Last Monday, Connoisseur Media announced an agreement to acquire Alpha Media, which includes four Aberdeen-based radio stations: ESPN Radio 1490 KWOK, 104.7 KDUX, KXRO News Radio (101.7 FM, 1320 AM) and KIX 95.3.
In all, Alpha Media operates 207 radio stations across 44 regional markets.
Longtime radio veteran and Aberdeen native Pat Anderson, who is the Grays Harbor Market Manager for Alpha Media, says he is excited about Connoisseur Media.
“There have been some rumors about a possible sale for a while,” Anderson said. “There was some talk out there. I found out with everybody else that we were going to be sold. I see it as an overwhelmingly positive move for Alpha. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to use Connoisseur to their fullest and I look forward to it.”
The transaction is still subject to FCC approval and expected to close before the end of the year. In the near term, Connoisseur and Alpha have entered into a local marketing agreement. The combined company will retain the Connoisseur name and be led by Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alpha Media into the Connoisseur family. In getting to know the Alpha team, it has become clear that we share many of the same values — a passion for serving our local communities, a deep commitment to our clients, supporting our colleagues and fostering a culture of integrity, creativity and achievement,” said Jeff Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur Media via press release. “This transaction underscores our commitment to the irreplaceable role local broadcasters play in providing news, information and entertainment that truly resonates. Together, we will build an industry-leading platform of broadcast and digital. I could not be more excited to get started.”
Anderson says he has heard nothing but good things about Warshaw.
“Everything I had heard about Jeff Warshaw before has always been positive,” he said. “I have talked with people who have worked with him in the industry. I have been here in Grays Harbor broadcasting for 35 years, so I have been around a while. Everything I have heard about Jeff is he’s committed to the community, he wants to serve local communities with as much local information as possible. That’s what we want to do. I was heartened by the fact that was his goal, that’s what he’s looking forward to. If you pay attention to what’s being said online, it’s really being viewed as a positive thing, not just for Alpha, but for radio and the employees.”
The release added that the new platform will be focused on better serving the needs of its local listeners and advertising partners. In addition to its broadcast properties, Connoisseur currently owns and operates digital marketing services company Ferocious Digital.
Anderson said he has not heard about any programming or personnel changes and hopes that the Aberdeen stations will be able to take advantage of Ferocious Digital’s capabilities.
“I will tell you this, there will be a logo change, because we will incorporate the Connoisseur brand within what we do. That will give me an opportunity to update our radio station logos, so I’m also looking forward to that,” Anderson said. “I’m hopeful, absolutely. We provide digital advertising services here, and we have digital platforms with our online radio stations so I am looking to be able to take advantage of whatever Connoisseur has to offer and I see that as a good thing. It seems like the goal is to be as über-local as possible and that’s right up my alley.”
Once the deal is completed, Connoisseur’s broadcast footprint will include San Antonio, Portland, Salt Lake City, Nassau-Suffolk on Long Island, Palm Springs, San Jose, and now Grays Harbor.
