Gray Television has no intent on becoming radio operators.
In its $442.5 million deal to acquire Schurz Communications, the company inherited radio clusters in Lafayette and South Bend IN and Rapid City SD. They have simultaneously filed to transfer each market to a different buyer.
The Lafayette stations Rock 93.5 WKHY, Classic Hits 98.7 WASK-FM, CHR “B102.9” WXXB, Country “K105” 105.3 WKOA, and Sports “ESPN 1450” WASK will go to Neuhoff Communications for $8 million. The purchase is the first move of Neuhoff outside the state of Illinois where the company owns clusters in Danville, Decatur, and Springfield and agreed to purchase Connoisseur’s three Bloomington stations a few weeks ago. Neuhoff CEO Beth Neuhoff serves on the Gray Television Board of Directors.
In South Bend, the stations currently owned by Schurz and Douglas Road Radio will go to Midwest Family Broadcasting for $5.5 million and the assumption of certain obligations. The stations are Classic Hits “Z94.3” WZOC, News/Talk 960 WSBT/96.1 W241AD, Country “New Country 99.9” WHFB-FM, and AC “Sunny 101.5” WNSN.
CHR “Hot 93.1” KRCS/97.5 K248BT/98.3 K252DN/103.9 K280AJ, Hot AC “93.9 The Mix” KKMK, Country “Kat 98.7” KOUT, Classic Rock “100.3 The Fox” KFXS in Rapid City will go to HomeSlice Media Group for $2.2 million. HomeSlice already owns “SmashHits” 920 KKLS/104.7 K284BA Rapid City and Farm “Big 81” KBHB Sturgis that it acquired from Schurz last year.
Gray Television, Inc. (“Gray” or “we” or “our”) (NYSE: GTN and GTN.A) announced today that it has reached agreements to sell all of the radio stations that are included in Gray’s pending acquisition of the broadcast assets of Schurz Communications, Inc. (“Schurz”).
At the closing of the Gray/Schurz transaction, Schurz will transfer its radio stations in South Bend, Indiana, to Mid-West Family Broadcast Group; its radio stations in Lafayette, Indiana, to Neuhoff Communications; and its radio stations in Rapid City, South Dakota, to The HomeSlice Group. These radio broadcasters will directly pay Schurz $16 million in total cash consideration for the radio station assets, and such proceeds will reduce the total consideration payable by Gray to Schurz for the television station assets.
“We originally intended to acquire and operate the Schurz radio stations for the long-term,” explained Kevin Latek, Gray’s Senior Vice President for Business Affairs. “In recent weeks, it became clear that experienced radio broadcasters could better lead these successful radio stations into the future than we could hope to accomplish.”
Mr. Latek said, “We are delighted to have found three stellar family-owned companies to acquire the Schurz radio stations. Each of the buyers already operates similar high-quality radio stations in nearby markets. More importantly, each of the buyers shares the passion and vision of the Schurz organization, which ensures that these radio stations continue to serve their audience and employees as well as any broadcast stations in the country.”
South Bend, Indiana, market: Mid-West Family Broadcasting Group is a nearly 60-year old broadcast company whose current portfolio includes radio stations and digital platforms in seven markets in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri. In four of those markets, Mid-West Family Broadcasting Group is a strong competitor to Gray’s television stations that distinguishes itself for its commitment to local audiences and institutions.
Lafayette, Indiana, market: Neuhoff Communications is a family-owned radio and digital media company focused on small-to mid-size communities. Upon completion of all pending transactions, Neuhoff Communications will own 20 radio stations in five markets in Illinois and Indiana. Its CEO, Beth Neuhoff, recently joined Gray’s Board of Directors.
Rapid City, South Dakota, market: The HomeSlice Group’s acquisition of the Rapid City radio stations will reunite those properties with KBHB / The Big 81 in Sturgis and KKLS 920 / 104.7 Smash Hits in Rapid City, which HomeSlice acquired from Schurz in July 2014. In fact, HomeSlice CEO Dean Kinney previously served as KBHB’s General Manager under Schurz’s ownership. In addition to radio stations, HomeSlice also owns and operates other local businesses including an artist management firm, a creative services business, a concert management company, and a popular restaurant and live music venue. HomeSlice is based in Sturgis, South Dakota.
The radio station transactions announced today will close simultaneously with the Gray/Schurz transaction, which we expect to close in the fourth quarter of 2015 or the first quarter of 2016. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC served as financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal counsel for Gray.
Good news for my old friends on McCarty Lane, Lafayette. The WASK stations will be a good fit for a broadcaster like Neuhoff. It’s an indirect return to Indiana radio for Neuhoff Broadcasting. The family of Neuhoff’s late founder Geoff Neuhoff once own WHUT / WLHN Anderson, Indiana under the name Eastern Broadcasting.
It didn’t sink in until I read the South Bend Tribune’s story on the deal (at http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/gray-television-to-divest-wsbt-radio-group/article_fa4273c2-8174-11e5-bb3a-7b9235c41047.html), but Mid-West Family’s properties in Michigan are just over the border from the South Bend metro–in an unrated area that the company refers to as Southwest Michigan (centered around Benton Harbor/St. Joseph). Is it possible that Mid-West Family would have to spin something off, in order to buy the South Bend-metro stations from Schurz?
The multiple ownership study was included in the sale filing explaining why they should be able to not spin anything off. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101696164&qnum=5170©num=1&exhcnum=1