WLIU Sold; Backers Include Celebrities

The only public radio station on New York's Long Island has been sold to a group backed by celebrities, many who summer on the island.

1010WINS, a news radio station in New York City reports: "Celebrities like Jann Wenner, Alec Baldwin and Joy Behar were among those who helped form the local broadcasting entity."

Long Island University, which owns WLIU 88.3 FM, announced that Peconic Public Broadcasting signed a letter of intent to purchase the station’s license. It's reported that the local organization will pay some $2.4 million, and that there were two other bidders for the station.

Long Island Business News reports:

Sources close to the negotiations said New York City’s WNYC had initially been in the running but dropped out and would explore working as a strategic partner with Peconic Public Broadcasting.

The university said WLIU had been losing some $2 million a year and the university had no choice except to put it on the market.