ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997               TAG: 9701170079
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: A-6  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER

FCC TO CONSIDER RADIO DEAL POPULAR STATIONS MAY GET ONE OWNER

Two of the Roanoke Valley's powerhouse FM radio stations will come under single ownership if the Federal Communications Commission approves the deal announced Thursday.

K92 - whose call letters are WXLK (92.3 FM) - is being acquired by Mel Wheeler Inc., which already owns Q99 (WSLQ, 99.1 FM) and WSLC (610 AM).

Leonard Wheeler, vice president of WSLC/WSLQ-FM, said Thursday that his company doesn't expect to make any major changes at either operation. "You don't buy as successful a station as K92 is and look to make changes," Wheeler said.

Wheeler declined to reveal terms of the deal, including the sale price. It will become a matter of public record, however, in the process of seeking approval from FCC regulators, which could take two to four months.

The two FM stations consistently draw strong ratings in the Roanoke-Lynchburg radio market, which is the 101st largest in the United States.

They are two of the three highest-powered FM stations in the Roanoke Valley. WPVR (Arrow) also is a Class C station, the designation for stations allowed the most power by the FCC. K92 also broadcasts a secondary signal into the Lynchburg area at 100.1 FM.

High power - reaching a large potential audience with a strong signal - combined with popular programming helps ensure high ratings.

Wheeler said that the formats of the two FMs should be complementary. K92 traditionally has been strong among teens and younger adults, while Q99's strength has been among slightly older adult groups. Both have highly rated morning shows that feature some of the region's most widely known on-air personalities.

WSLC, the AM station, plays country music.

The sale is part of a nationwide trend toward consolidation of broadcasting stations that followed relaxation of FCC ownership regulations in the last two years. In the Roanoke-Lynchburg market, WYYD - which has been the overall top-rated station for several years - is owned by an out-of-state company that also owns WROV-FM and AM, another highly rated station.

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