Radio and Television Transactions

Three weeks after winning a battle over an FM translator's rebroadcast of a station now owned by Townsquare Media, the station's owner has agreed to sell the facility to an Allentown, Pa., based entity.

After more than 12 years since voluntarily entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Granite Broadcasting has sold its final property. It comes after a switch of the CBS affiliate to another station in the market, placing two diginets on the station now trading hands to a Sinclair Inc. shared services partner.

New York's Finger Lakes Region offers outdoors enthusiasts, wine lovers and beer and spirits connoisseurs a bevy of activities. For digital media veteran Scott Swanson, attracting these business as Radio advertisers is now in the cards. Why? He just agreed to purchase Finger Lakes Radio Group.

It has served the African American community in Wisconsin's largest market since 1967. Pending FCC approval, it will become the latest property in the Civic Media stable — along with a 61-year-old newspaper serving the Black community of Milwaukee.

He's the face behind Venture Technologies Group and has been an active player in the low-power television business. Now, he has agreed to purchase a low-power Class A facility in The Dalles, Oregon.

It's a deal consummated on October 31 but not filed for FCC regulatory approval until now. And, it sees one of the biggest names in South Asian-focused media in the U.S. agree to purchase 22 low power television stations in various markets across the nation.

Prolific low-power television station trader Jeff Winemiller is purchasing another facility. This time, he's set his eyes on Macon, Ga., thanks to a deal with another familiar face in LPTV circles.

A 100-watt noncommercial FM radio station serving tiny Dushore, Pa., is being acquired by a 50/50 partnership that will put it in the hands of a purveyor of AEC support services and equipment and a local community solutions organization.

Across Italy, Marco Mazzoli is known as a Radio 105 "Zookeeper." In the U.S., he's been associated with a group of FM signals in South Florida for nearly a decade. Now, Mazzoli-led ANCO Media Group are ready to bring their radio "Revolution" to Sin City in a deal brokered by Michael J. Bergner.

Travel to Visalia, Calif., and you'll find an automotive family focused on everything from Cadillacs and Chryslers to Dodge, Ford, GMC and Honda vehicles across five dealerships, plus GA Motorsports. It turns out the family behind these car and truck centers loves radio, and is buying an AM/FM combo.

In recent years, he agreed to resurrect an AM left for dead by Beasley Media Group, and brought back three FM radio stations from the brink of extinction in Panama City, Fla., following Hurricane Harvey in October 2018. Now, Sam Rogatinsky is moving forward with a swap of FM translators. 

A Class C AM serving Centerville, Iowa, and its FM translator companion are being acquired by a new licensee of radio stations co-owned in a 50/50 split by Austin Anderson and Russell Ocker.

In March 2018, it was one of four FM radio stations divested as part of the company's Chapter 11 reorganization petition, and placed in a trust overseen by veteran media broker Elliot Evers. It eventually wound up back in Cumulus Media's hands, only to go silent in March. Now, a buyer has been found.

If one were to ask about the history of digital multicast TV channels, they'd likely turn to Gary Cocola. He pioneered the use of a single frequency's ATSC capabilities to deliver a dozen unique over-the-air offerings to viewers. Cocola is also a radio station owner, and he's decided to spin an FM translator.

Ellensburg, Wash., is home to an FM with a Construction Permit for a Class C2 facility allowing it to touch parts of Yakima and Wenatchee. Its sibling is a 1kw Class C AM from a single transmitter. Both facilities are now poised to be controlled by a single individual who had 50% interest in the stations.