WAMD, the flagship station of the Aberdeen Ironbirds and one of only two remaining AM stations in Harford, has been sold to Christian broadcasting group Salem Communications Corp.
Federal Communications Commission records show that the license for WAMD-970 transferred this month from Dallas-based First Broadcasting to Salem Communications, which says it specializes in “Christian and family” programming.
The FCC application said Salem, based in Camarillo, Calif., would be halving WAMD?s daytime broadcasting power so its signal would not interfere with WWDJ in Hackensack, N.J., another Salem station increasing its power on the same frequency. The nighttime broadcasting power would remain the same, meaning the potential audience after dark would actually become larger than the daytime audience.
Representatives from Salem did not return calls for comment Thursday, but sources confirmed the station?s sale.
County Councilman James McMahon, who owned the station from 1978 to 2003, and who oversees some of the station?s advertising through his MACKKBroadcasting sales group, said he believed the contract for the broadcasting the Ironbirds? 2008 season would continue.
“I wanted to be sure the contract would have a life of its own under the new owner,” McMahon said. “When the broadcasting license is transferred, all the contracts have to be part of the application.”
It remained unclear whether the station will continue its regular broadcasts of oldies music and local programming.
A former station employee, who asked not to be named, said he was concerned local news, sports and events coverage would decline under new ownership.
“I certainly hope they wouldn?t change ?Aberdeen Happenings?,” said Mark Schlottman, who hosts the weekly interview show. “I think there is a niche for that kind of local programming.”
