WLOH has busy year with 75th anniversary, 2 purchases
Yet another new station is planned for next year
LANCASTER − It’s been a busy year for WLOH FM The Wolf and next year promises to also be busy.
Along with celebrating its 75th anniversary and recently purchasing two Logan radio stations, co-owner Mark Bohach said he plans to open another station in Lancaster by the middle of next year. He said the new station will probably be something aimed at the younger audience with more of a contemporary format. “What’s cool about that is my daughter, Kalli, will be programming that,” Bohach said. “That will be her responsibility.”
Bohach, and his wife, Arlene, recently purchased WLGN (1510 AM103.3 FM) and WKNA (98.3 FM) in Logan from Edward Baker of Blacksburg, Virginia. The stations have been in operation for more than 50 years. Bohach said some of the current staff in Logan will no doubt stay.
“And we’ve got such a talented team in Lancaster that we have people that are ready to add responsibilities,” he said.
The sale is pending FCC approval, which Bohach said is a pretty routine procedure since he already has an FCC license. That process should take about 60 to 90 days.
He said the deal is comprised of two separate transactions. One is purchasing the real estate the stations sit on. Bohach said he could not yet disclose the price of that portion. But he said the stations themselves are selling for $390,000.
“We already serve Logan with our country station, The Wolf,” Bohach said. “It’s on 99.3. We see this as kind of a natural extension. We’ll be able to do some additional formats and serve an additional audience. It has win-win benefits because it will not only serve Hocking County, but it expands our coverage into Vinton County and into Athens County. It gives us more coverage in Lancaster. We’ll be able to do and to serve more people.”
When the sale is completed Bohach and his family will own eight radio signals across four counties.
“We’re enthusiastic,” he said. “It’s an exciting prospect for us and it’s a natural growth progression for our company.”
WLOH currently transmits in Logan, New Lexington and Circleville, via repeater towers. jbarron@gannett.com 740-681-4340
Twitter: @Jeffdbarron