SALISBURY, MD – Draper Media is continuing to branch out into the radio industry with a planned $11 million deal that would diversify its current offerings while Forever Media steps out of the Wilmington market.
Prior to Draper Media’s announcement on June 11, the company touted multiple FM radio stations across the region, along with television operations such as WBOC-TV, Fox21, WRDE-TV, Telemundo Delmarva, Antenna TV, My Cozi TV and The DSN Sports Network.
In the Salisbury and Ocean City, Md. markets, Draper Media already owns adult contemporary WBOC 102.5, rock WZBH 93.5, classic rock WBGB 107.7 and country WRDE 103.9. It also owns country WAAI 100.9 of Hurlock, Md., country WCEM-FM 1240 in Cambridge, Md., and classic hits WTDK 107.1 in Federalsburg, Md., according to Inside Radio.
The deal would add six more radio stations from Forever Media, including country station WINX 94.3 adult contemporary station WCEI 96.7 both on the Maryland Eastern Shore. The acquisition would also add four stations in the Delaware market, including hot adult contemporary state WSTW 93.7, country station WXCY-FM 103.7 and news and talk radio station WDEL which is on both the AM and FM dial at 1150 and 101.7. In addition, the deal would include W245CJ 96.9 which is a licensed translator that simulcasts WXCY-FM.
“We’re excited to add these stations, each with a long history of serving their local communities, to our company,” Draper Holdings Business Trust CEO Molly Draper Russell said in a prepared statement. “Our family’s history of service through free over-the-air broadcasting goes back nearly 60 years. The addition of these stations fits perfectly into our late founder, my father, Thomas H. Draper’s motto that it is our moral obligation to serve our audience and advertising partners.”
The move indicates Forever Media’s exit from the Wilmington market while it retains its stations based in the Salisbury and Ocean City, Md. market including its five stations headquartered in Milford: Cool 930 WNCL, news-talk station Delaware 105.9 WXDE, Eagle 97.7 WAFL, The Wave’s classic hits at 97.1 WAVD and country station Chicken 101.3 WCHK.
“We are proud of the legacy these stations have built in their communities and grateful to our dedicated teams who have served listeners with passion and professionalism,” Forever Media President Lynn Deppen said in a press release. “We are confident that Draper Media shares our commitment to local broadcasting and will continue to provide outstanding service to audiences and advertisers alike as these stations enter an exciting new chapter.”
