Published: April 28, 2008 11:43 pm      

1490 AM switches to news talk format

Regular listeners of ESPN Radio 1490 AM in Johnstown got a surprise Monday when the programming they expected to hear had been replaced.

Forever Broadcasting of Lower Yoder Township took managerial control of the station effective on Monday.

It is leasing the frequency from Results Radio of Johnstown, which had used 1490 to broadcast ESPN Radio programming.

Essentially, Forever moved its entire WNTJ 850 AM news talk format onto the 1490 frequency.

The move was a must for WNTJ as Forever has sold the 850 AM station to Birach Broadcasting Corp. of Michigan. Birach Broadcasting will take over programming on Thursday.

“We’re going to a news talk format,” said Terry Deitz, general manager of Forever Broadcasting’s Johnstown office.

“We have some pretty good local things that will be coming in the near future.”

The WNTJ format includes the “Morning Magazine” from 6 to 9 weekdays. It is a live show hosted by Rick Sheppard that focuses entirely on Johnstown area news.

WNTJ also features nationally syndicated talk shows such as The Glenn Beck Program, “The Radio Factor” with Bill O’Reilly and “The Sean Hannity Show.” In addition, the station has a local sports focus carrying game broadcasts of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Johnstown Chiefs.

“It’s a good move for the stations,” Deitz said. “This station will suit to serve Johnstown and the immediate surrounding areas.”

Deitz said Forever also is planning technical upgrades to the 1490 signal. He said that, while the strength of the frequency is limited by the Federal Communications Commission, the upgrades will provide an improved and more reliable signal.

The fate of the programming on the 850 AM signal is unknown. A person answering the phone at Birach’s headquarters in Southfield, Mich., said the company will not announce any format changes until later this week.

Representatives from Results Radio did not return telephone calls Monday.