Wisconsin-based Civic Media Inc. plans to acquire 13 radio stations and several translators in southeast Iowa and west central Illinois from the Pritchard family.
Civic Media currently owns stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.
The sale, which needs FCC approval, involves stations owned by Pritchard Broadcasting Corp., Titan Broadcasting LLC and Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
Kalil & Co. served as broker for the transaction. The sale price was not disclosed.
“These stations have earned an important place in their communities through relationships they have built with listeners, local businesses and community organizations. We recognize the value of those local connections and look forward to building on that foundation as we expand our presence into these markets,” said Sage Weil, CEO and founder of Civic Media in the announcement.
Titan Broadcasting has been owned by John C. “LJ” Pritchard since 2007, according to a press release. Pritchard Broadcasting Corp. and Galesburg Broadcasting were owned and operated by John T. Pritchard until his death in August.
John C. Pritchard was quoted in the announcement, “Like my father, I believe strongly that small towns need their own media outlets to help disseminate important local information, support a vibrant business community and keep the local public informed about hyper-local matters.
“Joining the Civic Media family provides the best path forward for these stations to continue to serve the local communities today and grow and flourish long into the future,” he said.
Civic Media will acquire KGRS(FM), KBKB(AM/FM), KBUR(AM), KKMI(FM), KDMG(FM), KHDK(FM) and WQKQ(FM), in the Burlington, Iowa, market.
Also coming to Civic Media will be WLSR(FM) WGIL(AM), WKAY(FM), WAAG(FM) and WZIE(FM) in Galesburg, Ill.
Civic Media said listeners can continue to look to the stations for familiar programming.
“Across our footprint, we are committed to covering the stories most relevant to the markets we serve,” Weil said in the media release.
“We believe radio plays a crucial role in our local communities and we look forward to supporting the teams at Titan Broadcasting, Pritchard Broadcasting, and Galesburg Broadcasting Company in fulfilling that role.”
Civic Media was founded in 2022. The company calls itself a “public benefit corporation” dedicated to providing quality broadcast and digital hometown radio focusing on local, regional and state issues.
