In late June RBR+TVBR first told readers about Dartmouth College’s decision to place its 6kw Class A FM, branded as “99Rock,” on the market.
The commercially licensed radio station that is advertiser-driven doesn’t shy from loud, hard rock. Soon, it will be up to a new owner to determine whether or not acts such as Seether, Godsmack and Alice in Chains will remain on the station’s playlist.
With veteran station trader George Kimble of Kozacko Media Services serving as the exclusive broker in this transaction, WFRD-FM in Hanover, N.H., is being sold to Sugar River Media.
A $225,000 price was agreed to, with John Landry signing off on the FM’s purchase for Sugar River, a 50/50 partnership between him and Bob Landry.
A $30,000 escrow payment is being held by Kozacko Media Services.
With WFRD, Sugar River will grow its stable to five, as it also owns WUVR-AM 1490 in Lebanon, N.H.; WNTK-FM 99.7 in New London, N.H.; WCVR-AM in Randolph, Vt.; and WCNL-AM in Newport, N.H.
Dartmouth says the sale proceeds will be used to support “WDCR,” which is not to be confused with Decatur Catholic Radio and its WDCR-FM. Student-run “WDCR” had been an on-air AM from 1958 through 2010.
The sale of WFRD will result in the loss of one staff position, the college said earlier this year.
Why is Dartmouth selling WFRD? “The station has been operating at a financial loss for a number of years,” it says. “In addition, student involvement in the commercial station has waned.”
