River Radio Ministries is acquiring Country 104.5 WQKT and Classic Hits 960 WKVX Wooster OH from Dix 1898 for $3,050,000.
The buyer owns the four station “The River” Christian AC brand heard on commercial operated 104.9 WCVO Gahana/Columbus and non-com’s 89.3 WZCP Chillicothe, 89.3 WZNP Newark, and 90.9 WFCO Lancaster OH.
WQKT rimshots both the Akron and Canton markets. Positioned as “Sports Country”, the station currently carries a large portfolio of play-by-play including local high school sports, Ohio State University, College of Wooster, and all three Cleveland pro franchises. The station carries Westwood One’s “Nash Icon” programming in other dayparts.
The stations were the final media assets of the former Dix Communications, now Dix 1898 as the company sold their stations in Cumberland MD in 2015, Gainesville/Ocala FL in 2018 and their newspaper holdings in 2017. The family owned company had owned both stations since they were built in 1947.
Greg Guy’s Tideline Partners served as broker for the seller.
River Radio Ministries, parent company of 104.9 the River (WCVO-FM), has entered into an agreement to purchase 104.5 WQKT-FM/960 WKVX-AM, located in Wooster, OH from WWST Corporation, owned by parent company Dix 1898, Inc. This AM/FM Combo has been serving the Wooster area and surrounding counties successfully for decades and River Radio Ministries is grateful to have the opportunity to continue serving the local community with these stations.
River Radio Ministries President/CEO Bill Montgomery is hopeful for the future. “We are excited to serve Wooster and the surrounding community the way we have served central Ohio for the last 50 years! We desire to continue building on a community focused foundation that the listeners and advertisers can embrace.”
Charles Dix, president of WWST Corporation and Dix 1898, Inc., is grateful for his family’s legacy in the Wooster area. “Wooster and the surrounding area have played a role in our business and family since 1898; it is a dynamic and thriving community,” Dix said. “It has been an honor to serve listeners with news, sports and music, as well as help and support our advertisers.”
Montgomery of River Radio Ministries indicates the large signal coverage (52,000 watts) and the new FM transmitter that will be able to broadcast an adjacent (second channel) high-definition signal that can rebroadcast the AM format in FM quality to a larger geographic audience is exciting. “We also look forward to using two newly remodeled recording studios for community programing and advertisers,” Montgomery indicated.
River Radio plans to operate the stations commercially, facilitating advertisers.
This transaction was brokered exclusively by Greg Guy of Tideline Partners, an Akron, OH native.
The agreement has been filed with the FCC for approval and River Radio Ministries will take possession of the stations pending FCC approval, likely in the 1st quarter of 2024.
