WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Family Life Ministries has filed to acquire WOTH 107.9 from Backyard Broadcasting of Pennsylvania for $200,000, with Family Life’s W277BJ 103.3 translator moving to Backyard as additional consideration.

The linked FCC applications — 0000306946 for WOTH and 0000307038 for W277BJ — were filed November 4. Both remain pending. The stations have not changed hands, and closing cannot occur until the FCC grants the applications and the parties consummate the transaction.

A full-power upgrade for Family Life

WOTH is a Class A full-power FM licensed to Williamsport. Its current FCC record lists 3.4 kilowatts effective radiated power and a 135-meter antenna height above average terrain. W277BJ is a 250-watt translator licensed to Williamsport and currently held by Family Life.

If the deal closes, Family Life would gain one full-power FM and give up one translator. Backyard would lose one full-power FM and gain one translator. The market’s total number of licensed full-power stations and translators would not change, but control of the two facilities would.

The structure gives Family Life a stronger protected facility for its nonprofit Christian radio network. The organization describes itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported substantially by contributions and other ministry revenue. Its audited June 30, 2025 financial statements reported $22.7 million in assets, $21.7 million in net assets and $358,822 in cash and cash equivalents. Those figures indicate that the $200,000 cash price is modest relative to the organization’s balance sheet, although the public filings do not disclose a Williamsport conversion budget or staffing plan.

Family Life has been expanding in Pennsylvania, including a separate pending agreement to buy WQCM 94.3 in Greencastle.

What listeners and employees should watch

WOTH currently airs a Hot AC format supplied by Westwood One. Family Life’s network offers contemporary Christian music, news and religious teaching. A format change appears likely if the transaction closes, but neither the FCC filings nor the parties’ public materials reviewed by RNN confirm a conversion date.

The community benefit would be broader access to Family Life programming on a full-power signal. The tradeoff is the likely loss of WOTH’s existing music service and one separately branded commercial voice in Williamsport. Backyard would retain a translator-level facility, which has secondary status and must rebroadcast a qualifying primary station.

No layoffs, retention commitments or local hiring plans have been announced. Network programming could reduce the need for local air talent, while engineering, underwriting and community-outreach work may continue or expand. Those employment effects remain uncertain until the parties disclose an operating plan.

Ownership Watch status: Filed and pending. RNN will update this report when the FCC grants or dismisses either application, or when the parties consummate the assignments.

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