CMG Radio Management To Stay Intact

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At least for now that’s the word we’re getting. Bill Hendrich (pictured here) has been running Cox’s radio division since taking over for Kim Guthrie back in 2015. Now the company’s radio stations are being bought up by Apollo Global Management. And since Apollo is a new player to radio it makes perfect sense for Cox radio employees to be safe for now, at least until Apollo can determine if the two cultures are a match.

If another radio company was the buyer, we’d be hearing the word “synergies,” which would have many radio employees running for the hills, as that is code for job cuts. There was no mention of radio synergies in the Apollo press release. In fact, it was the exact opposite.

The Apollo release said it plans to “maintain the successful operating structure of Cox Media Group’s television, radio, CoxReps, and Gamut businesses, and leverage these assets to continue building a national media company with station properties in key markets across the country.” Representatives from Apollo would not comment any further than their press release.

There were no quotes in the release from Hendrich. Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor said, “We are happy our Cox radio and national ad platforms will continue to be operated with our television group. Keeping these media businesses together gives us even more confidence in the future success of the new company. We have spent many years fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation across these businesses and are pleased to see that work will continue.”

There may be an impact on employees in Florida. To comply with FCC ownership limits, Apollo will have to divest two FM stations in the state, one in Orlando and one in Tampa. The reason is because the six-FM cluster in Tampa was grandfathered in before the FCC rules changed. With Tampa being a 48-station market, one company can only own five FMs now. With Orlando being considered a 40-station market, one company can only own four FMs. Cox has five. When a transaction like this is made, the new FCC rules (which were modified in 2003) apply and one FM in each market must now be divested.

Here’s the full roster of radio stations Apollo is getting from Cox:

Athens, GA

  • WRFC | AM 960 – 960 The Ref
  • WGAU | AM 1340 – News Talk 1340
  • WGMG | 102.1 FM – Magic 102.1
  • WXKT | 103.7 FM – 103.7 Chuck FM
  • WPUP | 100.1 FM – 100.1 Power Athens
  • WNGC | 106.1 FM – 106.1 WNGC Your Georgia Country

Atlanta

  • WSRV | 97.1 The River
  • WSB-FM | B98.5
  • WALR | KISS 104.1 FM
  • WSB-AM and WSBB-FM | News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB

Houston

  • KKBQ-FM | 92.9 The New 93Q
  • KTHT-FM | 97.1 Country Legends
  • KHPT-FM | and KGLK-FM 106.9/ 107.5 Houston’s The Eagle

Jacksonville

  • WOKV-HD2 | HOT 99.5
  • WAPE-FM | 95.1 WAPE
  • WXXJ-FM | X106.5
  • WOKV-FM | News 104.5 WOKV
  • WJGL-HD2 | Power 106-1
  • WJGL-FM | 96-9 The Eagle
  • WEZI-FM | Easy 102.9
  • WOKV-AM | 690-AM – ESPN 690 AM

Long Island

  • WBLI-FM | 106.1 BLI
  • WBAB-FM | 102.3 WBAB

Miami

  • WEDR-FM | 99 JAMZ
  • WFEZ-FM | Easy 93.1
  • WFLC-FM | Hits 97.3
  • WHQT-FM | Hot 105

Orlando

  • WDBO FM – News 96.5 WDBO
  • WWKA-FM – K92.3
  • WMMO-FM – 98.9 WMMO
  • WCFB-FM – STAR 94.5 FM
  • WCFB-HD2-FM – 107.3 Solo Exitos
  • WPYO-FM – POWER 95.3*
  • WDBO-AM – ESPN Orlando

San Antonio

  • KISS-FM | KISS 99.5
  • KONO-FM | KONO 101.1
  • KTKX-FM | 106.7 The Eagle
  • KKYX-AM | Country Legends 680AM & 104.9 FM
  • KCYY-FM. | Y100 – San Antonio’s New Country Leader
  • KONO-AM | KONO 860AM
  • KSMG-FM | Magic 105.3

Tampa

  • WPOI-FM | Hot 101.5
  • WXGL-FM | 107.3 The Eagle
  • WSUN-FM | 97X – Tampa Bay’s New Alternative*
  • WDUV-FM | 105.5 WDUV Lite Favorites
  • WWRM-FM | Magic 94.9
  • WHPT-FM | 102.5 The Bone

Tulsa, OK

  • KJSR-FM | 103.3 The Eagle
  • KRAV-FM | Mix 96.5
  • KWEN-FM | K 95.5
  • KWEN-HD2 |105.7 The Bone
  • KRMG-FM | News 102.3 and AM740

 

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