ideastream To Assume Ownership Of WCLV/Cleveland

New Ownership

RADIO SEAWAY Classical WCLV/CLEVELAND will move under the ownership of IDEASTREAM, the owner of crosstown PBS affiliate WVIZ-TV and noncommercial WCPN, reports OHIO MEDIA WATCH. THE WCLV FOUNDATION, which was created in 2001 through a donation by then-owners ROBERT CONRAD and RICH MARSCHNER, is donating the license held by subsidiary RADIO SEAWAY to IDEASTREAM, and CLEVELAND CLASSICAL RADIO, LLC, which has operated the station for the foundation, will continue to operate WCLV until about NOVEMBER 1st, at which time IDEASTREAM will assume operational duties. RADIO SEAWAY will become a subsidiary of IDEASTREAM with its own board of directors, and WCLV will remain a commercial station.

CONRAD, still President of the station, said, "When the late C. K. (PAT) PATRICK and I established WCLV in 1962, little did we know that the station would continue on for 50 years, nor did we foresee the vital part the station would play on the CLEVELAND cultural scene. My current partner, EVP/CFO RICH MARSCHNER, and I have put in place a talented, vital, loyal and passionate staff under the direction of GM JENNY NORTHERN. We have full confidence that they will continue the station's unique service that it has established during the past five decades. While we intend to continue to be active in the operation of the station for some time, it is obvious that WCLV needs a 'safe harbor' as it moves forward into the 21st century. And IDEASTREAM is the logical place for the station to tie up. ideastream is a nationally respected organization, involved in the community on many levels with fabulous technical facilities. Both WCLV and IDEASTREAM are grounded in the same philosophy -- that broadcasters have a great opportunity and hence a great responsibility to use the medium to enrich and enlarge the lives of the public they serve."

"We are honored and grateful to BOB CONRAD and RICH MARSCHNER for their generosity and are pleased to play a role in securing the future of WCLV," added ROBERT C. SMITH, Chairman of the IDEASTREAM Board of Trustees.

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