FM News 101.9 Helped New Yorkers Track Hurricane Irene, Now It Helps Them Through It

NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hurricane Irene: FM News 101.9 helped you track it, now it helps you through it. With the physical storm beyond the New York metropolitan area, New York's only 24-hour FM all-news station – FM News 101.9 – continues to be the best destination for accurate, comprehensive, and practical information listeners need in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

FM News 101.9 is currently covering Hurricane Irene wall-to-wall without commercial interruption as New York initiates the rescue, recovery, and cleanup process. FM News 101.9 has the largest team of meteorologists on FM and is delivering understandable traffic reports and other essential information that listeners need to assess damage from the storm as transportation comes back on line and as businesses reopen. Reporters located in Manhattan, New Jersey, Westchester County, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Connecticut, and Long Island are covering up-to-the-minute news and updates of essential interest to local listeners.

"In all of the areas worst hit by Hurricane Irene, we've had reporters on the ground covering the scenes," said Liz Aiello, VP of Programming for Merlin Media. "Our listeners were great reporters, too. They've been calling since the middle of night, telling us what they were experiencing and seeking advice from us on how to deal with specific situations."

Aiello added: "FM News 101.9 is the only all-news station that listens to you. Before, during and following Hurricane Irene, we took calls from listeners and businesses to build an on-air social community. Radio invented this, and seems to have forgotten it. At FM News, we remembered the power of real listener interaction."

"FM News 101.9 is here to stay. Our team will help you get to work tomorrow and get you home safely. This was not special coverage; it is our normal, super-service coverage for working families. It's information that wins with clarity."

FM News 101.9 delivered the most extensive coverage of Hurricane Irene with an unmatched volume of quality information coming from the largest number of designated street reporters on local radio. FM News 101.9 also dedicated staff meteorologists and traffic reporters to the story around the clock. With unique coverage from the listener's point of view, FM News 101.9 shared information to practical questions like:

• How will the storm impact children?
• Where will I be able to get food and water?
• When is it safe to reengage electrical appliances?

Through Sunday afternoon, South Florida's WFTL 850 AM will continue to simulcast FM News 101.9's coverage of the storm, helping listeners in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and other parts of South Florida follow the storm's effect on friends, family, and property on the Eastern Seaboard. The simulcast began Friday afternoon and continued throughout the weekend.

FM News 101.9 can be heard streaming online at www.fmnewsnewyork.com. Listeners can also follow FM News 101.9 on Twitter @FMNewsNewYork and on Facebook.

About Merlin Media LLC

Merlin Media LLC (www.merlinmediallc.com) was formed in June 2011 by leading private equity firm GTCR in partnership with Emmis Communications (NasdaqGS: EMMS), a diversified media company, and Randy Michaels for the purpose of acquiring and operating media assets. The company begins with a base of three properties – two in Chicago and one in New York – and intends to develop a combination of media across the country.

Contact for Merlin Media LLC

Edward Adler
MediaLink
O: 646-259-3006
[email protected]

Kyle Giunta
MediaLink
O: 646-259-3006
M: 845-453-4877
[email protected]

SOURCE Merlin Media LLC