Big Sky Country is the name many associate with the state of Montana.
In one of the state’s cities, Billings, are two AMs and four FMs that have been owned by the Jeff Warshaw-led Connoisseur Media.
Now, Connoisseur is cutting these stations loose as part of an effort to focus on properties closer to its Connecticut home.
According to an asset purchase agreement that has yet to be filed with the FCC, Connoisseur is selling KBLG-AM, KYYA-AM, KPLN-FM, KRKX-FM, KRZN-FM and KWMY-FM in Billings to Desert Mountain Broadcasting.
The purchase price will be revealed in the Form 314 filing with the Commission.
The six stations are the first for Desert Mountain, a company founded in Billings by CEO Cam Maxwell in July 2018.
However, the road to ownership of the properties stretches back some 14 years.
How so? Maxwell has been a RVP for Connoisseur since exiting KPHX in Phoenix at the end of 2005.
“This journey began almost fourteen years ago when Jeff Warshaw and CFO Mike Driscoll gave me the opportunity to help build multiple markets from just construction permits,” Maxwell explains. “Now I’m in the very rare position to be able to launch my new media company by purchasing from these exceptional broadcasters six radio stations I’ve helped to create.”
Maxwell added that he is “forever grateful for this incredible time with Connoisseur Media and the constant mentoring they’ve provided.”
Warshaw added, “It is an honor and a pleasure to give Cam the opportunity to purchase these terrific stations. He has done an amazing job building them up and making the operation an integral part of the Billings area. Cam is a dedicated broadcaster, and we are excited to watch him soar.”
Connoisseur will now focus on 17 stations across six markets — all within a short drive from its Westport, Conn., headquarters.
Connoisseur’s markets are comprised of Bridgeport, Stamford-Norwalk and New Haven, Conn.; Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.; Frederick, Md.; and Stroudsburg, Pa.
