Ohio Midlands Newsgroup completed its flip of Classic Rock “Rocky 96.5” WRQY Moundsville/Wheeling WV to Rock as “Rage 96.5” at 3pm today.
Launching with Five Finger Death Punch’s “Darkness Settles In”, the move reverts the shift to Classic Rock former owner Forever Media made in March 2018. Former WRQY afternoon host ‘Mad Max’ has returned to the station in his former daypart.
The company has also flipped Classic Country “Willie 1290/100.1” WLIE Bellaire OH/W261DH Wheeling to Conservative Talk as “River Talk” simulcasting 1430 WEIR/100.9 W265ED Weirton WV and 94.9 W235BX Toronto OH. The “Willie” brand remains available in the Wheeling market on Forever Media’s 103.5 WLYI Burgettstown PA. Both brands previously co-existed with WLIE superserving the Wheeling market, while WLYI targeted its advertising towards the larger Pittsburgh market.
Ohio Midland Newsgroup (owners of The River Radio at 106.3 and River Talk at 1430 and 100.9) announces the acquisition of four radio stations in the Wheeling, West Virginia market. Those stations include: WBGI-Biggie radio at 100.5; WLIE-Willie at 1290 and 100.1 now referred to as River Talk; WUKL-Kool FM at 105.5; and WRQY-Rocky radio at 96.5 now referred to as The Rage.
It is our goal to not only maintain the local announcers and local content but to grow in that area to further inform, entertain, and connect with our listeners and they, in turn, are connected to their immediate surroundings in our valley.
Original Report 11/14: After closing on its $885,000 purchase of four of Forever Media’s Wheeling WV properties earlier this month, Cody Barack’s Ohio Midlands Newsgroup is preparing a change at Classic Rock “Rocky 96.5” WRQY Moundsville WV.
WRQY has crossed the “Classic” part out of its logo and is teasing a change for Monday, November 15 at 3pm.
WRQY flipped from a Sports/Active Rock hybrid to Classic Rock in March 2018 as it became the launch affiliate for Westwood One’s “Classic Rock X” network focusing on harder rock from the 70s through mid-90s. Despite the change, it has remained well behind iHeartMedia’s market leading Rock “Eagle 107.5” WEGW. WEGW led Wheeling in the Spring Nielsen Audio ratings with a 10.1 share, while WRQY trailed with a 3.9.
