A severe July storm has forced Connoisseur Media’s classic alternative station WERV-FM 95.9 “The River” in Aurora, Illinois, to abandon its terrestrial broadcast signal and rely exclusively on streaming audio. This disruption directly impacts local listeners, digital rights holders, and radio programmers who depend on consistent signal coverage for audience retention and ad delivery. The collapse of the 353-foot tower owned by Vertical Bridge has left the station operating at a fraction of its usual power, effectively limiting its reach to the immediate Aurora area while cutting off surrounding communities.
Tower Collapse Leaves Station With Minimal Signal
Holiday weekend storms toppled the tower used by WERV-FM, a Class A station that adopted its current classic alternative format in April 2024. The structure, which served as the sole broadcast point for the station, collapsed onto the ground, heavily damaging the transmitter building that housed its equipment alongside the tower. In an FCC filing, Connoisseur Media confirmed the station is now using a single-bay antenna mounted on a portable guyed tower located at the studios. This temporary setup operates at an effective radiated power of 370 watts, a drastic reduction from its standard 2,850 watts. The result is a signal that barely extends beyond Aurora, leaving listeners in the wider Chicago suburbs unable to tune in via traditional radio.
Station Urges Fans to Switch to Web Stream
With terrestrial broadcasting severely compromised, WERV-FM has directed its audience to its mobile app and web stream as the primary listening method. The station’s social media pages, including Instagram and Facebook, now feature instructional videos guiding users on how to access the digital stream. Connoisseur Media Regional Director of Engineering Geary Morrill first shared news of the downed tower on Facebook, confirming the extent of the damage. The company plans to operate from the temporary tower until repairs can be made to the original structure, a process expected to take considerable time due to the destruction of the transmitter facility. An FCC Special Temporary Authority for a silent period is expected to be filed shortly to formalize the station’s reduced operational status.
This incident the vulnerability of physical broadcast infrastructure to extreme weather events and highlights the increasing reliance on streaming platforms when traditional radio signals fail. For rights holders and advertisers, the shift to streaming-only delivery changes how audience metrics are tracked and how content is monetized in real time.
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