If all goes as planned, local classical music fans will be able to keep listening to their favorite radio programming on WCRB-FM. But instead of tuning into 102.5 as they now do, they'll turn to another frequency on the FM dial, 99.
5.
The current WCRB-FM is being sold to Greater Media, which owns 19 radio stations, including five in Boston. Much speculation has surrounded the station's fate -- and its classical format.
But it appears the format will live on, if on a station that's more difficult to hear in the city.
The Globe has learned that Greater Media is in negotiations to sell its 99.5 frequency -- currently country music station WKLB-FM -- to New Jersey-based Nassau Broadcasting.
Greater Media would retain the WKLB call letters and country music format and switch them to 102.5, a stronger signal in Boston, said Heidi Raphael, Greater Media's director of corporate communications. In turn, Nassau hopes to launch a classical music format on 99.
5 -- and then apply to the Federal Communications Commission for the WCRB call letters.
Louis F. Mercatanti , president and CEO of Nassau Broadcasting, confirmed that negotiations are taking place and his intent to keep a classical WCRB on the air.
``We believe that there are a few markets in the country that do extremely well with classical, and Boston is certainly one of them," says Mercatanti. ``You have a unique market, a product that is a niche format so it doesn't have any competition, and you have a marketplace that wants the format to stay."
Nassau Broadcasting will buy the Lowell-based 99.
5 frequency, Mercatanti says . (WKLB's transmitter is in Andover). Raphael and Mercatanti both confirmed Greater Media's plans to move that station's country-music format over to the 102.
5 FM frequency. Once Nassau buys the 99.5 frequency -- a sale that should be completed next month -- the new owner can apply for the WCRB call letters.
Mercatanti says he also hopes to maintain WCRB's current staff.
While sales terms cannot dictate radio formats, Nassau has a strong history with commercial classical music. The privately held company, which owns 52 stations, including three on Cape Cod, has four classical stations in Maine.
Greater Media has spent several months finalizing its purchase of WCRB from Charles River Broadcasting. The purchase has been complicated by FCC regulations that limit the number of stations owned in a market. In Boston, the limit is five, and Greater Media already owns five: WTKK-FM (96.
9), WBOS-FM (92.9), WKLB, WROR-FM (105.7), and WMJX-FM (106.
7).
WCRB 102.5, licens ed to Waltham, broadcasts from a tower on Route 128 on the Newton-Needham line, thus the better reception for Boston residents.
Both WCRB and WKLB are currently licens ed to broadcast at 50,000 watts.
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