Wicks affiliate buys trade pubs

NewBay Media, an affiliate of the Wicks Group of Companies private equity group, has expanded into the broadcasting trade publishing arena, buying IMAS Publishing on undisclosed terms. IMAS publications include Radio World, TV Technology and a number of related titles, as well as the show dailies for NAB and NRB.

NewBay, headed by CEO Steve Palm, already owned some titles in the pro audio/music field and Television Broadcast, so this acquisition expands it into the heart of radio and television engineering. The company said it will retain the IMAS headquarters in Falls Church, VA, along with the international offices in the UK and Italy.

SmartMedia observation: The Wicks folks are definitely bullish on broadcasting and lots of businesses related to broadcasting. Principals Craig Klosk and Matt Gormly had plenty of involvement in radio and TV companies before Wicks and the original Wicks fund owned both radio and TV groups. In addition to NewBay, the two current Wicks funds have broadcast and related investments in Marketron Broadcast Solutions (broadcast software), Allegiance Communications (cable TV) and Wilks Broadcast Group (radio stations).

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