Border Media and A&J Radio have launched Saratoga Radio LLC to acquire Silent 1160 WAIX Mechanicville NY and 93.3 W227DW Saratoga Springs from Empire Broadcasting Corporation for $100,000.
WAIX/W227DW will relaunch on May 15 as AC “Star Radio“. The launch will restore local commercial radio to Saratoga for the first time since Empire sold AC “101.3 The Jockey” WJKE to Educational Media Foundation in 2017.
Border Media is run by foreign ownership couple Ricki Lee and Hanna Kaleta which owns Classic Hits “102.1 Lake FM” WRGR in Tupper Lake, NY. A&J Radio operate operate WPLB, WXMS and WPLA in Plattsburgh and WVLZ and WKCE in Knoxville under the name Mid-Century Radio. Both companies will own a 50% stake of WAIX/W227DW.
Border Media, LLC & A&J Radio LLC today announced that they have formed a partnership, Saratoga Radio LLC, which has entered into an agreement to acquired WAIX-AM, Mechanicville, NY and it’s W227DW Saratoga Springs, NY FM translator construction permit from Empire Broadcasting Corporation.
Ricki Lee, Border Media: “We’ve been excited to announce this new partnership and acquisition for a while and I’m delighted to be able to finally talk about it. Border Media and A&J Radio have created a brand new equal partnership called Saratoga Radio LLC. We are preparing to launch a brand new radio service, serving Saratoga County which will be called Star Radio www.starsaratoga.com. We have also entered into an LMA with Empire Broadcasting and will take over programming WAIX from May 15, 2019 whilst the FCC process our application to complete the transaction.”
Saratoga Radio LLC expects to close on this transaction early summer.