ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997 TAG: 9702050088
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
Capstar Broadcasting Partners, already scheduled to buy two of the top-rated radio stations in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market, said Tuesday it is acquiring five more of the region's stations.
Urban-contemporary stations WJJS/WJJX (106.1/101.7 FM) and oldies stations WRDJ/WLDJ (104.9/102.7 FM), as well as WJJS-AM (1320), will become part of Capstar in a deal that should close in the fall, said Mike Slenski, president of Cavalier Communications, which owns the stations.
WJJS/WJJX simultaneously broadcast the same programming, one to the Lynchburg side of the market and the other to the Roanoke side. WRDJ/WLDJ operate under the same arrangement, called simulcasting. Both deals are subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.
Capstar merged with Benchmark Communications, owner of country station WYYD (107.9 FM) and rock'n'roll WROV (simulcasting on 96.3 FM and 1240 AM) less than a month ago.
Capstar, a 6-month-old Texas company, has quickly grown to become a dominant radio owner in the nation's medium-size markets with about 120 stations. Recent changes in federal law and regulations allowed companies such as Capstar greater latitude in the number of stations they can own.
The arrangement would have the three top-rated stations owned by the same company. The fall ratings had WYYD in first place, WJJS/WJJX second, and WROV third.
In previous acquisitions, Capstar has described its intention to allow stations to continue to manage themselves independently within the groups that were absorbed by Capstar.
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB