Local radio station part of proposed $15 million sale

Local public radio station WVXA, 96.7 FM Rogers City is part of a pending sale. Cincinnati’s classical public radio station, WGUC 90.9 FM, has signed an asset purchase agreement with Xavier University to purchase WVXU 91.7, Xavier’s public radio station, and its affiliated X-Star Network stations, including WVXA of Rogers City.

The $15 million sale will become official upon approval of the Federal Communications Commission, which could take 90 days or longer. “The sale of WVXU was a tough, but very necessary decision by the Xavier University Board of Trustees. The decision was made a bit easier by the possibility of ‘keeping it in the family’ so to speak with WGUC,” said Michael Graham, president of Xavier University.

THE NEXT FEW months will be spent talking with WVXU listeners, exploring options and designing specific formats for each station. Richard Eiswerth, president and general manager of WGUC, said he expects WGUC will become a fulltime classical music station and WVXU will primarily focus on news, information and National Public Radio (NPR) programming such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Xavier University may only sell WVXU and its affiliated stations to another non-commercial entity because of Federal Communications Commission regulations. It was not clear what will happen to the network stations once the sale becomes final. In addition to WVXA in Rogers City, X-Star operates stations in Harrison, Manistee, Chillicothe, Ohio, West Union, Ohio, and Richmond, Indiana. Xavier University took control of WVXA in Rogers City in 1998. “We focused on this partnership because of the benefits it would bring to the community and current WVXU listeners in particular,” said Gary Massa, Xavier’s Vice President for University Relations. Dr. James King, WVXU founder and recently retired director of broadcasting, said he was “shocked, disturbed, and deeply saddened” when he learned of the sale.

“WHEN I FIRST learned of Xavier’s intention to sell the entire X-Star radio network, including WVXU, I was shocked, disturbed, and deeply sadde

ned. The cost of the incredible growth of WVXU, from a small 10-watt station to one of the largest privately-held public radio networks in America has been paid for, almost entirely, by WVXU, its members, and our corporate underwriters. These radio assets, however, are fully owned by the university and this was a decision only the university could make,” King said. King, who had a particular interest in the Rogers City station, because he grew up in Cheboygan, said the university’s plans to sell the stations accelerated his plans to retire, saying it would have been difficult to work for new management.

“This is, without a doubt, one of the saddest days of my professional life. I wish the new owners well and would implore them to maintain the integrity of WVXU’s commitment to classic radio, local news, and local talk programs,” he said.

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