Months after announcing its intent to purchase 92.1 WWAX Hermantown/Duluth MN from Twin Ports Radio, Townsquare Media has filed the purchase with the FCC.
Townsquare will pay $370,000 for the station with $240,000 due at closing and the rest deferred to be paid within six months of closing. Townsquare began operating WWAX via LMA on February 1 at which time it moved the programming of Classic Rock “Sasquatch 106.5” 560 WEBC/106.5 W293CT Duluth to the stronger 92.1 signal and then relaunched the AM/translator combo with WWAX’s former Sports programming a few weeks later as “Fan 106.5” running the regional network originating at iHeartMedia’s “K-Fan” 100.3 KFXN-FM Minneapolis.
Original Report 1/30: Townsquare Media has announced it will acquire Sports “92.1 The Fan” WWAX Hermantown/Duluth MN from Twin Ports Radio and flip it to Classic Rock “Sasquatch 92.1” on Saturday, February 1 via Time Brokerage Agreement.
WWAX will assume the format and programming currently heard on 560 WEBC/106.5 W293CT Duluth since October 2015. The Sports format currently heard on WWAX will relaunch on those stations on February 17 as “Fan 106.5” continuing to feature programming from iHeartMedia’s 100.3 KFXN Minneapolis and Fox Sports Radio.
Twin Ports Radio will continue to operate Sports “100.9 The Jock” 1490 KJOQ/100.9 W265DO.
Townsquare Media, announced today that beginning on February 1, 2020, Townsquare Media Duluth will operate WWAX-FM (92.1 FM) under a Time Brokerage Agreement with Twin Ports Radio, LLC.
WWAX currently broadcasts The FAN Radio Network and local sports programming on 92.1 FM. Townsquare Media Duluth has also acquired the Duluth/Superior radio broadcast rights for the Minnesota Vikings football team, for the 2020-2024 seasons. Townsquare and Twin Ports Radio, LLC also expect to enter an agreement in the near term whereby Townsquare will acquire WWAX.
WWAX will join Townsquare Media Duluth’s leading local media brands B105, MIX 108, KOOL 101.7, and Sasquatch. Townsquare expects to move The FAN Radio Network and all sports programming currently broadcast on WWAX (92.1 FM) to WEBC (560 AM & 106.5 FM) during the week of February 17, 2020. This will bring the Midwest’s hottest sports radio network back to its original Northland home on WEBC.
WEBC will also carry on the tradition of local sports broadcasting featuring regular season and playoff high school football and hockey games, and Grandma’s Marathon.
Classic rocker Sasquatch 106.5 FM, which made its Northland debut in October 2015, will move to 92.1 FM as ‘Sasquatch 92-1’. Sasquatch will continue to feature a roster of local talent along with a top shelf national line-up that includes the Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show, Nights with Alice Cooper, and more. Minnesota Vikings football broadcasts will broadcast on both WEBC (560 AM, 106.5 FM) and WWAX-FM (92.1 FM).
“With its fun, irreverent attitude, Sasquatch 106.5 has quickly earned a loyal following. Moving it to 92.1-FM will provide the opportunity for the station to reach even more Northland listeners who love real classic rock,” said Townsquare Media Duluth Operations Manager, David Drew.
Mary Niemeyer, Townsquare Media Duluth Market President and Chief Revenue Officer, commented, “All of these programming moves greatly improve the experience for our local listeners and the marketing solutions we can provide for our local advertising partners, enhancing our position as a premiere local media company in the Northland. We are thrilled to bring The FAN back home to WEBC along with the Minnesota Vikings, while providing our rabid Sasquatch audience extended reach on 92.1 FM.”
Townsquare’s Chief Executive Officer, Bill Wilson added, “We are pleased to announce this strategic move which will strengthen our position in Duluth, and more importantly, strengthen our content offering for our local community and our marketing capabilities for our local advertising partners. The addition of WWAX to our local media portfolio is a clear demonstration of our ‘Local First’ strategy, which is a commitment to super-serve our local clients, local listeners and local communities while helping local businesses grow.”
