Wccc-Fm Hartford To Be Sold(Rock Of Conn. To Rock Of Ages...)

A sale and format change are imminent at Marlin Broadcasting Classic Rock “Rock 106.9” WCCC-FM Hartford. The Hartford Courant reports that the WCCC staff were informed on Wednesday that they were out of a job as the station was being sold to a “not-for-profit organization that operates radio networks specializing in adult contemporary Christian music.” Word is EMF Broadcasting will be acquiring the station to add it to its Christian AC “K-Love” network. Outgoing morning host Jay Raven tweeted tonight that the airstaff would make their final appearances on Friday, August 1. WCCC-FM shifted from Active Rock to Classic Rock in March 2013 in a move that led to numerous listener protests. Despite those protests, the station has risen from the low 3 shares it registered in early 2013 to a 4.8 in the May 2014 Nielsen Audio PPM ratings. WCCC-FM gained additional competition earlier this month when Classic Hits 102.9 WDRC-FM shifted to Classic Rock. No word yet on the status of sister Classical 1290 WCCC West Hartford.

Read more at: http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/89584/wccc-fm-hartford-to-be-sold/

http://courantblogs.com/java/wccc-being-sold-talent-shown-the-door/

>>The official announcement isn’t expected until later this week, but the persistent rumors that Hartford’s WCCC 106.9 is being sold appear to be true.

Staff including “Miss Klonk” and “J. Raven” were among those advised Wednesday that they were out of jobs as Boston-based Marlin Broadcasting prepares to close on the sale to a not-for-profit organization that operates radio networks specializing in adult contemporary Christian music.

Klonk posted on her personal Facebook page “10 years gone” as friends responded to both comments, lamenting the end of yet another Hartford radio tradition.

“Say it ain’t so,” and “an end of an era” were just some of the dozens of comments that began quickly appearing on Facebook shortly after word got out about the dismissals.

Tanger did not return calls left for him on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The sale comes just weeks after another major radio station in the Hartford Area, WDRC was sold by Buckley Broadcasting to Connoisseur Media.

A year ago, devoted fans of WCCC were more than upset when Marlin added “old rock” to its signature “new rock ” format. Longtime listeners were so upset that they held protest rallies and began a Facebook page titled “Save the Rock: CT Radio” in hopes the station would return to its signature format.

There have been lots of sales and company mergers in the radio business in recent years.

I’ve heard that radio station earnings are way down. Competition from satellite radio and devices like IPODS are cutting into audience. Which in turn cuts into ad revenue if audience is smaller.

Anecdotal evidence is that radio stations are running many more commercials than they used to. Perhaps to compensate for loss of audience. But too many commercials can start to drive away even more listeners.

Anecdotal evidence is also that many AM stations sell airtime on weekends for infomercials. Everything from real estate shows to lawyer shows to shows promoting vitamins for our health. All those sorts of shows are paid for by sponsors hoping to sell a product of some kind. The only way a radio station makes money is by selling airtime.

The radio business is really changing. This sale is just part of that.

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