Cincinnati will lose its only full-time jazz station on Jan. 1 when WNOP-AM (740) becomes the Tristate's first Roman Catholic radio station.

        A Catholic group is buying the station from Heidelberg Distributing, which bought WNOP-AM in 1967. The station, one of 10 AM jazz stations in the United States, has been losing money for years, says Al Vontz III, Heidelberg CEO.

        For three decades, WNOP-AM has been the city's main jazz source, except for a few diversions like the CNN Headline format in 1991. It was the “Jazz Ark” in the 1970s, when the studios were in three huge oil drums floating in the Ohio River.

        Back then, WNOP-AM aired off-the-wall call-letter identifications, like “Where Nonsense Occasionally Prevails'' and “We Need Old People.''

        “ "We Never Operate Profitably' is what I always figured it means,” Mr. Vontz says. “We could never raise enough revenues to pay the bills.”

        Heidelberg had considered two offers in three years from people who wanted to retain the jazz format. When the local Sacred Heart Radio group approached the station this summer, WNOP-AM General Manager Mark Stevens rounded up local investors to make a counter-offer.

        Mr. Stevens says the station's revenues were trending up each month since June.

        “We would go into profit by Christmas this year, if we could have taken over right now,” Mr. Stevens says. “We have like six stations doing religious broadcasting, and nobody else is doing jazz (full-time).”

        Religious programming can be heard on WTSJ-FM (1050), WCVG-AM (1320), WCNW-AM (1560), WAKW-FM (93.3), WNLT-FM (104.3) and WIOK-FM (107.5). And soon on WNOP-AM, where nunsense may occasionally prevail.

        “I'm very excited. There are so many opportunities here,” says Dan Andriacco, Archdiocese of Cincinnati spokesman.

        Since 1996, two local Catholic groups had been trying to obtain a station here. They merged into Sacred Heart Radio in January, says David Rinderle, Sacred Heart president.

        Mr. Rinderle, 54, of Anderson Township, says his organization had made offers on four radio stations in three years, including WUBE-AM and WBOB-AM.

        Sacred Heart Radio will purchase WNOP-AM's license, transmitter and tower. It did not buy the Camp Washington studios, because most of the microphones and CD players belong to employees, Mr. Stevens says.

        The Catholics have launched a six-month campaign to raise $1.2 million to build studios in Norwood's old Mount St. Mary's Seminary and fund operations for three years. (Contributions may be sent to Sacred Heart Radio, P.O. Box 30253, Cincinnati 45230-0253).

        WNOP-AM's new format will be a mix of local programs and audio from Mother Angelica's Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). It also may air existing programs from other stations, such as the Rosary heard 7:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays on Fairfield's WCNW-AM.

        Although he has bought a commercial license, Mr. Rinderle says WNOP-AM will be a non-profit station. “We won't be charging anyone for air time. Once we build up market share, we will become listener-supported (from solicitations),” he says.

        While Catholics say “Thank God,” area jazz fans aren't thrilled to lose a second jazz station in 18 months. Smooth jazz WVAE-FM was replaced by “jammin' oldies WMOJ-FM” in spring 1999.

        Jazz fans who would rather hear Thelonious Monk than Gregorian Chant are finding it increasingly rare on AM radio. The M Street Journal radio newsletter lists only 10 AM and 129 FM jazz stations.

        Says WNOP-AM's Mr. Stevens: “Al Vontz might tell you that he kept the flame of jazz alive, but all he did was keep the embers from going out.”

        He urges jazz fans to direct protest letters to Mr. Vontz at Heidelberg Distributing, 1518 Dalton Ave., Cincinnati 45214, with copies to Mr. Stevens at that address.

        Anyone interested in helping fund a possible WNOP-AM Web cast can contact salesman/DJ Phillip Anson Tucker by e-mail (darksoldier740@aol.com) or calling the station (513-421-9667).

        “Cincinnati is a great place for jazz,” Mr. Tucker says, “and now there will be no outlet for people to find out what's going on.”

        GET JAZZED: Tristate radio stations with jazz shows should e-mail me (johnkiese@yahoo.com), and I'll publish a list before WNOP-AM signs off.

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