Update 5/6: Summit Media has closed on its purchase of the Cox clusters in Birmingham, Greenville, Honolulu, Louisville, and Richmond.
Update 2/14: The FCC filings for the sales show how much each group is paying for their new acquisitions. Connoisseur will be paying $40 Million for the Connecticut stations, while Summit Media is giving Cox $66.25 Million for the Birmingham, Greenville, Honolulu, Louisville, and Richmond clusters.
Original Report 2/12: After placing stations in six markets up for sale last summer, Cox Media has announced who will be acquiring the stations.
The Connecticut stations of Rock 99.1 WPLR in New Haven and Classic Rock “95.9 The Fox” WFOX and AC “Star 99.9” WEZN in Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk and LMA’d Urban AC 94.3 WYBC-FM New Haven will go to Connoisseur Media.
The other five markets: Birmingham, Greenville, Honolulu, Louisville, and Richmond will go to Summit Media. The new group is led by Carl Palmer and current Cox Birmingham market manager David DuBose. The other managers from the acquired markets are involved in the Summit group according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
This is the dream scenario for our Hawaii stations. To be purchased by a company comprised of former Cox Media Group Managers ensures that operations will not be interrupted during the transition and most importantly, staff will remain in place. It also ushers in a new level of local decision making,” said Patti Milburn, vice president and general manager.
The stations Summit will acquire are:
Birmingham – Urban “95.7 Jamz” WBHJ, Sports “97.3 The Zone” WZNN, Urban AC “98.7 Kiss-FM” WBHK, Country 104.7 WZZK, Classic Hits “106.9 The Eagle” WBPT, Gospel “Heaven 610” WAGG, Classic Hip-Hop “Power 102.1” 1320 WENN/102.1 W270BW and programming rights to Urban “105.1 Jamz” WALJ Tuscaloosa.
Greenville, SC – CHR “Hot 98.1” WHZT and Urban “107.3 Jamz” WJMZ-FM plus translators “97.7 Chuck-FM” and Alternative “X 98.5” owned by Tower Above Media but operated by Cox.
Louisville – Country “Q103.1” WQNU, Classic Country “Country Legends 103.9” WRKA, AC “Lite 106.9” WVEZ, and Classic Hits “107.7 The Eagle” WSFR
Honolulu – AC “Krater 96” 96.3 KRTR-FM, Hawaiian CHR “FM 100” 100.3 KCCN, Rhythmic CHR “Power 104.3” KPHW, Hawaiian AC “Hawaiian 105” 105.9 KINE, Soft AC “AM 650” KRTR, and Traditional Hawaiian “AM 940” KKNE.
Richmond – Country “K95” 95.3 WKHK, Classic Rock 96.5 WKLR, CHR “Hot 100.9” WHTI, and Modern AC “103.7 The River” WURV.
Hey! Mahalo (thank-you, in Hawaiian) for using my reporting in your post!