Greenwich Radio Station to be Purchased by Hartford Native

Once a radio fan, always a radio fan.  That is perhaps the best explanation for the planned purchase of Greenwich radio station WGCH by the Connecticut-based Forte Family Broadcasting, Inc., pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

The buyer is Rocco L. Forte of Sarasota, Fla. and Lyme, Connecticut. Forte is the former chief financial officer of the Abate Insurance Agency and AIA Risk Services in New Haven, according to published reports.

A native of Hartford, he is an alumnus of Hartford Public High School, the University of Connecticut and the UConn School of Insurance.

Beginning Nov. 4, Forte’s organization will operate the local station – which marks its 50th anniversary in 2014 - under a "local marketing agreement," until Forte can secure formal approval from the FCC, which could happen as soon as December, the Connecticut Post reported.

A format change is not anticipated.  The station currently broadcasts programs from the Business Talk Network and Lifestyle Talk Network, as well as local sports including the Bridgeport Bluefish and Greenwich High School football.  In addition to local news, other local programming includes a medical report from Greenwich Hospital, a local trivia program, and a weekly program featuring the town’s First Selectman.

“I am excited to be able to buy such a heritage station in Connecticut, and look forward to making the 50th anniversary year of WGCH a successful and even more profitable one,” Forte said in a statement. “My love for radio began in college, when I worked both on-air and in sales,” he added.

WGCH broadcasts 24 hours a day at 1490 AM, is licensed to Greenwich and bills itself as “the voice of Fairfield and Westchester Counties.”