Wendy Bell's Former Radio Home Buys 2 Pittsburgh-Area Stations

RICHLAND, PA — Owners of the radio station that provided a brief home to controversial conservative talk show host Wendy Bell earlier this year have purchased two other Pittsburgh-area stations.

St. Barnabas Broadcasting announced Tuesday it is acquiring WBVP in Beaver Falls and and WMBA in Ambridge, Beaver County, from Sound Ideas Media. St. Barnabas last November acquired WJAS-AM and FM.

The stations being acquired simulcast a news-talk radio format. WJAS features conservative talk show hosts such as Glenn Beck, Dan Bongino, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Jimmy Failla.

The purchase price was not disclosed, and St. Barnabas did not announce any immediate format or programming changes. All current employees of the stations have been retained.

In January, WJAS hired Bell three months after she departed KDKA-AM. KDKA took the former WTAE-TV anchor off the air in September after she suggested that park rangers should shoot people who vandalize monuments honoring historical figures. In October, the station said KDKA and Bell had agreed to mutually part ways.

Bell left WJAS in May. Details surrounding her departure after such a short period with the station were not disclosed.

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