Inside Radio: Red Zebra Deal Gives Radio One Deeper DC, Richmond Presence

Less than two weeks after selling its Detroit AM station for $2 million, Radio One has paid roughly the same amount to buy a pair of stations from Red Zebra: WWXT in the Washington, DC metro (92.7) and WXGI Richmond (950). Radio One says the purchase will expand its Washington, DC presence and diversify its Richmond cluster.

For Red Zebra, the sale seems to signal its imminent exit from the broadcast radio business and a shift to a digital delivery system. By selling WWXT, the company—whose primary investor is Washington Redskins majority owner Dan Snyder—has broken up its “ESPN 980” trimulcast, which originates on WTEM Washington (980) and also airs on Buckland, VA-licensed WWXX. Sales of those two stations, plus “Sports Talk 570” WSPZ in the Washington metro, are expected soon.

In Washington, Radio One will simulcast urban AC “Majic 102.3” WMMJ on WWXT. The Prince Frederick, MD-licensed 3,000 watt Class A will expand Majic further west and south into Virginia. Radio One also owns urban “93.9 Kiss FM” WKYS, gospel “Praise 104.1” WPRS-FM, “News Talk 1450” WOL, and gospel “Spirit 1340” WYCB in the DC market.

In Richmond, Radio One will diversify its all-music cluster by adding sports to the menu. That involves keeping WXGI’s “ESPN Radio” format and simulcasting it on Radio One’s WTPS (1240), currently home to talk/R&B oldies, and on the Petersburg, VA-licensed translator W274BX at 102.7 FM. Radio One already owns urban “iPower 92” WCDX and urban AC “Kiss FM” WKJM/WKJS (99.3/105.7) in the Richmond market.

Local marketing agreements for both stations begin May 1. The deal is anticipated to close by the end of June.

“I still believe in the power of terrestrial radio and am excited about this deal with Red Zebra,” Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins said in a news release. “I’m always willing to evaluate an opportunity that allows us to grow our radio assets and continue to diversify our radio group, not just through syndication and digital, but good programming that serves our listeners.”

Jeff Wilson, senior regional VP/GM for Radio One-DC, said the deal provides a “unique opportunity to immediately expand the footprint of our heritage station, WMMJ FM. My team is going to keep doing what we do best, programming the most entertaining, inspiring and well informed listener experiences in urban radio and be proud knowing that even more people are impacted.”

Greg Guy of Patrick Communications brokered the transaction for the seller.

Note: This is an edited version of the story appearing in the April 21, 2017 Inside Radio.