FM Station Also Included in Civic Media’s Wisconsin Rapids Purchase

Fast-growing Wisconsin radio company Civic Media is buying a Wisconsin Rapids-market FM station along with the AM station and translator that just started carrying Civic’s programming.

The asset purchase agreement, filed for approval with the FCC on Tuesday, Aug. 2, says Civic Media will pay Heart of Wisconsin Media $886,000 for WIRI/105.5 (Nekoosa-Wisconsin Rapids), WFHR/1320 (Wisconsin Rapids), and WFHR translator W248CE/97.5 (Wisconsin Rapids).

The buyer took over operation of the stations through a time brokerage agreement on Monday, and WFHR/W248CE began carrying a Liberal Talk-based format simultaneously with its launch in Wausau.

Civic Media, headed by Sage Weil, has also indicated plans to bring the format to the Fox Valley, southwestern Wisconsin, and the Northwoods. Weil is a minority investor in companies that program the format in Madison and Milwaukee.

Heart of Wisconsin Media purchased WIRI, WFHR, and W248CE last year for $260,000. It retains WCWI/106.1 (Adams).

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