Known for its commercial-free mix of classic artists from Johnny Cash to U2 and ZZ Top, Miller said he hopes the acquisition will allow the station to bring fresh programming to local airways.
“We have a belief in local issues and local news and weather. This isn’t syndicated content,” Miller said. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be thought of as new neighbors.”
The news was disappointing to Gary Lebo, Middletown High School athletic director, as WPFB broadcasts live from Middie games. He said losing that coverage will be “a loss for this community and athletic department.”
Sharpe said the station will not be “taking on additional staff” through the acquisitions. WPFB lists eight employees on its website. Doug Braden, owner and president of WPFB, said he couldn’t comment on what will happen to staff after the takeover.
There are nine full-time employees working for WNKU. The plans is to simulcast broadcasts on WPFB and WPAY’s existing signal channels out of the station’s Highland Heights headquarters in Kentucky, Miller said.
For now, the Kentucky station will operate WPFB and WPAY through a management agreement. The acquisition is awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which is expected to be completed in April or May, said Aaron Sharpe, spokesman for WNKU.
The two new stations will allow WNKU to triple its signal strength, reaching listeners as far as Dayton and Urbana. The station has long had a problem with its 12,000-watt signal from the NKU campus, and Sharpe said the acquisitions should allow southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky listens to hear its programming loud and clear.
“In expanding we also hope to grow our member base and eliminate our reliance on the university,” Sharpe said.
Right now, WNKU’s $1.1 million budget receives an annual $300,000 subsidy from the university.
Sharpe said with the new stations conservative estimates show the station could be financially self-sufficient in four years.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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