Ozark radio station silent… for now
OZARK - WRJM 93.7 FM listeners who heard an earful of static instead of news talk on Wednesday might hear even more of the noise over the next few days.
But when the former news talk station does come back, it won’t be what it used to.
The Radio People general manager Ron Eubanks said the company is in the process of purchasing the station from bankruptcy state but that he hoped the station would be back on air by Monday.
Plans are to convert it to a country format and then convert 105.3 FM - currently a classic country format - to news talk. The station is expected to bring the syndicated talk shows of Bill O’Reilly and Neal Boortz from WRJM along with additions of Fox Sports and Dave Beck on the weekends, Eubanks said.
The station will no longer carry syndicated talk show host Shawn Hannity.
“Our signal overlaps with an AM station in Blakely, Ga., which would preclude” 105.3 from having Hannity, Eubanks said.
WRJM listener Richard Pfund said 93.7 was the only talk show resource he had in Enterprise.
“It cuts southeast Alabama from all of this (national) information ... I’d be forced to get satellite radio to get some news analysis,” he said.
An FCC spokesman was not reached for comment Wednesday, and a voicemail said Bill Carn, trustee of the 93.7 bankruptcy estate, was out of town.
Previous reports said changes at the 93.7 station would include four former WTVY-FM on-air personalities: Amie Pollard, Ken Carlile, Elizabeth Parrish and “Big” Mike Casey.
Officials said the personalities were among several who quit WTVY-FM on July 22 due to a dispute over management philosophy.
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Reader Reactions
For anyone who has not heard, Talk Radio 93.7 has been the victim of a hostile takeover and will not be back on the air. This station was truly a special part of the Wiregrass. For those of you who did not listen: it didn’t just broadcast the nationwide shows you could hear in any city, but had about 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening of LOCAL programming done by LOCAL people. It was about whatever the people in the “city” of “The Wiregrass” wanted to talk about, and this was what made it so special. I have lived in many larger cities but will never miss a radio station as much as I will miss this one.
To former owner and talk radio host Jack Mizell (the loser of this takover bid), you will be sorely missed. It was always extremely interesting to listen to you and your guests.
This was my post from another forum…
www.wiregrasslive.com
“The news is OK, but locals know better.“
This is just another example of the liberal media keeping a conservative opinion off the air.
What on earth are we going to do about the Shawn Hannity problem? Yes, I consider not hearing Hannity a problem. The world needs more voices of reason on the air. My “dream ticket”, O’Reilly/Hannity 2012.
What!!!! No Sean Hannity!!!!!!! I have been listening to 93.7 for 15yrs or more, and I cannot believe they are in this situation. I can deal with changing my radio dial, but losing Sean Hannity?? Nope, not gonna happen. I will tune in to an am station where I can get everyone I want. The Rose would have done better to lose Dead Drs., stay put on 93.7, and keep Sean. Shame on the powers that be for your poor, poor management!
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