Update 8/3: As expected, 103.1 will flip to Spanish CHR “KQ 103” at 9pm tonight. The station will launch with 20,000 songs in a row. New WHKQ calls are in place as well.
Update 8/1: 103.1 WLOQ dropped its Smooth Jazz format at 12am and began stunting with all Elvis Presley music as “Elvis 103.1“.
The signs point to a Spanish CHR direction. KQ103.com was registered by one of the members of the new ownership group. The logo on what appears to be the new Facebook page for the station is identical to that of “KQ 105” WKAQ-FM San Juan, PR.
Since way too many people have been contacting us thinking we’re involved with the station, please make it known that we are not. The current Elvis programming is temporary and will soon be replaced by the new permanent format.
Original Report 7/13: Gross Communications has sold Smooth AC 103.1 WLOQ Orlando to TTB Media run by Eran Schreiber for $8 Million.
TTB is half owned by the Lindemann family that previously were partners in Mega Communications from 1998 to 2004 when they sold the group to Entravision. The group will be taking over WLOQ via a time brokerage agreement on Monday, August 1 until the sale closes.
Not included in the sale agreement is any of the intellectual property pertaining to the current format including the website and music library. Either WLOQ will move to a new frequency or will remain as an online-only entity.
I wonder if the current WLOQ owners might be able to lease a spot on an HD sidechannel station in Orlando to maintain a terrestrial radio presence — or if they would even be inclined to do so.
$8 million and change is actually a really good deal for a commercial class C2 station with city-grade coverage (10kw with a HAAT of 745′) in market #35. When you consider that Nashville Public Radio paid $3.35 million for a non-commercial class C2 station (10kw with a HAAT of 696′) in market #44 just last month [WRVU, now WFCL], I’d say that TTB Media got a good deal in the WLOQ license.
This is a strong demonstration of the bargains that are out there for buyers who have cash on hand. Anyone who has tried to borrow money from a bank recently likely has seen just how tight they are on lending money these days. But, for those with “dry powder” as it’s sometimes called, there might be some deals to be had in the right situation.
An HD2/Translator combo could make sense here. The Gross family is retaining ownership of WLOQ’s auxiliary tower, perhaps in order to place a translator on.
I will truely miss WLOQ becuase of this station I was on a Dave Koz cruise and had the time of my life seeing all the stars in person. The first time I heard Praful was on WLOQ and to meet him on the cruise along with Dave Koz others to include the late Wyman Tisdale was awesome.
When my friends would come for a visit from out of state they would ask what radio station is that your listening to I love it!
The smooth ride home was so soothing and relaxing I-4 was not as aggravating just sitting in my car chilling.
WLOQ gave Orlando a COOL Classy style and I will miss the sound of Cool it saddens me to see it go away..
San
I really hope WLOQ goes to someone’s HD. I will miss the format in Orlando.
First, congratulations to all the DJs of Smooth Jazz 103.1. They went off the air with total class. Their individual personalities as well as the great smooth jazz format will be sorely missed.
But – – – ELVIS??? Give me a break! Hopefully there will be a breakthrough in southern intelligence and we’ll soon have a classy smooth-jazz station again. Until then, I’ll be listening to smooth jazz streaming on my computer and have already changed my home morning station.
Actually I love Elvis. Elvis collection of records is versatile, so much so that one could listen a whole day without coming across an Elvis song twice.
But, WOLQ in my eyes started recently an unexpected growth of listeners perhaps without knowing it. The concept is excellent and I hope the team is coming back. It’s a lot more fun to listen to a good stereo than a Blackberry
That logo looks straight out of the 80s