A Class C1 95kw facility serving the Wichita market created to grow and expand employment opportunities in the radio industry for people who are blind or visually impaired will soon be owned by a Manhattan, Kansas-based media company that recently expanded by acquiring several stations from Alpha Media.
In a deal announced late Wednesday, a merger will see Envision Broadcast Network become part of Rocking M Media. The transaction will see Hot AC KKGQ-FM “Q92”, licensed to Newton, Kan., continue its unique mission while becoming part of the Rocking M family.
“Envision’s desire to continue to grow and expand employment opportunities in the radio industry for people who are blind or visually impaired led to the merger, which represents a collaboration of ideals between Q92 and Rocking M Media,” Envision said in a statement.
The Envision Broadcast Network was formed in October 2014.
“Having already employed individuals with vision loss at some of its existing stations, Rocking M Media shares Envision’s belief that people with all abilities should have access to meaningful career paths,” said Heather Hogan, Envision’s SVP of Foundation and Mission Services. “We’re proud of our successes with the Envision Broadcast Network and Q92. The fact that we found a radio group with the capacity to carry out our objectives on a much wider scale will propel our mission forward.”
Rocking M Media President Christopher Miller added, “All it took was one visit to Envision for us to know the Envision Broadcast Network was something special. We are proud to work with Envision to build awareness and opportunity for a cause that deserves the highest level of visibility.”
Q92’s current on-air personalities who are blind or visually impaired will be brought into the Rocking M Media family.
In addition, Rocking M Media will collaborate with Envision to take the Envision Broadcast Academy model to its entire multi-state listening area. The academy is a hands-on training program intended to equip youth and adults with vision loss with the skills and encouragement they need to explore high-tech careers in the radio industry.
Q92 earned a 1.2 share 12+ in the fall 2016 Nielsen Audio ratings for Wichita. Its booming signal stretches from Salina, in the north, to the Oklahoma state line, in the south.
Q92 joins KLEY-AM 1130 (and FM translator K262CQ) and KWME-FM 92.7 in Wellington, Kan., and KKLE-AM 1550 in Winfield, Kan., as Rocking M stations in the Wichita market.
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