Curious Greater NYC AM Station Purchase by Red Apple Media (WABC)

[Ct Yankee]

So, Red Apple Media is owned by John A. Catsimatidis who made a fortune in NYC Supermarkets and real estate.  He became a radio media darling by buying legacy (then somewhat dormant) fire thrower 77 WABC.  Mr. Catsimatidis transformed the station including bringing back music and jocks from the 60's/70's on weekends and even hosts programs of his own accord.  He is attracted to lightning rods as Rudy Giuliani and Curtis Silwa had shows.  Some have called radio his hobby or play thing.

Red Apple media has just purchased 10,000 watt WRCR 1700 am in Rockland County, NY - about 20 miles from Manhattan.  It is a curious purchase as WABC is one of the two strongest stations received in the County (I resided there for ten years).  The WRCR programming had been local news, sports, and music for the NW NYC suburban area.  A permanent relay of WABC makes no sense, especially with its non-friendly dial position. 🤔

https://rcbizjournal.com/2025/05/07/breaking-news-wrcr-1700-am-goes-dark-sold-to-wabc-770-am/

[NQC]

Hey Ct Yankee,

I found out about the change when I happened to slide by RCR during a bit of dxing.

When I heard them carrying WABC it immediately made NO sense . After a bit of pattern research , ABC actually (generally ) does better in the tri state area  than RCR, both  day and night.

Not sure what this guy is thinking.  Not sure what RCR's ratings as a music station were. Perhaps carrying ABC is "placeholder"  programming until something
 "else" ( "better " ?) comes along.

But I would have absolutely NO idea what format that would be.

It's a BIT of a bummer here- RCR IMHO played a pretty good mix- WHEN you could hear them well ( which wasn't very often, especially over the last year or so due to crummy BCB prop).

Slight OT ,I have 4 local AM'ers that have a good play list.

 2 of them are non commercial.One  (WJIB)  runs  fundraising every year, but has no commercials . 

The other (WAZN) , seems to be a "hobby" station that is fully funded and has zero commercials (or fundraising).
Obviously someone with $$$.

de NQC

[Ct Yankee]

It is an odd buy and I have read numerous opinions on how this all plays out.  Another weird part about the buy is that 1190 AM WLIB (transmitter in nearby Lodi, NJ) with far more power - 10,000 watt day, 30,000 watt night - is also for sale but WRCR was bought.

So, what's the possibilities for WRCR?
a) Turning WRCR into a completely local station for the northern NYC suburbs
b) Beginning of a Red Apple Media syndication/network
c) Red Apple acquires the Mets' Radio rights next year, they get broadcasted on WABC.  WRCR is used for normal WABC programming during Met games.  Then secure more sports rights (Rangers, Knicks, Jets?) for WABC.