Radio-One is purchasing Wilks Broadcasting’s two remaining Columbus, OH stations for $2 million.
What were Sports “95.5 The Game” WZOH-FM Lancaster and Classic Country “K107.1” WHOK-FM Circleville will join a Radio-One cluster that includes Urban AC “Magic 106.3” WXMG London and Urban “Power 107.5” WCKX Columbus. Wilks sold their other Columbus station, Classic Rock “QFM 96” 96.3 WLVQ to Saga earlier this month.
Radio-One began operating both stations at 12am this morning and begun making programming changes. The Urban AC programming of WXMG is now simulcasting on 95.5 in preparation of moving there completely as “Magic 95.5“. 107.1 WHOK-FM will flip to Gospel “Joy 107.1” on Monday, November 16 at 5:00pm. Radio-One previously programmed Gospel with the “Joy” branding on 106.3 from 2000 until 2011.
Ryan Williams 
Charles Everett 
Nathan Obral 
kennedyideas 
Eric Kellam 
elcartero 
What then becomes of 106.3? Boom?
No. Radio One has made it clear that Rap Oldies is not a long-term solution.
The end of Sports on 95.5 does mean the Cleveland Browns lose their Columbus radio affiliate.
Unless the Browns affiliation contract is transferred to QFM, of course. But the team has stunk so badly this season that this qualifies as a public service.
I was going to ask the same question. My guess is they will simulcast for a while, but 106.3 is such a distant signal what could/would you do with it?
From a coverage standpoint the easiest play would be to simulcast Joy on 106.3 and 107.1. Considering the station continued to gain a 4.6 share on 106.3 despite an atrocious in-market signal, I wouldn’t be too swift on dropping the simulcast with 95.5 until they know that all the listeners have moved over.
So what 107.1 Classic Country? They sponsored the Country Fest in June 2016…are they going to different channel?
The Classic Country programming will end on Monday.
It already has! This is not crazy. Its been around a long time.
Good on R1 to add programming for a rather underserved Black adult population in the area, but it’s a little bittersweet for me because I used to love the classic country format when it was on 95.5 (listened online from Virginia). One might think “classic country? In Columbus, Ohio?” But there are a lot of people in the area with Kentucky and West Virginia roots, so it shouldn’t be so surprising that it did well for awhile. (And Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Paycheck, David Allan Coe, Bobby Bare? All Ohio guys.)
* Lance: could you delete this identical comment from “Game Over” in the Community section? I posted it there when I meant to do it here. Thanks.
It going to be missed K107.1 Classic County the person above is right! They dont need all this urban music they have enough of those stations already. I hope there be enough people complain about this. All it was about money!!