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Looking for your first radio station acquisition?.. A broker looks back at the NAB Show.. We're in the Encore Tower.. Let's talk in Las Vegas..
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Looking for your first radio station acquisition?
As station trading activity has picked up, we have developed a good inventory of small market stations and clusters in the southeast. Several of these are ideal first stations for a prospective buyer looking to get into radio station ownership.
Station prices are at the most affordable level in decades. Seller financing is back in vogue. And business overall appears to be picking up.
Though are larger deals are still on a call for information confidential status, here are some opportunities targeted toward budding entrepreneurs:
Alabama
FM and AM with translators.
Georgia
FM in coastal market. Includes real estate.
FM and AM with positive cash flow.
Three FMs.
North Carolina
FM and AM in resort market.
FM in coastal market with positive cash flow.
Bargain priced FM in small market.
Puerto Rico
AM in coastal resort market.
FM in the west.
West Virginia
Two FMs and Two AMs in growing market.
If you have sufficient equity for a down payment and working capital, please email your interest(s) to me and I will send the appropriate Non-disclosure agreement. For other areas in the country, check out our Classifieds page.
George
Media Services Group
A broker looks back at the NAB Show
Now that a couple of weeks have passed since returning from the NAB Show in Las Vegas (and I have finally caught up from being away!), I would like to share a few thoughts from the convention.
First, it is probably appropriate to explain the NAB Show from a broker's perspective, or at least from a Media Services Group broker's perspective. In actuality, we see very little of the convention. Our time is spent in our suite in non-stop meetings with station buyers, sellers, lenders, and investors. And since MSG is a national firm, we meet with clients and customers from all over the country. The week gives us an excellent perspective on the state of the industry, station trading, and station values.
This year's show was without question the most upbeat since the economy hit the fan during the Austin Radio Show, in fall 2008. Sentiment about the economy was better, and financial performance at the stations has improved, with many operators expecting their second "up" year in a row.
Our suite was busy, with at times twenty or more people huddled together in simultaneous meetings. Deal flow has increased and the quality of inventory appears to be getting better. Most of the deals we completed last year were in small markets or involved workouts and bankruptcies; this year we are getting deals done in good, cash flowing clusters.
So why are things better? I've identified three factors:
1) As mentioned above, business at home is better. Most stations are running ahead of year-ago numbers and pacings are good.
2) Lenders are coming back. Not in droves, but they are at least beginning to write some new broadcast loans.
3) The Bid/Ask spread has narrowed. Sellers have come to grips with the price reset, and buyers are realizing that we are off the low with the trajectory decidedly up.
Our opinion on radio multiples is that stations are trading between 7.0x and 8.0x Broadcast Cash Flow, with "beach front" property in the mid-8s. We now have enough data points to view this range with a high degree of certainty. No doubt there could be some outlier deals on either side, but most transactions are in this ballpark.
There is every reason to expect a robust Radio Show in Dallas in the fall. I hope you join us there.
George
Media Services Group
We're in the Encore Tower
Media Services Group is at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Our suite is in the Encore Tower, 60th floor, # E-6006. Please stop by and see us.
George
Let's talk in Las Vegas
The NAB Show is upon us. Media Services Group will have a suite at the Encore. Please get in touch to set up a confidential appointment to discuss station valuation, buying, selling, or financing.
I hope to see you at the Show,
Congratulations to Media Services Group's Jody McCoy on the Bahakel/Woodward transaction!
March 30, 2012
Dubuque, Iowa/Charlotte, NC - Friday, March 30, 2012 Beverly B. Poston, President and CEO, of Bahakel Communications, Inc., and Tom Yunt, President and CEO of Woodward Communications, Inc. (WCI), jointly announced the sale of Bahakels four station radio cluster in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa to WCI. Jody McCoy of Media Services Group acted as the exclusive broker for the transaction representing the seller.
Effective April 1st the addition of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa 4-station group increases WCIs broadcast holdings to 11 stations in the region with their other radio station cluster in the Green Bay, Appleton/Oshkosh, Wisconsin markets. Woodward Communications, Inc., headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, has six operating divisions: daily newspaper, weekly publications, commercial printing, niche B-2-B magazines, radio and a full-service advertising agency.
In announcing their purchase of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls group Yunt said, We are very excited to add these outstanding stations to the Woodward Radio Group (WRG) and our dynamic employee-owned media company, and we look forward to the opportunity of serving the greater Waterloo/Cedar Falls communities. The stations are well positioned with their heritage and formats and have a wonderful track record in serving their valued listeners and advertisers.
Poston said that it is with highly mixed emotions that we sell the stations but that the decision was made easier because of the quality company that Woodward is, the fact that it is employee-owned and their commitment to provide such excellent services to the various communities in which they operate.
She further added that we (Bahakel) recently purchased an additional television station in Montgomery, AL, as well as an additional radio station for our Chattanooga cluster so this was done as some realignment of our properties. We leave Waterloo very reluctantly but comforted in knowing that our stations and employees will be in such wonderful hands.
Bahakel also owns and operates six radio stations in Colorado Springs, CO and Chattanooga, TN and six television stations in Montgomery, AL (two stations); Jackson, TN; Columbia, SC, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC, and their flagship station, WCCB-TV in Charlotte, NC.
Contact for Bahakel Communications, Ltd is Jim Babb (704-632-7217).
Jody McCoy
719.630.3111
George
Media Services Group
What does CBSs Washington deal mean for station pricing. . . Outlier or Reset?
The recent announcement of CBS Radios purchase of WFSI-FM (Annapolis, MD) has caused quite a stir in the station trading community. Much of the talk centers on price: not how MUCH they paid, but how LITTLE!
On face value, it at first appeared that CBS has acquired a class B, 50,000 watt, Washington, DC FM station from Family Radio for $8.5 million, or $1.69 a pop (using the 60 dBu contour). Have station prices been radically reset to the downside with this deal?
The previous low-water mark was the WQXR-FM sale in New York a couple of years ago; it came in around $3 a head.
Our very own Stephan Sloan (MSG, Providence, RI) took a closer look and brought to light some factors which suggest that this deal might be an outlier.
WFSI, despite its huge pop count (around 5,000,000 people) is something of a tween-er" to both the Baltimore and the DC markets. It is particularly a rim shot station in DC, where it reaches only 54% of the Arbitron metro population. It does somewhat better in Baltimore (82.5%) but is still not a full-market signal.
We think it appropriate to value the station on its DC-only coverage. Doing so yields a value of $3.08 per pop. Still, Dan Mason and his gang at CBS made an extraordinary buy with this station.
George
Media Services Group
Bill Gilreath joins Media Services Group on the west coast
Bill Gilreath has joined Media Services Group as an Associate with Tom McKinley. I have had the pleasure to work with Bill in different capacities over the past 30 years, said Tom McKinley, who opened the Companys West Coast office in 1996. His experience and knowledge will enable us to continue to provide West Coast broadcasters the level of service that Media Services Group has been known for since its inception in 1990.
Bill brings 35 years of broadcasting experience and an in-depth knowledge of the West Coast from his years in station management. Previous General Manager positions include:
- K-101 FM, KOFY/KAZA, San Francisco
- KVYN/KVON, Napa, CA
He spent 15 years in sales management with:
- KCBS San Francisco, Bay Cable (Comcast)
- Time Warner Media
- Catholic Radio Network, Los Angeles/San Francisco (as consultant)
Additional management experience includes stints at Major Market Radio, Los Angeles, and VP Sales at Mutual Radio Network, Los Angeles.
You can reach him at:
Media Services Group
183 Sloat Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Phone: 831.372.3667
Fax: 904.285.5618
bginmarin@aol.com
Welcome, Bill!
George
Media Services Group
Radio station deals announced
We have recently announced several radio deals, a further indication of the improving station trading market:
Waterloo, IA
Beverly B. Poston, President and CEO, of Bahakel Communications, Inc., and Tom Yunt, President and CEO of Woodward Communications, Inc., jointly announced that Bahakel would sell their four station radio cluster in Waterloo, Iowa to Woodward Communications, Inc., subject to FCC approval.
Jody McCoy of our Colorado Springs office is the exclusive broker for the transaction and represents the seller.
The transfer of the licenses will increase Woodwards broadcast holdings to 11 stations in the region with their other radio station cluster located in the Green Bay, Appleton/Oshkosh, Wisconsin markets. Woodward Communications, Inc., headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, has six operating divisions: daily newspaper, weekly publications, commercial printing, niche magazines, radio and full-service advertising agencies.
In announcing their intent to purchase the Waterloo group, Yunt said we are very excited about this opportunity to add these outstanding stations to our group and we look forward to the opportunity of serving the greater Waterloo/Cedar Falls communities. The stations are well positioned with their heritages and formats and have a wonderful track record in serving their listeners and advertisers.
Greg Bell, Woodwards Executive Vice President of Broadcasting, said we are impressed with the staff as well as the facilities. We believe that there is very good upside potential and we look forward to working with the Waterloo team in growing with the market.
Poston said that it is with highly mixed emotions that we have decided to sell the stations but that the decision was made easier because of the quality company that Woodward is, the fact that it is employee-owned and their commitment to provide such excellent services to the various communities in which they operate.
She further added that we (Bahakel) have recently purchased an additional television station in Montgomery, AL, as well as an additional radio station for our Chattanooga cluster so this is being done as some realignment of our properties. We leave Waterloo very reluctantly but are comforted in knowing that our stations and employees will be in such wonderful hands.
Bahakel also owns and operates six radio stations in Colorado Springs, CO and Chattanooga, TN and six television stations in Montgomery, AL (two stations); Jackson, TN; Columbia, SC, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC, and their flagship station, WCCB-TV in Charlotte, NC. The Press Release is HERE.
Wilmington, NC
Turning to the southeast, Davis Media LLC has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the Sea-Comm cluster serving Wilmington, NC. The stations (all in North Carolina) include:
WBNE(FM), Wrightsville Beach
WLTT(FM), Bolvia
WSFM(FM), Carolina Beach
WNTB(AM), Topsail Beach
WUIN(FM), Oak Island
W240AS, Wilmington
An LMA started immediately.
Davis Media also owns stations serving Williamsburg, VA (WBQK-FM and WTYD-FM). The seller has no remaining broadcast interests.
According to Rick Jorgensen, owner of Sea-Comm, After 46 years in the radio business, and almost 24 years in Wilmington, I have decided it is time to sail off into the sunset.
The buyer, Tom Davis, adds, Davis Media is delighted about sustaining the Sea-Comm heritage in Wilmington, as well as implementing our digital/radio model, Hometown Driver, which has produced double digit growth for two years and running. With Jake Russell as our local owner-operator, we look to replicate our pilot market in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Wilmington is the perfect market to continue the expansion of our model and radio's future as the driver of the local media company.
I served as the exclusive broker in the transaction. The Press Release is HERE.
Big Island, HI
And jumping WAY west, Chaparral Broadcasting, Inc. has purchased out of bankruptcy court the assets of 3 Big Island, Hawaii radio stations for $350,000 (subject to FCC approval). Radio stations KHBC-FM and KIPA-AM are licensed to Hilo, Hawaii and KHWI-FM is licensed to Holualoa on the Kona side of the island. The stations were previously owned by Parrott Broadcasting Limited Partnership but were placed in Chapter 7 US Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho with Gary Rainsdon of Twin Falls, Idaho appointed Trustee.
Media Services Group, Inc was appointed court-appointed broker and in auction Chaparral Broadcasting was the high bidder for the stations. All 3 stations are currently off the air. Chaparral Broadcasting president Jerry Lundquist owns stations in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana as well as a station in Makawao (Maui),Hawaii.
My partners, Greg Merrill and Tom McKinley, represented the parties in the sale. The Press Release is HERE.
Last, but not least, best wishes to all for a safe Thanksgiving holiday!
George
Media Services Group
Media Services Group announces purchase and sale of radio cluster in Wilmington, NC
We're pleased to announce that Davis Media LLC has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the Sea-Comm radio cluster serving Wilmington, NC. The sale is subject to FCC approval.
The stations (all in North Carolina) include: WBNE(FM), Wrightsville Beach
WLTT(FM), Bolvia
WSFM(FM), Carolina Beach
WNTB(AM), Topsail Beach
WUIN(FM), Oak Island
W240AS, Wilmington An LMA will start immediately. Davis Media also owns stations serving Williamsburg, VA (WBQK-FM and WTYD-FM). The seller has no remaining broadcast interests.
I represented the seller in the transaction. More information is available HERE. George
Media Services Group
Midwest rated market FM radio station cluster for sale
I am putting a new FM cluster on the market. The group has solid ratings and revenue between $2 million and $3 million. It is a confidential, exclusive listing. If you would like to receive and NDA, please get in touch. George@MediaServicesGroup.com
George
Media Services Group
Media Services Group did more deals than anyone in the first half of 2011 (again)
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