Salem Media Group is selling Conservative Talk “94.5 The Answer” WGTK-FM Greenville and Classic Hits simulcast “Earth-FM” 103.3 WRTH Greer/95.5 WLTE Powdersville SC to Educational Media Foundation.
EMF will pay $6,775,000 for the three stations with a network affiliation agreement to take place before closing. WGTK-FM will join EMF’s Christian AC “K-Love” network, while WRTH and WLTE will become Contemporary Worship “Air 1“. K-Love is only available in the market in parts of Spartanburg on 88.3 WLXK Boiling Springs NC.
Salem will retain ownership of Gospel “Rejoice 96.9” W245CH Travelers Rest and leased Spanish CHR “Poder 102.9” W275BJ Greenville SC, which will continue to be fed via WGTK-HD3 and WGTK-HD4 respectively.
Salem recently completed the move and upgrade of 95.5 WLTE from 95.9 in Pendleton in July moving it closer to Greenville. WRTH/WLTE registered a 2.4 share in the July 2023 Nielsen Audio ratings. It’s demise will leave the market without a Classic Hits outlet as SummitMedia flipped “Awesome 99.5” W258CB to Hip Hop in April.
WGTK-FM also had a 2.4 share in July. It leaves Audacy’s recently upgraded “98.9 WORD” WYRD-FM as the only full-market Talk outlet. It had a 5.7 share in July.
Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM) announced today that it entered into an agreement to transfer the ownership of its Greenville-Spartanburg stations, WGTK-FM, WRTH-FM, and WLTE-FM to Educational Media Foundation (EMF).
Salem Media CEO David Santrella stated, “We have enjoyed our years in the Greenville-Spartanburg market but have made the strategic decision to divest our interests there. As we do, we are grateful to be able to place these signals in the hands of Educational Media Foundation (EMF) who share a like-minded mission with Salem through their music programming. We are also thankful to our Greenville-Spartanburg staff for their many years of service.”