Red Zebra Broadcasting is selling Sports 92.7 WWXT Prince Frederick MD and 950 WXGI Richmond VA to Radio One for an undisclosed amount. With the deal, Radio One will begin operating both stations via LMA on Monday, May 1.
WWXT will drop from the “ESPN 980” simulcast it has with 980 WTEM Washington DC and 94.3 WWXX Buckland VA and begin simulcasting Radio One Urban AC “Majic 102.3” WMMJ Bethesda MD. The addition of 92.7 to WMMJ will expand the station’s coverage on the southern and eastern side of the Washington market.
Meanwhile in Richmond, WXGI will retain its ESPN Radio affiliation and begin to simulcast on Radio One’s 1240 WTPS and 102.7 W274BX Petersburg under a new “Richmond ESPN Radio” brand.
With Red Zebra’s co-owned Washington Redskins adding Cumulus News/Talk 630 WMAL/105.9 WMAL-FM as an affiliate this year on top of WTEM/WWXT/WWXX, expectations of a sale or lease of the company’s remaining properties had been growing.
Today, Radio One announced its acquisition of Red Zebra Broadcastings’ WWXT-FM and WXGI-AM. While Red Zebra, a sports marketing company, moves toward a more digital delivery system, Radio One, the largest urban radio broadcaster in the country expands its Washington, DC market and diversifies its Richmond market with this acquisition. DC’s WMMJ MAJIC 102.3 FM, a leading Urban Adult Contemporary station, will simulcast on 92.7 FM and grow its listenership. In Richmond, Radio One will diversify its all-music cluster and maintain the sports radio format of WXGI 950 AM and simulcast the new Richmond ESPN Radio on 1240 AM and 102.7 FM. The local marketing agreement is effective May 1. The deal is anticipated to close by the end of June.
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Radio One said, “I still believe in the power of terrestrial radio and am excited about this deal with Red Zebra. I’m always willing to evaluate an opportunity that allows us to grow our radio assets and continue to diversify our radio group not just through syndication and digital, but good programming that serves our listeners.”
Washington DC WMMJ 92.7 102.3 FM
Effective 12:01 a.m. on May 1st, WWXT-FM licensed to Prince Frederick, Maryland will be the simulcast home of The Sound of the DMV, MAJIC. Listeners will begin their day with the nationally syndicated, Russ Parr Morning Show weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Midday host Vic Jagger will keep listeners engaged Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Radio and television icon Donnie Simpson will continue to entertain listeners weekday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. And John Monds winds the night down with his nationally syndicated show, Love and R&B on Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.
Richmond ESPN Radio 950 AM, 1240 AM and 102.7 FM
WXGI-AM, licensed to Richmond, is the flagship station of the Redskins and Washington Nationals in Richmond, as well as the University of Richmond Spiders football and basketball. Effective 12:01 a.m. on May 1st, listeners can expect the quality sports programming they’ve come to know to be maintained, just expanded on two additional frequencies. Most of the staff will transition to become Radio One Richmond employees.
Eric Jon Magnuson 
When I read DCRTV’s initial report of a potential deal late last week, I did think that 92.7 would make a great partner for 102.3–and that 94.3 likely wouldn’t help Radio One’s cluster. I’m still a bit surprised about the new Richmond ESPN, though; between this deal and the sale of WCHB in Detroit, I guess Radio One may now be deliberately edging away from (non-Sports) Talk. I wonder if anyone will try to buy WSPZ (570) from Red Zebra now–especially if Radio One indeed took a pass on it.
Considering 630 WMAL is about to diplex on the 570 tower site there may be some value there for Cumulus especially with the long gestating rumors of 980 going to Cumulus in an LMA or sale connected to WMAL becoming the new Redskins co-flagship.