Station Sales
Tim McKernan, who currently operates 920 WGNU Granite City IL and 105.7 KPNT-HD2 Collinville/St. Louis with Sports programming from his InsideSTL.com will become a 25% partner in Markel Radio Group’s “590 The Fan” KFNS Wood River/St. Louis. The ownership will be renamed McKernan Radio Group as Markel will pay McKernan $1.25 million over a five year employment contract to program KFNS and move his “Morning After” show to the station for 7-10am weekdays. McKernan, his wife, and one other employee will receive a car allowance from Markel, while McKernan also gains a $50,000 signing bonus, right of first refusal to match any sale of the station or receive $100,000 prior to the distribution of sale proceeds. McKernan will start his morning show on KFNS upon completion of tower repairs for KFNS.
In Phase Broacasting sells Tejana “La Voz 93.3” KBGT Buffalo Gap/Abilene TX to Pete Garcia’s Extreme Media for $317,290.73. Extreme Media has been operating KBGT via Time Brokerage Agreement since October 2012.
Following last week’s sale of Talk 910 WALT/102.1 WALT-FM Meridian, Classic Hits “95.1 The Buzz” WKZB Marion, and Classic Country 97.9 WUCL Newton from Robert Holladay’s New South Communications to Burke Broadcasting, Burke is swapping WALT and WKZB to Clay Holladay’s Mississippi Broadcasters for Urban “105.7 The Beat” WJXM De Kalb MS. Following the closing of the deals, Burke will own WUCL, WALT-FM and WJXM while operating WALT via a Time Brokerage Agreement and Soft AC “106.9 The Eagle” WEXR Stonewall via a Joint Sales Agreement. Mississippi Broadcasters will own WALT, Gospel 1450 WYHL, WKZB, Country 97.1 WOKK, CHR “Q101” 101.3 WJDQ and Urban AC “104.1 Kiss-FM” WZKS in the Meridian market.
Cumulus’ Joule Broadcasting Trust sells Standards 950 WNZZ Montgomery AL to Shelby Broadcast Associates for $55,000.
Christopher Johnson is buying Southern Gospel 860 WAMI Opp AL from Opp Broadcasting for $15,000 and the installation of a new transmitter for Classic Country 102.3 WAMI-FM Opp.
Wes Griffith and Brad Evans’ Creek Media will purchase 980 WPGA and 100.9 WNEX-FM Perry GA from Radio Perry and 1400 WNEX Macon GA from co-owned Radio Peach’s bankruptcy receiver for $790,000. The buyers will begin operating the three stations via LMA on July 1, but will be required to change the call letters of WPGA as they will be retained by the seller for their WPGA-TV. 980 WPGA and 1400 WNEX currently air Southern Gospel programming, while 100.9 WNEX-FM is Classic Hits.
Educational Media Foundation purchases 88.9 WFRW Battle Ground/Lafayette IN from Christian Radio Friends for $300,000. EMF will flip WFRW to their Christian AC “K-Love” network, which is currently heard in the Lafayette market on 106.7 WKHL West Lafayette.
Brent Epperson is buying out his partners Patricia Ann Bowman Puckett and Mary King in Tri-County Broadcasting’s Conservative Talk 1050 WBRG Lynchburg VA for $60,000. Epperson through his Truth Broadcasting Corporation already owns 580 WLVA Lynchburg.
Cause Plus Marketing sells Oldies 1360 WWOW Conneaut OH to Matthew Jarvi’s Lake Effect Media for $37,500.
Stephens Media sells Sports 1470 KGND and 101.3 K267CC Vinita OK to David Ferber’s Grand Lake Media for $75,000.
High Plains Radio Network purchases Morey Broadcasting’s 1570 KTAT Frederick OK for $35,000.