New York community radio stations plan merger

Radio Catskill in Liberty, N.Y., and WIOX in Roxbury, N.Y., have agreed to a merger, the community radio stations announced Thursday. 

The stations, which both provide public radio service across the Catskill Mountains, signed a memorandum of understanding to move forward with the merger. Radio Catskill operates WJFF 90.5 FM.

If the merger is approved, Radio Catskill will acquire “substantially all” of WIOX’s assets, including its FM license, Radio Catskill GM Tim Bruno told Current in an email. 

Radio Catskill will also “integrate WIOX into a single, combined radio operation under Radio Catskill’s operational management and, ultimately, ownership,” Bruno said. “The WIOX non-profit may dissolve, which is still to be determined by the WIOX board as everyone works through the details of the PSOA [public service operating agreement] and merger agreements.”

“This agreement represents a major step forward in our mission to serve the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Pete Madden, president of the Radio Catskill board, in a press release. “By bringing WIOX into the Radio Catskill family, we are strengthening local, independent broadcasting, expanding the reach and impact of our journalism, and ensuring that diverse voices and high-quality programming continue to thrive in our community.” 

The merger was conceived with “long-term financial sustainability at its core,” the release said, adding that it will “reduce duplicative costs, increase operational efficiency, and direct more resources toward the programming and community engagement.”

Combining the organizations “allows us to build a stronger, more resilient public service that can serve more communities with trusted journalism, culture, and local connection,” Radio Catskill GM Tim Bruno said in the release. 

WIOX signed on in 2010. In 2014, its license was transferred to WSKG Public Media in Binghamton, N.Y. It has been operating independently with an all-volunteer staff since 2018, according to Joe Piasek, WIOX co-founder, past chair and acting CEO.

“Now, under the leadership of Radio Catskill, the future looks more sustainable than ever,” Piasek said in the release. 

The merger is subject to regulatory review and approval. 

Last week, Rocky Mountain Public Media in Denver and the operator of KUNC in Greeley, Colo., announced plans to merge.