Sale of Anastos Albany radio quartet over the finish line

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SoldNew York City TV news anchor Ernie Anastos is now officially out of the radio business as Joe Reilly’s Empire Broadcasting Corporation closed on the acquisition of Anastos’ one-FM, three AM cluster. In the case of the FM, Reilly is going back home.


According to broker Frank Boyle, who along with Dick Sharpe represented the buyer and assisted members of both sides of the negotiating table, Reilly sold WQAR-FM to Anastos some 14 years ago.

Also included in the deal: WABY-AM, WUAM-AM and WVKZ-AM. The $1.2M deal was filed with the FCC 6/13/12.

Reilly isn’t the only principal of EBC – also listed as owners are Joseph C. Tardy, Neerav R. Patel, Eugene E. Napierski, Anthony P. Hazapis and Thomas R. Tyrrell.

If there is a particular oddity to this particular collection of stations, it is that fact that it includes a Class A, a B, a C and a D. Here’s a look at the facilities now owned by Empire.

* WQAR-FM Stillwater NY is the A, on 101.3 MHz with 2.9 kW @ 469’. It’s an AC station with a contour that is similar to WABY’s nighttime signal – in other words, it is not a full-market FM.
* WABY-AM Mechanicsville NY is the B, operating on 1160 kHz with 5 kW-D, 570 W-N, ND. It plays standard and hits the market pretty well during the days, with more of a northern orientation at night.
* WVKZ-AM Schenectady NY is the C, on 1240 kHz with 1 kW-U, ND. It’s oldies format is Schenectady-oriented, in the northeastern quadrant of the market, with a primary signal that only hits portions of Albany.
* WUAM-AM Watervliet NY is the D, a 900 kHz facility with 400 W-D, 70 W-N, ND. It’s a newser, and although it doesn’t pack a lot of power, its signal is nicely centered in the market.