Monetize your tower assets

The tower industry is enjoying unprecedented growth with no end in sight. The carriers are continuing to build out and improve their networks. And the major tower consolidators have healthy appetites and deep pockets.

This has created enormous opportunity for broadcasters with undermanaged tower assets, and small and mid-sized tower companies. Many are making the decision to monetize their tower assets and they are being rewarded with excellent sale prices.

Media Services Group delivers “top dollar’ for our tower clients. We run a proven sale process, utilizing our database of tower buyers in tandem with our secure online data room. We know the tower business. Several of our partners own and manage towers. One built up and sold a significant tower portfolio.

Contact us for a confidential discussion about the value of your towers. Our tower marketing process is both efficient and effective. Closings often occur within 90 days of our engagement. Let us show you what we can do for you.

George
Media Services Group

Inside Radio: Spring blossoming of mid-market deals

"Inside Radio" ran an interesting story today on the state of radio station trading ("Spring blossoming of mid-market deals"). The article shared a few of my own thoughts and observations. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

George
Media Services Group

Eric Rhoads and Deborah Parenti staged their fifth annual Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference last week in Coral Gables.  I attended to catch up on the growth story of Hispanic media in general, and radio in particular.  It was my return visit, having last participated five years ago.  They put on a great event at a wonderful venue (The Biltmore).

Geraldo Rivera (Cumulus Media Networks and the Fox News Channel) keynoted with an impassioned presentation on immigration reform.  There were a number of excellent panels.  Larry Rosin of Edison Research showed that Hispanic targeted media is benefiting from positive demographic trends.  It appears to me that Hispanic radio will continue to be a growth business well into the future.

The show was well attended and provided an opportunity to say hello to a number of friends.  You may want to consider putting it onto your calendar for next year.

George
Media Services Group

Radio Ink's editor Ed Ryan with Geraldo

JVC Media to purchase Asterisk Communications' Florida Radio Group

JVC Media, the leading independent, locally owned radio broadcaster on Long Island, has entered into an agreement to buy Asterisk Communication’s five Florida FM  radio stations, WTRS, WMFQ, WXJZ, WBXY and WYGC.  JVC owns 4 FM radio stations on Long Island, WPTY, WBON, WJVC, WRCN and operates Long Island Events, which manages the 7,000 seat outdoor entertainment venue known as the Pennysaver Amphitheater.  JVC was formed by broadcasting veterans John Caracciolo and Victor Canales and is backed by Northwood Ventures. 

102.3 WTRS is a heritage Country station serving the Gainesville/Ocala Florida market with a legendary track record of success and community involvement.  Hot AC WMFQ, Q92 serves North Central Florida as one of the top rated music stations in the area thanks to its great signal and award winning staff. WXJZ is a unique FM station serving the Gainesville area with a smooth FM music mix format that has developed a deeply devoted following. WBXY and WYGC, both Gainesville FM stations make up the rest of this market dominating cluster.

JVC Media has been in a rapid growth mode, recently expanding on Long Island with its entertainment and broadcast division adding jobs and staff and working hard to make radio local and community friendly once again.

JVC Media CEO, John Caracciolo said, “We are honored and privileged to welcome these top performing radio stations into the JVC family. The prior owner of these stations was committed to community service, high quality broadcasting and creating an excellent work environment for its staff, and we are proud to be able to continue the tradition that Asterisk started in this great market”.

JVC Media VP, COO Victor Canales added, “We love this radio market, and we are excited to continue the trend of fun, local radio in North Central Florida”.  “We plan on adding staff in Florida and New York and to make a big splash with marketing and programming when we begin operating the stations”, he added.

I represented the seller, Asterisk Communications.  Congratulations to John and Fred on a great transaction!

George
Media Services Group


















 











 

Tallgrass Broadcasting, LLC sells to Tejas Broadcasting Ltd., LLP

Tejas Broadcasting Ltd., LLP has agreed to purchase KMUL AM and KICA FM radio stations from Tallgrass Broadcasting, LLC (subject to FCC approval).  KMUL AM and KICA FM are licensed to Farwell, Texas. 

 

The Seller, Tallgrass Broadcasting, is in receivership with David Rhoades of Tulsa acting as Receiver.  The Buyer, Tejas Broadcasting, is headed by Jim Anderson and has other broadcast interests in Corpus Christi and Amarillo.

Bill Whitley of the Dallas office of Media Services Group served as the exclusive broker representing the Receiver.

 

Congratulations!

 

George

Media Services Group

White papers available online

Here are some online resources which you might find useful:

"Buying Your First Radio Station" (white paper). Click HERE to download (registration required).

"Financing Broadcast Properties 101" (white paper). Click HERE to download (registration required).

Both papers are pretty basic, but may be useful to someone considering station ownership for the first time.

George
Media Services Group

Spectrum Auction's impact on TV station values

Many television station owners are asking, "How does the FCC's spectrum auction impact the value of my station?"

It is a good question.  And for many owners, the answer is equally good.  Many are considering the option of monetizing some or all of their TV assets to capitalize on the increasing prices. Several have already done so.

If you would like to confidentially discuss the value of your station in today's market, please give me a call.  904.285.3239

 

For a background post from David Oxenford about the Congressional authorization for the FCC Incentive Auctions, click HERE.

George

Media Services Group

Radio Ink: When Jim Met Larry -- It Ended With A Handshake

Radio Ink posted a great interview with Jim Ingstad about his recent deals with Larry Wilson and Duke Wright in Fargo.  Click HERE to listen.

George
Media Services Group

And while we're issuing congratulations (see earlier post) . . .

Congratulations and best wishes to our own Eddie Esserman and he joins the NAB Board. 

Eddie and four others have just been named to the Board:

• Russell Perry, Chairman, Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Oklahoma City, OK
• Bob Pittman, CEO, Clear Channel, New York, NY
• Jeff Simpson, President & CEO, Bonneville International Corp. Salt Lake City, UT
• Margaret Perkins, President / CEO, First Natchez Radio Group, Natchez, MS

We wish them much success in helping to lead our industry.

 

George

Media Services Group

Going to the Hispanic Radio Conference?

Eric Rhoads and Radio Ink are staging their Hispanic Radio Conference May 16 and 17 at the Biltmore in Coral Gables.  This is a great event for anyone involved with Hispanic radio.  I plan to attend again this year.  If you are interested in getting together during the event to discuss station values and the trading marketplace, please get in touch.

George
Media Services Group

Congratulations to Duke Wright, Jim Ingstad and our own Jerry Johnson!

Midwest Communications has completed the acquisition of the assets of Radio Fargo-Moorhead, the parent company of KFGO-AM, KVOX-AM, KBVB-FM, KMJO-FM, KRWK-FM and WDAY-FM for $25 million.

Radio Fargo-Moorhead is headed by Jim Ingstad. Midwest Communications, headed by Duke Wright, owns 47 radio stations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

 
Jerry Johnson of Media Services Group’s Minneapolis office represented the seller in this transaction.

Well done!

George
Media Services Group