Black Diamond Broadcast Holdings will acquire Northern Star Broadcasting. The agreement will see seven northern Michigan radio stations plus a translator transferred to Black Diamond, pending FCC approval.
Black Diamond, owned by long-time broadcast executives and Michiganians Mike Chires and Norm McKee, currently has WUPS(FM) Harrison and WTWS(FM) Houghton Lake, which they bought last year. The Northern Star Broadcasting stations to be acquired for $1.95 million are WCBY(AM) Cheboygan, WGFM(FM) Cheboygan, WCHY(FM) Cheboygan, WGFN(FM) Glenn Arbor, WMKC(FM) Indian River, WOEZ(FM) Onaway, WQEZ(FM) Glenn Arbor and W264CF St. Ignace.
Northern Star Broadcasting’s President Del Reynolds said in a statement, “These radio stations are huge technical facilities reaching from Cadillac to Canada and Traverse City to Alpena. I believe that Black Diamond is the radio group to continue the tradition of being committed local broadcasters and will be honorable trustees of these FCC licenses.”
Black Diamond Partner and CEO Mike Chires applauded Northern Star’s work on building the stations he’s acquiring as “powerhouses” and that he looks forward to “continuing the legacy and the relationships they’ve built with their clients and communities that these great stations serve.”
Jason James of Patrick Communications was exclusive broker. FCC approval is expected this fall.
