Ex-Sajak Owned AM Trades Hands

In October 2021, the soon-to-be retired host of the syndicated TV game show Wheel of Fortune decided to part ways with a Class B AM radio station serving Maryland’s state capital.

Just over two years later, the buyers of WNAV-AM have decided to sell it.

BMSC Media, helmed by President Chris Roth, has signed off on the sale of the venerable Annapolis, Md., AM to Victory Media of Maryland.

The buyer, led by Managing Member Todd Bartley, is paying a mere $78,000 for WNAV. A 10% deposit has been made to BMSC; the total value of the transaction is assigned to equipment.

The broker in this transaction is Scott Fybush of Fybush Media, representing BMSC Media.

The buyer will be able to operate WNAV via a Time Brokerage Agreement ahead of closing.

With WNAV, Victory Media will be aligning the station perhaps with “Talk Winchester,” WINC-AM 1400 in Winchester, Va. Bartley through Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport owns WINC-AM and WINC-FM 105.5.

For BMSC Media, an entity that is 76% controlled by former WIAD-FM in Washington, D.C., Program Director Chris Roth and 24% controlled by Francis Brady, purchasing WNAV — minus its broadcast tower and real estate — came at a cost of $1,000.

The transaction does not include WNAV’s former FM translator partner, W260BM in Annapolis, Md. In a separate transaction first reported by RBR+TVBR on December 12, Steve Kingston through Cortona Media is purchasing the facility from Hope Christian Church of Marlton Inc. He is expected to bring back a version of “WRNR,” the longtime Adult Alternative station that in February became an internet-only offering following the sale of its broadcast home to a Baltimore religious broadcast ministry.