Univision Purchases The Root

5-22-15

As a way of branching out to a new audience, media giant Univision Communications announced that it has acquired TheRoot.com, an online news, opinion and culture destination targeting African-Americans. Terms of the transaction have not yet been disclosed.

The Root's Publisher and VP of Digital Donna Byrd will join the leadership team of Univision Digital. Lyne Pitts will continue in her role as the managing editor of The Root.

Isaac Lee, president of News and Digital for UCI and CEO of Fusion, said: "Like Univision, The Root aims to serve a significant segment of America's diverse population. Our diverse communities are continuing to define the fabric of the country, from buying power, to social influence, to elections. This game-changing union strengthens our ability to fulfill our shared missions of informing and empowering our communities."

"This bold new partnership between Univision and The Root underscores the ties that have long bound people of color together throughout the Western Hemisphere and is a sign of even greater levels of communication, collaboration and exchange between these culturally vital groups of people," said Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University and chairman of The Root, who co-founded The Root along with Donald Graham, CEO and chairman of Graham Holdings Company, in January of 2008.

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Alpha Media Closes On Purchases Of 7 More

5-1-15

Alpha Media announced Friday that they have closed on the purchases of seven radio stations, three from Coast Radio Company and four from Free Lance-Star Radio. The Coast Radio stations sold are KUIC-FM/Vacaville, CA, KKIQ-FM/Livermore, CA, and KKDV-FM/Walnut Creek, CA.  The Free Lance-Star stations purchased are WFLS-FM and WNTX-AM/Fredericksburg, VA, WVBX-FM/Spotsylvania, VA, and WWUZ-FM in Bowling Green, VA.

Chairman of Alpha Media, Larry Wilson commented on the closures, saying: "We are very fortunate to be able to work with such great employees at all of the stations. Each cluster is exceptional
and brings its own unique attributes to the company, allowing us to build a diverse and dynamic culture."

Media Venture Partners was the broker for Coast Radio Group and George Reed of Media Services Group was the broker for Free Lance-Star Radio.

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Townsquare Purchases Country Music Festival

11-3-14

WE Fest is a country music and camping festival founded in 1983 and based in Detroit Lakes, MN. Townsquare pays $21.5 million in cash and 100,000 Townsquare Media Class A common shares for the festival located at the Soo Pass Ranch, a 500-acre lakefront facility comprised of a natural amphitheater and more than 9,000 campsites. Townsquare Executive VP for Live Events Dhruv Prasad said, ?The addition of WE Fest to our portfolio of music festivals positions Townsquare Media as one of the leading country music festival owners in the United States. We look forward to continuing to grow the audience at WE Fest, along with the operating leadership team of the festival, including Bob Bliss, John Gourley, and Mark Schultz, who will be joining Townsquare.?

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Alpha Purchases Buckley Stations in California

10-10-14

Larry Wilson's Alpha Media announced today they have entered into a definitive agreement to purchase radio stations from Buckley Broadcasting of California and Buckley Communications. Buckley Broadcasting and Buckley Communications own six radio stations; four stations located in Bakersfield, California which include KKBB(FM), KLLY(FM), KNZR(AM) and KNZR-FM and two radio stations in Merced, California; KHTN(FM) and KUBB(FM).

Wilson will add the Buckley clusters to the seventy stations (which includes two under LMAs) currently in the Alpha Media portfolio when all pending deals are completed, bringing the total number of stations owned by Alpha Media to seventy-four. Commenting on the acquisition, Wilson said, ?The Buckley clusters in California will be a great addition to the west coast footprint. Merced is a unique city with a thriving arts scene and adventurous community. As one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, Bakersfield is a rich and vibrant city full of live and local opportunities.?

Joseph Bilotta, President and CEO of Buckley Broadcasting and Communications said, ?In Alpha we will pass the mantle and stewardship of our broadcast facilities in Bakersfield and Merced, CA. We have owned these wonderful stations for over 20+ years and our employees, audiences and advertising partners will benefit from the energy and considerable

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JVC Closes West Palm Purchases

9-14-14

Eddie Esserman of Media Services Group tells Radio Ink that the deal between JVC and North Palm Beach Broadcasting for WSVU (AM), W240CF, and W295BJ has closed. North Palm Beach Broadcasting was run by Jim Martin and Tricia Woods, and JVC is run by John Caracciolo. Esserman represented North Palm Beach Broadcasting in this deal.

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Two Florida Translator Purchases By Cox

2-16-14

Cox has agreed to purchase the construction permits for W246CY (97.1 FM) in Bradenton and W273CP (102.5 FM) in New Port Richey. Cox will pick up the translators from Circuitwerkes for $187,950. Cox has an Alternative Rock format out of Holiday at 97.1 and talker "The Bone," (WHPT) out of Sarasota on 102.5. Bob Heymann of Media Services Group served as the broker representing the buyer in this transaction.

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Curtis Purchases Wilmington FM Translator

2-10=14

Another FM translator purchase for Don Curtis, this one is a construction permit for W235CG in Ogden (Wilmington), NC. Curtis will pay Starboard Media Foundation, a Wisconsin non-profit corporation $10K. Bob Heymann of the Chicago office of Media Services Group served as the exclusive broker representing the buyer in this transaction.

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Curtis Purchases Translator In Greensboro

8-28-13

Eastern Airwaves, an affiliate of Curtis Media, has agreed to purchase the CP for FM Translator W228CM in Greensboro, NC, from Wake Forest University for $125,000. Earlier this year, Eastern purchased W249CN in Fairfield, NC. Curtis has three AM stations and one FM translator in the area. WCOG-AM in Greensboro is all sports; WSJS-AM in Winston-Salem is News/Talk; and WPCM-AM in Alamance County is oldies and beach music and already has an FM translator.

Bob Heymann of the Chicago office of Media Services Group served as the exclusive broker representing the buyer in this transaction.

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Saul Levine Purchases a Buckley Station

5-24-13

Richard Foreman brokers the deal that sends KYZZ-FM in Salinas, California to Saul Levine's Mt. Wilson Broadcasting. No price tag in the announcement. The Buckley Class A (at 97.9) is a sports format carrying ESPN. Buckley will continue the ESPN affiliation on KIDD-AM. Mt. Wilson also owns KKGO-FM and KMZT-AM in the Los Angeles area.

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Armada Media Purchases Eight in Nebraska

5-3-13

Armada Media announced the acquisition of eight stations in Nebraska, two FM?s in North Platte market (KZTL & KRNP) and six stations in the Scottsbluff market (KMOR-FM, KETT-FM, KOZY-FM, KHYY-FM, KOAQ-AM & KOLT-AM).  Armada is acquiring the stations from GI Hometown Family / Legacy Broadcasting. 

Included in the transaction GI is acquiring Armada?s two stations (KMTY-FM &  KUVR-AM) in Holdrege, NE.  Armada Media President and CEO Chris Bernier said, ?This is a perfect fit for Armada, with the addition of two FM?s to our cluster in North Platte we now have five stations in the market (Four FM?s and an AM) and gives us the dominate position we?ve been striving for.  Also, we add a market we?ve been looking at for a long time in Scottsbluff, we?ve believe there is tremendous growth potential in the market.?  An LMA began on the stations immediately.  Armada now operates 37 radio stations in 7 states in the Midwest.

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Lamar Purchases Next Media's Billboards

10-26-2012

Thursday Lamar outdoor announced it had agreed to purchase the outdoor division of NextMedia for $145 million. In addition to its 33 radio stations in eight states, Next Media owns and operates outdoor billboards in 8 states. The sale of the boards does not impact the radio division of Next Media. 

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Rich Purchases All Chaparral Stations

10-21-2012

The price is $3.7 million for seven FMs, one AM, and four translators, according to Jody McCoy of Media Services Group who brokered the deal. Rich Broadcasting buys the stations located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Sun Valley, Idaho, from Chaparral Broadcasting. Here is the full listing of the stations in the deal.

Licensed to Jackson, WY:
KMTN-FM
KZJH-FM
KJAX-FM
KSGT-AM

Licensed to Sun Valley, ID:
KECH-FM
KSKI-FM
KYZK-FM

Licensed to Island Park, ID:
KOUW-FM

Translators:
K265DA     Teton Village, WY
K296EG     Jackson, WY
K276DW     Ketchum, ID
K239AU     Driggs, ID

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Liberty Purchases More Sirius Stock

9-6-2012

Last night Liberty Media filed another document with the SEC listing purchase dates of September 4th and September 5th for more Sirius XM stock. The filing says Liberty is purchasing another 5.5 million shares. Liberty CEO John Malone has made no secret of the fact that it wants to take control of Sirius XM by purchasing enough stock to become the majority shareholder. Two big questions; What will Liberty do with the company? And, what will Mel Karmazin do after his contract expires at the end of this year.

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University of Texas Purchases KXBT For $6 Million

8-23-2012

KXBT-FM was once part of Border Media Partners, before it went through a restructuring and Larry Patrick was appointed the trustee. Today Patrick announced that the university has agreed to purchase the Austin station for $6 million. Back in 2009, Border Media Partners had 29 stations which were taken over by its lenders. Most of the stations aired Spanish-language formats.

Here's what the university posted on its website about the sale:

"New programming will begin on KUTX 98.9 FM and KUT 90.5 FM sometime this fall, following Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval. Differentiating KUT?s news and music services across two stations is consistent with our strategic plan to double impact by 2020 and contribute to the long-term public service and sustainability of KUT," said Stewart Vanderwilt, director and general manager of KUT Public Radio. "The new KUT Public Media Studios ? with their increased production capacity, public spaces and direct audience interaction ? are the foundation of this strategic direction."
KUTX 98.9 will feature a public radio-style music format with diverse playlists covering the broad spectrum of music that makes Austin a global music destination. Programming will include many of KUT's existing music programs along with interviews, in-studio performances, the music journalism program "Texas Music Matters" and local arts-related news and commentary. Additionally, the all-music station will provide a high-profile platform for promoting and sharing content from the new KUT Public Media Studios' Performance Studio 1A and the KUT-operated Cactus Cafe.
KUT 90.5 FM, NPR and Austin News from the Capital of Texas will continue to broadcast national news and information programming, including NPR's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered," "Fresh Air," "Wait, Wait ? Don't Tell Me," "A Prairie Home Companion," and "This American Life," among other national and local programs. The new dedicated format will enable KUT to add additional national news programs and enable KUT's award-winning news team to provide a deeper level of context and a broader forum for the voices shaping Central Texas.
"Austin is one of only two state capitals in a major market without a full-time news and information public radio station," continued Vanderwilt. "Austin has all the demographic and social attributes ? high levels of education, political engagement, civic participation and a strong sense of place ? needed for a full-time public radio news station to thrive."
KUT and the University of Texas at Austin are purchasing the station from the Border Media Business Trust in a deal brokered by Public Radio Capital, an independent nonprofit organized to support the growth of public stations throughout the country, for $6 million. No tuition or taxpayer money will be used for the purchase.
KUTX 98.9 FM will provide roughly the same five-county metro-area coverage as KUT 90.5 FM.

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Townsquare Purchases MOG's Ad Network

9-23-2012

The official announcement is expected to be made at 9 a.m. this morning. This Townsquare purchase, believed to be a little over $10 million, has more to do with Townsquare's national websites than its 242 local radio station websites. The MOG network, which has 60 million unique monthly users, sells ads from about 1,500 publishers (a third party provider serves the ads), and Townsquare was already using the network to serve ads for its consumer site www.tasteofcountry.com.

In addition to radio, Townsquare is building a digital business, so this purchase fits into their big-picture strategy. Other national Townsquare websites include www.popcrush.com, www.screencrush.com, and www.ultimateclassicrock.com. The company has about a dozen of these consumer-focused sites. The MOG network has offices in Berkley, Santa Monica, Chicago, and New York. All offices will remain open and all employees will remain employed.

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MainstreamNetwork Purchases StreamAudio

5-21-2012

Streaming company MainstreamNetwork has acquired Tacom based StreamAudio. The purchase of StreamAudio marks the third such acquisition in the last three years by ChristianNetcast.com, the parent company of MainstreamNetwork. In April 2009, CNC purchased NWR Network (NWR) of Colorado Springs and in 2011 they acquired Barnabas Road Media of Indianapolis. As the parent company, CNC now owns and operates MainstreamNetwork, BRM, NWR, and StreamAudio. Terms of the StreamAudio deal were not disclosed. 

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Bustos Building Again. Purchases Four in Portland.

With a goal of owning 20 stations within 5 years, Amador Bustos is 1/5 of the way there. Bustos exercised his option to purchase four stations in Portland Oregon that he had been LMAing from Adelante Media Group since October. The stations are; KGDD-AM, a Regional Mexican format, KXET-AM (a simulcast with 93.5 FM), KOOR-AM (Russian Radio 7 ? Religious music and talk) and KRYN-AM (Radio Familiar ?  Spanish Christina).

Bustos had a pretty rough go his last time around the radio block. Back in 2010 Bustos Media had to forfeit its radio and television stations when it went into default. Bustos told Radio Ink last night "Minority broadcasters are an ?endangered species.?  My mission is a conservation effort to not have this species become totally extinct.  I want to establish Bustos Media as a premier small privately owned Spanish language regional broadcast group."

Bustos says the time to get back in is now. "The market place could not be better to grow a broadcast group, but since I want to do it without external private equity, it may take longer to execute.  For that reason,  I may be unable to take advantage of all the opportunities currently available. I would like to have approximately 20 stations in four markets within fairly close geographical proximity." His lesson after losing his stations the first time around; "Take the least possible high-priced private equity or bank debt."

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