Kroenke Sports Acquires Wilks' Denver Stations (KWOF 92.5 FM, KIMN 100.3 FM, KXKL 105.1 FM). UPDATE: Also Acquires KRWZ 950 AM. KRWZ Format Moves To KEZW 1430 AM (Cruisin' Oldies 1430 AM).
From Radio Insight:
Wilks Broadcast Group is selling its three Denver, CO stations to Stan Kroenke’s KSE Radio Ventures for an undisclosed amount.
Kroenke owns a number of Sports properties including the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, MLS Colorado Rapids, Denver based regional sports network Altitude Sports & Entertainment, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman’s Channel, World Fishing Network as well as the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and Arsenal FC of the UK Premier League. The real estate mogul made his fortune developing properties around father-in-law Sam Walton’s Wal-Mart’s.
Following the divestiture of Country “92.5 The Wolf” KWOF, Hot AC “Mix 100.3” KIMN and Classic Hits “Kool 105.1” KXKL in this deal, Wilks will only retain its clusters in Columbus, OH and Reno, NV. As KSE already operates the radio networks for its three Denver sports franchises we’d expect one of the stations to flip to Sports with the rights to the Nuggets, Avalanche, and Rapids.
Wilks purchased the three stations from CBS for $19.5 million in 2008.
KSE Radio Ventures, LLC, a division of KSE Media Ventures, LLC, announced today its agreement to purchase three Denver radio stations from Wilks Broadcast Group LLC, an affiliate of The Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C. The Denver stations are KIMN (FM), KXKL (FM), and KWOF (FM). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“When these stations became available and were offered to us, we thought they would be a great addition to our media holdings,” said Matt Hutchings, President and CEO of KSE Media Ventures. “These stations have excellent local management and staff, which we look forward to welcoming to our family. We are excited with this opportunity to continue the success of these stations that Jeff Wilks and his company have built.”
“We are pleased to announce the sale of our Denver radio stations to KSE Radio Ventures,” said Jeff Wilks, Chief Executive Officer of Wilks Broadcasting. “We think the Kroenke media group will be a great owner for these assets given their experience in the Denver market.”
The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory and other approvals.
About KSE Radio Ventures, LLC and KSE Media Ventures, LLC
KSE Radio Ventures, LLC is a division of KSE Media Ventures, LLC, a Denver-based company that owns and operates multiple media businesses, including Altitude Television Network, Outdoor Sportsman Group of companies (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and World Fishing Network, as well as 15 publications, 17 websites, and other outdoor related business), Skycam, Winnercom, and their television network operations center, based in Centennial, Colorado.
About Wilks Broadcast Group
Wilks Broadcast Group, LLC and certain affiliated companies have been established as a platform to acquire and operate radio broadcasting stations in attractive mid-size U.S. markets.
About The Wicks Group
The Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C. is a private equity firm based in New York City that invests in lower-middle-market companies operating in selected segments of the information, education and media industries. Since its founding in 1989, Wicks has invested over $1 billion of capital in 31 platform companies and approximately 100 add-on acquisitions. The firm has applied a consistent investment strategy since its founding, partnering with high-quality, experienced management teams to build businesses both organically and through acquisitions.
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has agreed to acquire three FM radio outlets in Denver from Wilks Broadcasting. Terms were not disclosed and FCC approval is required. Included in the deal are 100kW Hot AC KIMN-FM (100.3), 100kW Classic Hits KXKL-FM (Kool 105) and 57kW Country KWOF-FM (92.5 The Wolf). KSE, a Denver based company, is the owner of the Pepsi Center, the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets.
In a statement, KSE Media Ventures President/CEO Matt Hutchings said, "When these stations became available and were offered to us, we thought they would be a great addition to our media holdings. These stations have excellent local management and staff, which we look forward to welcoming to our family."
So another company exits colorado.. If they did flip any one of those stations, it won't do any good because of 105.5 and 104.3, both have the power and are well known in Denver, and both are high power stations.
I do think 92.5 would be the better choice.. Since KOOL is well known and very popular, it would in my opinion it would be a great loss to Denver and the Front Range. With "THE MIX", it would be a sad thing to see KIMN ruined as well. I don't think anyone would mind loosing 92.5 anyways. Since there is more than enough country stations around Denver to replace it.
So another company exits colorado.. If they did flip any one of those stations, it won't do any good because of 105.5 and 104.3, both have the power and are well known in Denver, and both are high power stations.
I do think 92.5 would be the better choice.. Since KOOL is well known and very popular, it would in my opinion it would be a great loss to Denver and the Front Range. With "THE MIX", it would be a sad thing to see KIMN ruined as well. I don't think anyone would mind loosing 92.5 anyways. Since there is more than enough country stations around Denver to replace it.
105.5 is definitely not a high power station. It's in another MSA, and doesn't reach Boulder, Golden, Castle Rock, and other key areas. It suffers from dead air at least once an hour. The commercial mix seems to be made up of about ten spots, half of which are Dealin' Doug spots. And the local programming has been whittled down to two people, one of which is barely listenable. I'd say go to ESPN and ask them if they'd like to have a stick in the Denver MSA again.
As for 92.5, they need to put Wolf out of its misery. In addition to KYGO, I would choose two Ft. Collins country stations and two Colorado Springs station over KWOF. All those signals reach me.
105.5 is definitely not a high power station. It's in another MSA, and doesn't reach Boulder, Golden, Castle Rock, and other key areas. It suffers from dead air at least once an hour. The commercial mix seems to be made up of about ten spots, half of which are Dealin' Doug spots. And the local programming has been whittled down to two people, one of which is barely listenable. I'd say go to ESPN and ask them if they'd like to have a stick in the Denver MSA again.
As for 92.5, they need to put Wolf out of its misery. In addition to KYGO, I would choose two Ft. Collins country stations and two Colorado Springs station over KWOF. All those signals reach me.
Actually your right about KJAC, but you have to also remember were the transmitter is, which is west of Fort Collins.. Plus there is also that talk radio station out of Colorado Springs on the same 105.5 position. So it would over ride KJAC and it is also sad to see how they are not keeping up KJAC at all! It could have been a good sports station, only if they didn't name it "Denver's Sports Station". Instead they should say it's The Front Range Sports station.
The Wolf, yeah no one would miss it at all! They should flip that to sports.
KSE Media Ventures Acquires KRWZ Denver From Entercom
From Radio Insight:
Kroenke will pay $3.8 million for KRWZ. Additionally the “Cruisin Oldies” intellectual property will remain with Entercom and move to 1430 KEZW Denver. Stan Kroenke’s KSE Media Ventures is adding a fourth Denver station to its portfolio. Entercom will sell “Cruisin’ Oldies 950” KRWZ Parker CO to KSE for an undisclosed price. KSE is in the process of acquiring Country “92.5 The Wolf” KWOF, Hot AC “Mix 100.3” KIMN and Classic Hits “Kool 105.1” KXKL Denver from Wilks Broadcast Group for $54 million. KRWZ currently serves as the flagship station of Kroenke’s NBA Denver Nuggets and NHL Colorado Avalanche.
Entercom has announced that it will combine the formats of “Cruisin Oldies 950” KRWZ and Soft AC/Standards “Studio 1430” KEZW Denver on Sunday, December 27. The announcement comes following Entercom’s announcement earlier today that it will sell KRWZ to KSE Media Ventures. “Cruisin 1430” will focus on music from the 1950s and 60s with an airstaff made up of employees of both stations. Entercom announced today that on Sunday, December 27th, Entercom Denver will introduce the new Cruisin’ Oldies 1430 AM. The New Cruisin’ 1430 AM will be the best of Cruisin’ and KEZW and will deliver the best oldies music to an active and engaged audience in Denver. Crusin’ 1430 will play the Baby Boomer soundtrack, spinning the greatest music from the birth of Rock ‘n Roll in the 50s through the British Invasion, Motown, The Summer of Love, and Woodstock in the 60s. “Cruisin’ is a great brand in Denver and we are thrilled to combine the best personalities, content and programming from Cruisin’ and KEZW,” said Amy Griesheimer, VP Market Manager of Entercom Denver. “Cruisin’ 1430 will be unduplicated and unmatched, as the only station in Denver playing the music that Baby Boomers grew up.” Entercom Denver’s Operations Manager Mike Peterson commented “Cruisin’ 1430 includes well-known, local personalities and will deliver music fans the best in Oldies Rock ‘n Roll in a fun, upbeat environment. And the station will continue to offer listeners and advertisers tremendous ways to connect with audiences at events throughout Denver.”
Bookmarks