In April 2023, Audacy Inc. announced that would be closing its Warwick, R.I., office and consolidating its operations with its larger Boston hub, ceasing a 19-year term of sales and marketing independence for a simulcast partner of Sports Talk WEEI.
Audacy is now moving forward with the sale of that Rhode Island FM.
An LMS filing is forthcoming that will offer full details on the terms of the sale of WVEI-FM 103.7 in Westerly, R.I., a 37kw Class B facility that on clear days can be heard as far as the Berkshires while focusing on eastern Connecticut, the entire state of Rhode Island, and the Massachusetts communities of New Bedford and Fall River.
The buyer is Ocean State Media, and it marks a big step forward in gaining a single FM home. As of today, Ocean State Media uses a network of five frequencies to serve public radio listeners across Rhode Island and parts of southeastern Massachusetts. “With this move, listeners will no longer need to change channels to continue hearing Ocean State Media as they travel throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts,” said Pam Johnston, President/CEO of Ocean State Media. “Once approved, audiences can tune to a single frequency for a clear, high-quality broadcast, advancing our commitment to delivering distinctly local news and information more effectively and efficiently across the region.”
What remains unclear is the future of the five stations Ocean State Media uses today. In a statement, the operator noted that the transaction will reduce “five frequencies to one.”
What is clear is that Ocean State Media is paying $4.9 million to Audacy, with an arrangement allowing the purchase to be financed over a period of time.
Prior to 2004, the WEEI simulcast partner was WWRX, which in its latter years aired an Alternative format against WBRU under the ownership of Stephen Mindich’s former Phoenix Media operation, pairing WWRX with WFNX in Boston. WVEI was acquired by Audacy predecessor Entercom for $14.5 million.
The change of WVEI to NPR programming is expected to take place in roughly 90 days.
