After being convicted in July 2016 of six felony charges for misusing his office for personal gain and his appeal denied last month, former Alabama Speaker of the House and Auburn Networks owner Michael Hubbard is selling his broadcast assets.
Hubbard will sell Auburn Networks’ Classic Hits “Wings 94.3” WGZZ Waverly, News/Talk 1400 WANI Opelika/98.7 W254AY Auburn, Sports “ESPN Auburn” 106.7 W294AR Auburn/WGZZ-HD3, Soft AC “96.3 WLEE” W242AX/WGZZ-HD4 a pending application for a translator on 105.1 Auburn and a CP for low-power TV WHBD-LD Auburn to Lee Perryman’s Auburn Networks LLC for $775,000. The deal also includes East Alabama Living magazine published by the company.
Perryman will begin operating the stations via LMA no later than October 1. In the sale filing Hubbard states that the entire $775,000 purchase price will be utilized to pay off creditors mostly Auburn Bank. The buyer will also assume $64,982.90 in debt related to what’s owed on the station’s promotional vehicle, tower lease, and other station equipment.
Perryman is the owner of Marble City Media, which owns five stations in nearby portions of Alabama including AC “AU 100” 100.3 WAUE Waverly also serving the Auburn/Opelika market.