Radio stations move to Milford

Bridgeport’s first radio station has moved out. While it came with no formal announcement, officials from Westportbased Connoisseur Media confirmed that WICC600AM has relocated to 440 Wheelers Farms Road in Milford along with Westport’s WEBE 108FM station.

“The more that I can bring live and local programming to WICC, regardless of whether I’m broadcasting from Bridgeport or Milford, it’s better for the Bridgeport metro area,” said Kristen Okesson, senior vice president and market manager at Connoisseur Media which acquired both stations in June.

The Westport company traded four stations in and around Allentown, Pa., to Cumulus Media Inc. for the two southern Connecticut stations, boosting its footprint in the region. Connoisseur also owns Classic Rock “95.9 The Fox” WFOXFM Norwalk and AC “Star 99.9” WEZN Bridgeport in Fairfield County.

Since purchasing WEBE and WICC, Okesson said Connoisseur Media has deviated from its syndicated programming. Over the past five

months, the company has added Lisa Wexler, Paul Pacelli and Allan Lamberti to its roster of show hosts across the stations.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with what is happening on WICC, and WEBE is an incredible radio station that has a lot of heritage,” Okesson said. “WICC and WEBE are two stations I spent almost a decade of my life working for so I am very committed to be even more involved in the community and supporting the Bridgeport metro (area) as much as I possibly can.”

WICC has been in Bridgeport for nearly a century and is touted as one of the oldest stations in the region. It first went on the air in 1926.

WEBE also had a lengthy tenure in Westport, launching in 1962 under the WMMMFM call sign before eventually switching its name.

According to Okesson, moving to new digs following the acquisition was due largely to the lack of space in Bridgeport to house all six of their stations.

“Had there been enough space, maybe that would’ve happened, but it just didn’t work like that,” she said. “When we purchased WEBE and WICC, the option didn’t exist to move (to) Bridgeport.”

Bridgeport leaders lamented the departure of WICC, but several said they understood Connoisseur Media’s decision.

“Obviously it stinks for us of course, but I think they are very much still our regional radio anchors,” said Dan Onofrio, president of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.

Frank Borres, president of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, echoed similar thoughts, but also said relocating the station to Milford made the most business sense.

“Nothing in this is personal. It was all business, and there is little loyalty to a town or community any more ... it all deals with the bottom line,” he said. “That being the case, I fully understand. It’s still too bad (for) Bridgeport.”