Zelus Media will pay $3.25 million for Desert Valley Media Group’s Phoenix cluster of Oldies “94.9/95.1 The Wow Factor” KOAI Sun City West/K235CB Chandler, Hot AC “Hot 97.5/103.9” KMVA Dewey-Humboldt/KZON Gilbert, and Hip Hop/R&B “Power 98.3” KKFR Mayer/96.1 K241BQ Fort McDowell. The buyer will owe $2 million at closing with the rest in a promissory note.
Mike Cutchall will own 45% of the new ownership group with Chief Operating Officer Brian Dubiski also holding a 45% stake. Dubiski is also VP/Business Development & Partner Channels for Houston based Rhino Marketing. Chief Revenue Officer Art Morales holds a 10% stake. Morales was previously VP/Sales at Riviera Broadcasting when they owned the stations from 2019-21 and was General Sales Manager for Sandusky Radio and Clear Channel Phoenix, SVP/Sales for iHeartMedia Minneapolis, and VP/Sales & Automotive Partnerships for iHeart.
Original Report 8/2: Jeff Trumper has announced the sale of Desert Valley Media Group and its properties in Phoenix to Mike Cutchall’s Zelus Media for an undisclosed amount.
The deal includes Oldies “94.9/95.1 The Wow Factor” KOAI Sun City West/K235CB Chandler, Hot AC “Hot 97.5/103.9” KMVA Dewey-Humboldt/KZON Gilbert, and Hip Hop/R&B “Power 98.3” KKFR Mayer/96.1 K241BQ Fort McDowell. He will begin operating the stations via LMA on September 1.
Cutchall has been Market Manager of Beasley Media Group Las Vegas since May 2023. He had served as CEO of Riviera Broadcasting from 2015 to 2020 prior to it being reorganized into Desert Valley Media Group. Cutchall has also served as CEO for Zelus ESports and ran YMF Media after it acquired Inner City Broadcasting from 2012-15 and Sun City Communications from 2002-10. He has also held roles as Chief Operating Officer of Prism Radio Partners from 1992-96, Regional VP for SFX Broadcasting from 1996-98, and EVP for AMFM Broadcasting from 1998-2002.
Trumper commented, “These stations represent a group of diverse formats—Hip Hop, Adult Contemporary, and Classic Hits—all of which have been market leaders in their various target demographics. It has been a sincere privilege to have led DESERT VALLEY MEDIA GROUP and its tremendous staff of outstanding broadcast professionals.”
Cutchall added, “We are thrilled to enter the Phoenix market, one of the fastest growing regions in the country. We extend our deepest appreciation to Jeff Trumper and his team for their exceptional management of Desert Valley Media Group during the challenging times of a pandemic and subsequent recovery years. We look forward to working with the outstanding Desert Valley Media Group staff”
Kalil & Company acted as the exclusive broker for the deal.
