Ocean State Media, the parent organization of Public News/Talk “The Public’s Radio” and Rhode Island PBS, has announced it will acquire Sports “103.7 WEEI” WVEI-FM Westerly/Providence from Audacy.

Ocean State will pay $4.9 million for WVEI-FM. An application to convert the station to non-commercial operation and to change call letters at closing will be filed.

In the filing Audacy notes that petitions for reconsideration of its bankruptcy reorganization and comments made by members of the FCC and other political figures have made “statements critical of Audacy and its majority shareholder and affiliated individuals and entities” that could delay the FCC’s processing of the sale application as well as an Enforcement Bureau investigation into News 740 KCBS San Francisco not related to the station but that could also impact the FCC’s processing of the purchase.

Original Report 1/21: WVEI-FM has simulcast 93.7 WEEI-FM Boston since 2004. The move will allow Ocean State Media to cover most of Rhode Island with one signal as opposed to its hodgepodge of signals it currently airs on including 89.3 WNPN Newport, 89.5 WNPW Westerly, 90.7 WNPH Portsmouth, 102.7 WNPE Narragansett Pier, and 1290 WPVD/102.9 W275DA Providence.

President/CEO Pam Johnston said, “With this move, listeners will no longer need to change channels to continue hearing Ocean State Media as they travel throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Once approved, audiences can tune to a single frequency for a clear, high-quality broadcast, advancing our commitment to delivering distinctly local news and information more effectively and efficiently across the region.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed although the organization says the proposed transition from five frequencies to one will be made via a $4.9 million investment, financed over a period of time.

WVEI-FM was Audacy’s only station in the Providence market.