It was just two years ago that Altoona radio stations WVAM-AM and WPRR-FM were sold by Music Broadcasting, headed by Gary Gunton to Vital Licenses a group headed by Kristen Cantrell.
On Friday, it was announced that Forever Broadcasting, based out of Altoona, purchased the two stations in Altoona for the same $2.1 million price tag that Vital Licenses purchased the stations for in 2001.
Forever Broadcasting owns stations in Johnstown, Somerset, Meadeville, State College and Altoona radio stations WFGY (Froggy 98), WMAJ-FM (Majic 104.9), WALY (WALY 103.9) and WFBG-AM. Forever recently reached an agreement to sell its properties in Lima, Ohio.
Cantrell is the daughter Forever Broadcasting partner Kerby Confer.
“This will only improve our product,” said Cantrell who will stay on as General Manager of WVAM/WPRR and will have other stations added to her cluster.
“This will allow us to bring in new resources to grow and develop.”
Cantrell will also be an equity partner in Forever Broadcasting.
“The stations will continue business as usual,” said Cantrell.
“There is no plan on personnel or programming changes. We are going to do some things to enhance WVAM and regionalize our sales efforts. The possibilities are endless. There is the chance to do some neat and innovative things,” said Cantrell.
“We will be able to do that and keep things affordable. When you are a stand alone operation, working capital is tough to come by. With the sale, we will now have that capital.”
Forever Broadcasting Altoona General Manager Dave Davies did not return calls placed by The Daily Herald.
WRTA owner Rod Wolf, filed with the Federal Communications Commission, to block the sale from Music Broadcasting to Vital Licenses.
“This sale doesn’t change the picture for me,” said Wolf.
“Our station is competing against one big group instead of two. It doesn’t change the competitive picture for me.
“We are competing the same as we did in the past when Music Broadcasting owned WPRR/WVAM.”
With the change in regulations, Wolf questions the actions of the FCC.
“I don’t know what has happened to the FCC,” said Wolf.
“I believe that the FCC has opened Pandora’s Box and will eventually eliminate all independent ownership. I have been operating a stand-alone AM station for years. Sooner or later the big groups will wipe me out.”
The sale is pending approval of the FCC.
