Entercom announced a letter of intent has been signed to have 11 Nassau Broadcasting stations carry the programming content of Entercom’s Sports/Talk WEEI-AM Boston throughout New England. And, in a separate letter of intent, Entercom and Nassau agreed to form a joint venture to own and operate Nassau’s Classical WCRB-FM in Boston.
Entercom has already extended the WEEI brand to three markets on its wholly owned stations: WEEI-FM in Providence, WVEI-FM in Springfield, MA, and WVEI-AM in Worcester, MA. Now Nassau will carry that brand to 11 stations in five more markets: Portland, ME; Cape Cod, MA; Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction, NH-VT; Concord, NH; and Montpelier-Barre-St. Johnsbury, VT.
As for WCRB, the deal will maintain its heritage Classical format in the Boston market. Entercom will make an as-yet-unspecified cash investment and own 50% of the station. Entercom currently owns two AMs and three FMs in Boston.
"We could not be more pleased with our new partnership with Nassau Broadcasting, but the big winners today are millions of listeners across New England. Nassau and Entercom have come together to preserve WCRB and its cherished Classical format that has provided a home for the arts for hundreds of thousands of listeners in the greater Boston area. In addition, we will be bringing America’s #1 sports radio station to millions of listeners throughout New England for the first time," said Entercom CEO David Field in a joint announcement.
"After our acquisition of the station less than a year ago, we have been overwhelmed by the positive response from our listeners with regards to both our preservation of the Classical format in Boston and the improvements we have made to enhance the station and its programming. Now, as partners with Entercom, the premier broadcaster in Boston, we believe that both our listeners and advertisers will benefit greatly from the partnership," added Nassau CEO Lou Mercatanti.
