Connoisseur Media and Buckley Broadcasting announced 3/5 that Connoisseur is purchasing the radio station group based in Hartford, CT. The stations include WDRC-AM/FM Hartford, CT; WMMW-AM Meriden, CT; WWCO-AM Waterbury, CT and WSNG-AM Torrington, CT.
Dick Foreman of Richard A. Foreman Associates, Inc. represented Buckley in the transaction. He tells RBR-TVBR: “The deal is compatible with Jeff Warshaw’s strategic northeast acquisition program and provides fill-in to his Long Island and Connecticut acquisitions.”
Joe Bilotta, Buckley President and CEO said in a letter to employees: “After much reflection, the Board of Trustees has decided that the reality of the evolving competitive landscape, and our sincere desire to see this historic brand continue, are cause for a change in the ownership of our Connecticut properties.”
“Our decision to negotiate with, and eventually sell WDRC AM/FM to Connoisseur gives our audience, advertisers and employees access to the considerable resources of this multi-dimensional media and entertainment company. For over ½ of a century Buckley Broadcasting has been the steward of these great call letters and there is not a better company than Connoisseur to ensure the continued and accelerated future success of the WDRC brand.”
Buckley Radio currently owns 14 radio stations in 5 markets.
BUCKLEY STATIONS SOLD TO CONNOISSEUR
Station Format and Freq. Power HAAT City of License
WDRC-AM News/Talk 1360 5k-D/N == Hartford
WDRC-FM Clsc Hits 102.9 19.5k 810’ Hartford
WMMW (AM) [WDRC-AM] 1470 2.5-D/N == Meriden
WSNG (AM) [WDRC-AM] 610 1k/.5 == Torrington
WWCO (AM) [WDRC-AM] 1240 1kw == Waterbury
WDRC – Doolittle Radio Corporation – the Big D – the call letters have existed since 1925, and WDRC-FM is reputed to be America’s first FM station starting up in 1939. A CBS affiliate from 1930 through 1959, when Buckley/Jaeger purchased it from Mr. Doolittle and changed the format in August 1960 to Radio Fun – music and disc jockeys. I believe that Connoisseur will only be WDRC’s third owner in the station’s 90+ years of existence.
Congratulations to Dick Foreman on this excellent transaction between two very fine radio broadcasters. This transaction confirms that radio transactions are beginning to open up after a 6 or more year disaster in trading. Hopefully the bankers will once again be part of radios continued growth as a very profitable investment.
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