A six-station radio cluster under the ownership of Jim Ingstad’s Radio Fargo-Moorhead is headed to Duke Wright’s Midwest Communications, staking out new territory for Wright’s northern Midwest radio empire.
Media Services Group broker Jerry Johnson told RBR-TVBR that the deal was some time in the making – but that we will have to wait a little bit longer if we want to get a price – that part of the agreement is being kept under wraps for now.
Principals on both sides of the deal-making table weighed in on the transaction.
Said Ingstad, “It’s been an honor the last six years to be part of the best broadcast team I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. I consider Duke Wright and Midwest Communications to be one of the finest broadcasters in the country and I know Duke and his team will continue the tradition of excellent broadcasting with the Radio Fargo- Moorhead group.”
Wright added, “We are a family-owned and operated broadcast company with over 54 years in the radio business. We have had a long-term interest in getting involved in North Dakota radio and we have family in Fargo. The Radio Fargo- Moorhead properties are among the top rated facilities in the country. We are very excited about becoming involved with these great radio stations.”
So just what are the properties Wright refered to? We thought you’d never ask.
* KFGO-AM Fargo ND, News-Talk, Class B on 790 kHz with 5 kW-U, DAN
* KVOX-AM Fargo ND, Sports, Class B on 740 kHz with 50 kW-D, 940W-N, DA3
* KBVB-FM Barnesville MN, Country, Class C1 on 95.1 MHz with 100 kW @ 384’
* WDAY-FM Fargo ND, CHR, Class C0 on 93.7 MHz with 100 kW @ 1,0007’
* KRWK-FM Fargo ND, Talk, Class C1 on 101.9 MHz with 96 kW @ 1,001’
* KMJO-FM Hope ND, Classic Hits, Class C1 on 104.7 MHz with 100 kW @ 702’
RBR-TVBR observation: There is an oddity in this market that is worth mentioning in passing. The Jim Ingstad cluster includes KVOX-AM, but has nothing to do with in-market KVOX-FM – that station belongs to Triad Broadcasting. And although Jim Instad’s cluster includes WDAY-FM, it has nothing to do with WDAY-AM or WDAY-TV – they belong to Forum Communications.
