty its first Spanish-language radio station, as “Rumba” took the 104.5 MHz signal. The move proved to be unsuccessful, and 10 months later the station became Alternative WRFF. Now, a local operator is bringing Tropical tunes to the market.
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In a deal valued at $500,000, Hope Christian Church of Marlton is selling W289AZ, at 105.7 MHz, in Camden, N.J., to Mega-Philadelphia LLC, headed by Michael Sciore.
Mega-Philadelphia is the operator of WEMG-AM 1310, a locally focused station playing Tropical music including bachata, salsa and Latin pop.
The translator is already bringing the WEMG signal to Philadelphia via W289AZ, thanks to an LMA put in place on or about Labor Day, a station representative tells RBR + TVBR.
Mega has given Hope Christian Church a $50,000 deposit as downpayment; the remainder is due via wire transfer at closing.
There was no broker involved in this transaction.
WEMG has served the Philadelphia market’s Hispanic community since 1996, when Mega Communications – headed by Alfredo Alonso – acquired the facility now known as WURD-AM 900 — for $1.5 million. WEMG moved to the 1310 kHz facility following WURD’s sale in 2002 for $8.5 million.
Mega airs a live and local presentation in all dayparts; it had been an affiliate of the syndicated morning show hosted by Luis Jiménez.
