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Connoisseur Closes On WDRC, Makes Staff Changes, Format Tweak
July 7, 2014 at 6:02 PM (PT)
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With the closing by CONNOISSEUR MEDIA of its purchase of Oldies WDRC-F/HARTFORD and Talk simulcast WDRC-A/HARTFORD, WMMW-A/MERIDEN, WSNG-A/TORRINGTON, and WWCO-A/WATERBURY from BUCKLEY BROADCASTING, the combined staff of CONNOISSEUR's existing cluster and the new acquisitions are undergoing some shuffling, while WDRC-F undergoes a format shift to Classic Hits as "102.9 DRC, CLASSIC HITS OF THE '70S, '80S AND MORE."
CONNOISSEUR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT cluster (Rock WPLR and Urban AC WYBC-F/NEW HAVEN, AC WEZN (STAR 99.9)/BRIDGEPORT, and Classic Rock WFOX (95.9 THE FOX)/NORWALK) GM KRISTIN OKESSON will add the HARTFORD stations to her responsibilities. SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT OM KEITH DAKIN will add WDRC-F programming duties, and APD KEVIN BEGLEY will become PD of WEZN and WFOX.
Also, SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT MD/WFOX midday host ALLAN LAMBERTI will host afternoons on WDRC-F and serve as APD for WDRC-F and WDRC-A as well as WPLR. ED D'OLIVEIRA will take over LAMBERTI's midday shift on WFOX, and WPLR afternoon host MIKE "LAPPY" LAPITINO will also host middays on WDRC-F.
In sales, BUCKLEY HARTFORD Dir./Sales STU GORLICK will add WPLR and WYBC to his duties, and SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT GSM ANDY ALCOSSER will be upped to Dir./Sales for WEZN and WFOX. ROWENA WHITE will continue overseeing non-traditional revenue and digital but now for the entire CONNECTICUT group. Business and traffic will be based out of the SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT cluster, while engineering will be led by SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT CE DOM BORDONARO in conjunction with HARTFORD CE SCOTT BARON. But the staff of the AM simulcast will remain in place.
OKESSON said, “We are extremely excited about acquiring such a legendary station as WDRC... We’re anxious to make it even bigger and better now by adding some of our key talented players into the mix.”
On the WDRC-F format change, DAKIN said, “The HARTFORD market has a hole for a Classic Hits-based radio station, and the new sound of 102.9 will fill it.” The station’s new positioning statement is:
And CONNOISSEUR CEO JEFF WARSHAW added, "CONNOISSEUR is so gratified to add these legendary call letters to our stable of extraordinary CONNECTICUT properties."

