EXCLUSIVE: Ex-U.S. Rep. Mark Foley wants WRMF
Tags: 97.9 FM, Boston, Chad Michell, Chet Tart, Deena Lang, Elisabeth Hamma, Great Hills Partners, Jennifer Ross, Jose Lambiet's Page2Live, Mark Foley, Seaveiw 960 AM, Steve Gormley, West Palm Beach, WRMF
| Saturday 26 February 2011 5:11 pm
Foley, at the microphone at Seaview (AP Photo)
While it’s no secret that the owners of West Palm Beach radio station WRMF-97.9 FM is quietly trying to unload the station, the name of one of the suitors will surprise many.
Page2Live hears that former U. S. Rep. Mark Foley has been doing due diligence and discussed the station’s purchase with principals at Great Hills Partners, the Boston-based equity firm that has owned WRMF for nine years.
Foley, who resigned from Congress in 2006 following a text-message scandal, just came into some cash last week as the deal he brokered for the sale of First Bank of Indiantown for $11.8 million closed.
Foley’s also been dabbling in real estate, and owns a consignment store in West Palm.
And Foley already is in radio. He currently hosts his own political talk show on WSVU-Seaview 960 AM.
“I can’t confirm or deny that I’m looking at WRMF,” Foley said. “I’m looking at a host of business opportunities. I have a show and I’ve always been interested in radio.”
For more, look below or click
Ross
Former WRMF part-owner Chet Tart, who happens to be Foley’s boss at Seaview, said he was surprised to learn of Foley’s interest.
But then, he added, Foley could get it done.
“He sure knows enough people with tons of money from the time he was a congressman,” Tart said.
WRMF is a longtime No. 1 in the Palm Beach County-Treasure Coast market that fell on hard times since it fired star morning personality Jennifer Ross in 2009.
The station recently dumped Danny Czekalinski, another jock, from its lucrative morning-drive as the show went mostly to a music format with brief breaks by leftover talent Deena Lang and Chad Mitchell.
Great Hills bought WRMF from radio pioneer Jim Hilliard’s James Crystal Radio in the heydays, in 2002, for $70 million. That was an area record for a single-station sale.
Incidentally, Hilliard has been cited as another current suitor. He didn’t return calls for comment.
Two industry insiders tell me Great Hills now would gladly sell for $16.2 million, its note on the station. Great Hills co-founder Steve Gormley didn’t respond to an email requesting an interview, and WRMF general manager Elizabeth Hamma didn’t respond to messages left on her voice mail.
For more on Foley:
– Foley’s radio gig goes weekly after audience spikes
– Watch out Rush Limbaugh: Mark Foley’s after your job!
What???? Marky-Mark’s sugar daddy is gonna buy him a ray-dee-o station???
More music, less talk!
Sure, sure Foley is going to breathe some life into an FM station that cannot compete with others just like he breathed life into the “Contract with America” back in the day before he talked dirty to underage Capital pages and worked on legistlation for child molestors in Congress. Some people are just enamored because he walked the halls of Congress just like some people idolize rock stars and Hollywood “Stars.” C’mon people, get a life! What’s next for Mr. Mark? Walking on water?
So Jose if you want to know the real story, tune into the Cup of JOE Morning show on SeaView Radio 95.9FM/106.9FM/960AM @8:10am on Monday morning as Mark joins Joe on the show….
K&V msut be shaking in their boots! LOL. That station has never been the same after Kevin’s passing and Jen’s
release. They brought in un-talented DJ’s and that Danny guy really sucked, and got arrested. As for Deena and Chad, choose a different line of work cause you guy’s really suck.
You are not funny, you are well, not good at all. One day maybe this station will return to what once was.
http://www.ppshopping.us
Wondering if Foley will change the format to Hip-Hop?
AND THE SEXY LITTLE BOIS IN THERE PANTIES SAY WHAT?????? FFFFF-OLEY?????
Oh Foley…. yea he should do this deal and pump up his bank account so he can some day run for the senate…then maybe Vice President (no pun intended) By the way… where did he get this kind of money from…I remember him as a burger flipping salad tossing cook in Lake Worth….did we miss something? Has the real estate business been that hot?
WRMF has been a gay station for a long time. After Foley buys it, it will officially be a gay station.
I will never listen to Seaview Radio again! No respect for Faggs hittin on young boys. Such a shame!
If it happens Mark, I’m available to work for you!
Could this just be a ruse to meet Justin Bieber?
Now it’s official…over the air radio IS dead.
Another money management firm like Great Hills who lost.Who gives these people money to manage and srcew up so badly?