WSHU Shutting Down WSTC-A-WNLK-A/Stamford-Norwalk, Offers Them For Sale

Shutting Down 2 AMs

SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY's noncommercial News-Talk WSHU PUBLIC RADIO GROUP is shutting down two of its AM stations and putting them up for sale, the station has announced.  

Noncommercial News-Talk WSTC-A/STAMFORD, CT and WNLK-A/NORWALK, CT will close as of MONDAY (1/25).  The programming from the two AMs, purchased from COX MEDIA GROUP in 2011, will continue to air on sister WYBC-A/NEW HAVEN and WSHU-A/WESTPORT, CT, and the school's FM network of 10 stations and translators will not be affected.

“This was a strategic decision,” said GM GEORGE LOMBARDI. “We are a non-profit organization and a community resource. We have a responsibility to our supporters to make smart business decisions, and we have found that it is not financially viable to operate these stations at this time..... We operate in highly competitive markets, and unfortunately, on average, only about 900 listeners tune in to the combined AM stations. We haven’t been able to grow listenership -- or listener support -- at the rate we had hoped.”  LOMBARDI said that the stations are being shut down because the group's on-air fundraising drive is coming at the end of the month and  “We never want to be in a position where we ask listeners to contribute toward something that won’t be there for them in the long term."

PD and Morning Edition host TOM KUSER said, “Listeners can still enjoy all the in-depth local coverage, NPR News, and highly regarded programs like MARKETPLACE, FRESH AIR, and THE TAKEAWAY either via online streaming, or traditional radio frequencies."

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