Forever Pitches York Group To Baseball Club
• York Professional Baseball Club (YPB), operators of the York Revolution baseball team, and Forever Media have reached an agreement for YPB to acquire Forever Media’s York, PA radio stations — Country WGTY (Froggy 107.7), Classic Rock WYCR (Rocky 98.5), and AC WHVR-AM 1280/ W237EN (Happy 95.3)/Hanover, PA. WGTY and WYCR are the No. 1 and No. 2 stations in the York market, according to Nielsen.
The acquisition complements YPB’s ownership of Sports-Talk WOYK 1350/W255DJ (98.9), York’s oldest radio station, which the company has owned since 2014.
“We are excited by this opportunity both for the Revolution and for York County,” said Bill Shipley, Chairman of York Professional Baseball. “Keeping these leading stations in local ownership is great for the community and being able to partner between what they are already doing, the Revolution’s community focus at WellSpan Park, and our WOYK presence in York provides tremendous growth opportunities all around.”
Former York Revolution President Eric Menzer (Vice Chairman of YPB) will lead the process of integrating the entities and building their future. Darrell Henry will remain General Manager of WOYK, and Dave Davies will remain General Manager of the three stations being acquired. No immediate changes to branding, format, or the personality of the stations are planned.
Forever Media owner Lynn Deppen said he was pleased to have this opportunity to keep York’s market-leading radio stations locally owned, and to partner with the York Professional Baseball team to continue the record of outstanding broadcasting and community service in Central Pennsylvania.
Pending FCC approval, the transaction is expected to close near the end of the year.
