In November 2023, Steve Kingston made good on rumors that the future of Adult Alternative WRNR would again involve a broadcast radio signal as he paid $75,000 for FM translator W260BM in Annapolis, Md., from Hope Christian Church of Marlton Inc.
Now, Kingston has agreed to buy an Annapolis AM, bringing ‘RNR one step closer to reclaiming an over-the-air presence in Maryland’s capital.
With the November 2022 sale of what was WRNR’s 103.1 MHz facility in Graysonville, Md., to Peter & John Fellowship, Kingston hinted at a new beginning for WRNR, which had acquired much of the musical heritage of the former WHFS in recent years. However, with the licensing of FM translators and a shift from analog to digital broadcast technology, WRNR’s coverage of the more lucrative Baltimore metropolitan area became more difficult in recent years. This led to the decision to sell the Class A in Graysonville, shifting WRNR to an online-only brand.
Soon, WYRE-AM will become a fully owned simulcast partners, if you will, of “WRNR Online.”
Richard Dent is agreeing to sell the venerable Class D daytime-only operation at 810 kHz, which must power down during nighttime hours to protect WGY-AM in Schenectady, N.Y., and a facility in the Bahamas.
WYRE has been simulcasting WRNR.com’s stream for the past 12 months.
Kingston’s purchase of WYRE is being done through the newly created Cortona Media, which is the buyer of W260BM. The purchase price was not disclosed in FCC filings made Wednesday.
