No, it’s not a stunt.
A trio of FM radio stations left for dead by its previous owner following Hurricane Michael, which was just upgraded to a Category 5 storm, will each broadcast speeches from President Trump from today through the 2020 presidential election.
Classic Rock WRBA-FM 95.9, Country WKNK-FM “Hank FM” and Adult Hits WASJ-FM “BOB FM” are already offering the Trumpitudes, if you will, and there’s good reason for it, says Sam Rogatinsky.
Rogatinsky is the Fort Lauderdale-based attorney who is at the helm of Gulf Coast Media, created in December 2018 to allow Rogatinsky to purchase the three FMs from Powell Broadcasting Company.
As RBR+TVBR reported, Powell was faced with rebuilding the station’s facilities or abandoning them after Hurricane Michael lashed Bay County, Fla., causing significant damage to Powell’s facilities.
Powell elected the latter, even as one of the stations was being prepped for sale to Educational Media Foundation.
Gulf Coast emerged as the buyer, acquiring WASJ, WKNK and WRBA for $325,000.
Then came the rebuilding process — not only for Rogatinsky but for many in a traditionally conservative part of the Florida Panhandle.
Thus, when President Trump visited Panama City Beach this week and stood before residents to tell them he’d do everything he legally could to get more money to help them, the community responded with glee.
Rogatinsky is tapping in to this widespread gratitude toward the president.
In Panama City, Trump announced that because Hurricane Michael was now a Category 5 storm, locals would be eligible for reimbursement of up to 90% of the recovery costs; he announced an additional $448 million for the Hurricane Recovery Fund.
“People around the world think that Floridians are accustomed to getting battered by hurricanes and have for the most part ignored the huge losses experienced by people in Panama City and Bay County,” Rogatinsky said. “People have forgotten about us and the
community is so thankful that President Trump made it crystal clear that he was here to help us.”
Rogatinsky and local management realize that broadcasting the president’s speeches may not be consistent with conventional commercial FM radio. But, he says, “we have taken this approach to show the community’s sincere appreciation for President Donald Trump’s work in Panama City and Bay County.”
To be clear, it won’t be “all Trump, all the time.” He tells RBR+TVBR, “We are going to play two-minute sections throughout the day. We will keep it going as long as the listeners like it.”
