12-05-2025
Rockland's lone local radio station WRCR AM sold to NYC media group
Rockland's lone local radio station is being sold to a New York City media conglomerate that owns the talk radio station 77 WABC.
As a result, the channel for WRCR AM 1700 will broadcast programming from WABC hosts until a new format is introduced, according to the pending new ownership, Red Apple Group.
"Yes, for the time being, the station will simulcast WABC and plans to have local programming serving the community," said Emily Panklow, the general counsel for the Manhattan-based Red Apple.
The Red Apple Group is buying WRCR from Alexander Broadcasting, Inc. One of the corporation's co-owners is Dr. Alexander Medakovich, a physician and president of WRCR Radio.
The Red Apple owner is billionaire John Catsimatidis, a media maven who also owns real estate and other businesses, such as supermarkets. Catsimatidis also has dabbled in politics, running for office in New York City and supporting candidates like President Donald Trump and the Cuomos.
Local radio's history in Rockland: Rockland: What's the future of local radio?
While Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby host an hourly show, WABC is known for its conservative commentators, focusing on national, New York City, and international issues. The station's hosts include Curtis Silwa, Mark Levin, Roger Stone, Bill O'Reilly, Brian Kilmeade, Sid Rosenberg, and Dominic Carter of Rockland.
WRCR and its predecessors' formats focused on local issues and news for more than 50 years in Rockland, offering weekly radio time to elected officials and local activists. WRCR reported on staples like sports and weather, along with reports on finance, real estate, and county history.
One of WRCR's predecessors was WRKL AM 910, which was bought out in 1999 and became a Polish-interest and Polish-language station.
WRCR, which had been broadcasting from the Palisades Credit Union Park in Ramapo, switched to an Internet-only format in November 2016. By February 2017, the station revisited its past with the return of Stony Point's Steve Possell's morning show. Possell has since retired.
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@ Twitter: @lohudlegal Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland NY lone local radio station WRCR AM sold to NYC media group
