Churches
expecting
to close on
By kathy baratta
Staff Writer
HOWELL — Radio station WPDQ-FM is in the process of changing hands and will ultimately change its format.
The close of the sale of the radio station is pending FCC review of the deal, according to Chris McCarrick, pastor of the Cornerstone Calvary Chapel, Howell.
WPDQ, which is at 89.7 FM and currently has an oldies format, has offices on Route 9. Although its studios are in Howell, its city of license is Freehold Township, according to the FCC.
McCarrick’s church, along with Calvary Chapel, Old Bridge, is making a joint purchase of the station. The sale of the 5,000-watt station means it will change from an oldies format to a Christian-themed broadcast schedule once the sale is final.
McCarrick said he expects the deal to close by the end of January.
Current owner Mark Stamat confirmed that the station, whose signal covers an approximate 30-mile radius from its Route 9 location, had been sold for $875,000.
According to McCarrick, under the churches’ ownership the programming of the station will include "the ministry of the church on the radio with Christian broadcasting of bible teachings."
McCarrick said he and Lloyd Pulley, pastor of Calvary Chapel, would be joined by other local and national pastors in a Christian talk show that would also feature individuals from both congregations.
In addition to the call-in Christian talk format, McCarrick said the station would broadcast daily shows featuring bible teachings from services held at the church, along with contemporary Christian music.
Stamat, noting that WPDQ is presently a "community-oriented" station along with the oldies music format, said he hoped the churches would maintain the community involvement. He said he is proud of the community involvement the station has maintained under his almost five-year ownership, citing a meet-the-mayor show and call-in shows with community activists.
"A group like RAID (Residents Against Irresponsible Development) was able to take advantage of the exposure the station gave them to their neighbors. We were able to help them make a difference," he said.
Stamat said he hopes the new owners will see fit to keep some community programming. He noted the present format features Sundays that include religiously-themed programming as well as music.
When asked if the new owners would be keeping the community component in their program scheduling, McCarrick said, "We are certainly open to remaining active in the community."
According to FCC guidelines, any station below 92 on the FM dial is designated a nonprofit public service station.
Calvary Chapel, Old Bridge, was recently before the Howell Township Council seeking a zoning amendment that would have accommodated their plans for the development of 110 acres the church owns on Fairfield Road. Pulley and the church’s attorney were directed by the governing body to seek approval for a church and a school at the Fairfield Road site from the township zoning board.