Rowan College at Burlington County has announced it will sign-off Eclectic “Z88.9” WBZC Pemberton/95.1 W236AF Burlington NJ on Thursday, January 18.

The station’s programming will relaunch online on January 22 as “RCBC Radio“. While the new incarnation of the station will be focused on the school’s students and prepare interested students to transfer to the affiliated Rowan University, the community volunteer DJ’s have been offered to remain on RCBC Radio.

WBZC was best known nationally when it was one of a handful of stations in the country focusing on Dance music, however many of its Freeform Rock programs have been on the station since its sign-on in 1995.

No word yet on what will happen to WBZC and W236AF after the school ends its programming. Rowan College at Burlington County, formerly known as Burlington County College, sold 100.7 W264BH Mount Holly NJ to Spectrum Development Group in July 2017 for $125,000. The translator is currently in the process of being moved closer to Philadelphia.

Rowan College at Burlington County is modernizing its radio programming with the launch of RCBC Radio – an online station that will give students real-world experience with 21st century technology.

“As a growing number of people are listening to radio through online streams, RCBC Radio will provide a modernized experience for both communications students and our listening audience,” said RCBC Acting President Michael Cioce. “The new RCBC Radio will preserve the programming that makes Z88.9 special while using current technology.”

RCBC will launch at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 at rcbc.edu/radio. Z88.9’s final broadcast will air 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18.

RCBC Radio’s priority will be on students. It will be located at the Mount Laurel Campus in Laurel Hall, home of RCBC’s Liberal Arts Division, to align with the division’s Entertainment Technology Program. Radio Production is part of this program, which has a seamless transfer path to Rowan University’s Radio, Television and Film program.

Current Radio Operations Manager Jay Varga, who has more than a decade of experience in commercial radio on CBS stations such as WYSP and WIP, and WAYV in Atlantic City, will lead RCBC radio and teach radio production. The station’s volunteer and student DJs have been invited to take their programs to the new online format.

“RCBC Radio will remain a community resource,” Varga said. “The station has led students to careers at media outlets including Boom 103.9 FM, NJ Advance Media and NBC Sports Philadelphia. RCBC Radio will continue to build on that legacy by providing a modern experience that our listeners can enjoy anywhere they like.”

To celebrate more than 20 years of Z88.9, the station will hold its final “Festival of Music on Your Radio,” from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. Former Z889 DJs are invited to participate in this broadcast. Any interested Z88.9 DJ may contact Jay Varga at [email protected] to reserve a spot on the final broadcast.