LorainCounty.com

Radio Station WDLW 1380 To Be Sold

January 2, 2002 — Doug Wilber, President of WOBL Radio, Inc., and Angel Ramos, President of the Latino Media Group, Inc. are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to purchase radio station WDLW 1380am licensed to the city of Lorain from Baldwin Broadcasting pending approval of the Federal Communications Commission.

WDLW is currently northern Ohio's only commercial 24-hour Spanish formatted radio station serving the people of Spanish Caribbean and Mexican heritage living in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. When asked if they intended on maintaining the Spanish programming, Wilber said, "It's primarily the Spanish programming that makes this such an attractive opportunity. The Hispanic population is currently under-served by local media an is look forward to working with Angel Ramos of the Latino Media Group to continue serving the Hispanic community with high quality Spanish programming."

WDLW has been broadcasting in Spanish since January of 1999 and enjoys rapidly growing audience serving one of the fastest growing consumer groups in the Unites States. According to the figures released from the 2000 census, Hispanic individuals represent 21% of Lorain residents, 6.9% of the population of Lorain County and 7.3% of Cleveland. The Hispanic population has increased more than 55% in Ohio over the past 10 years and represents the fastest growing ethnic and consumer group in the United States.

Technology upgrades have already begun with plans for a new transmitter and studio. The studio will be co-located in the facilities currently occupied by WOBL 1320am, northern Ohio's longest running country music station. Doug Wilber, whose father, Harry built WOBL and began broadcasting on December 24, 1971 says about the purchase of WDLW, "This is a great addition for us as we look forward to our 30th anniversary. WOBL is one of the few locally owned broadcast facilities remaining in this area and we plan to operate WDLW with the same commitment to community involvement as we have operated WOBL. Last year WOBL donated commercial airtime in the form of Public Service Announcements with a value of over $270, 000 to local mom-profit, social service, and community organizations. We will operate WDLW with a similar commitment to the community."