Carpenters Add 3rd Station to New Group on Minnesota’s North Shore

Carpenter Broadcasting is adding a third FM station to a new radio group being assembled at the tip of Minnesota’s Arrowhead.

A purchase agreement filed with the FCC indicates that Carpenter Broadcasting, LLC is buying WZBY/92.7 (Grand Portage) from Multi-Cultural Diversity Radio for $3,000.

It will be the Carpenters’ third station in Cook County. Carpenter Broadcasting, owned by Dennis Carpenter and son Lucas Carpenter, is also in the process of buying WFNX/95.3 (Grand Marais). Companies held by the Carpenters also own Wireless LLC, which has a construction permit for a new station on 96.9 in Grand Marais.

WZBY reported to the FCC last summer that it had signed on. It is currently licensed for 100 Watts, the minimum for a full-power FM station, but could potentially be upgraded to much higher power. The allotment was originally for a full class C (100kW/600m) station that could rimshot Thunder Bay if a suitable tower site can be found.

The sale comes a month after Multi-Cultural Diversity Radio returned the license for WOTO/98.1 (Grand Portage). WOTO had reported signing on with 100 Watts at the same time as WZBY.

The Carpenters also own several stations in central Minnesota, including the “Bob FM” Classic Country network in the greater Twin Cities metro area.