WRCR Goes Silent

Rockland County’s only dedicated radio station, WRCR, has been purchased by Red Apple Group.  The sale was first reported by the Rockland County Business Journal on Wednesday May 7, who disclosed that the station will now operate as talk Radio 77 ABC and broadcast WACB programing. It is unclear if WACB will incorporate local programing into the stations new lineup. WRCR was sold by owner Alex Medakovich to the Red Apple Group for an undisclosed amount; the NYC based conglomerate owns and operates WACB radio, a conservative talk program, as well as a host of  assets “in the energy, real estate, finance, insurance, and supermarket industries,” according to their website.

The station, which first began operating in 1965, featured content provided by the Rockland Historical Society, frequent contributions from Rockland’s elected officials including County Executive Ed Day and State Senator Bill Weber, and a popular morning show hosted by commentators  Jeff Lewis and Will Hennessey. At time of publication, it is uncertain if WRCR contributors will continue their work  via web broadcast, as they had done between 2017 and 2019 when the station temporarily went of the air. In a statement shared with the RCT, State Senator Bill Weber lamented the sale writing: “I was disappointed to learn of the closing of WRCR Radio AM 1700. Each Tuesday morning, I looked forward to joining the station for interviews to share important updates with my radio-listening constituents, especially seniors in Rockland County who rely on radio for news that impacts their daily lives. In addition to my weekly appearances, I hosted a monthly half-hour show where we interviewed local elected officials, advocates, and community leaders to highlight issues important to Rockland residents.

I understand that WABC Radio has purchased the station, and I strongly encourage them to retain the dedicated WRCR staff and preserve the kind of local programming that made the station a valued community resource. As public servants, we depend on trusted local outlets to help keep our communities informed, and WRCR was one of the best.”