Morgan Murphy Media Buys Michigan TV, Radio Stations

Madison-based Morgan Murphy Media is expanding into Michigan with the purchase of TV and radio stations from the Marks family.

According to an asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC, the $13.375 million deal includes TV stations in two markets and two groups of radio stations in the Upper Peninsula. They are:

• CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX affiliate WBKB/11 (Alpena), which is the only station in its market
• ABC/CW affiliate WBUP/10 (Ishpeming-Marquette) and CW/ABC satellite WBKP/5 (Calumet)
• Houghton radio stations: Hot Adult Contemporary outlet WCCY/1400 and its translator W257CZ/99.3, Classic Hits station “97.7 The Wolf” (WOLV), Country station “K-Bear 102.3” (WHKB), and the construction permit for future station WHBS/96.3
• Iron River radio stations: Classic Country outlet WFER/1230 (Iron River) and its translator W250CQ/97.9, as well as Classic Hits station WIKB/99.1 (Iron River)

Morgan Murphy Media, formally known as The Evening Telegram Company, will buy the stations from several companies owned by the Marks family: Thunder Bay Broadcasting (WBKB), Lake Superior Community Broadcasting (WBUP/WBKP), Houghton Community Broadcasting, and Iron River Community Broadcasting.

The sale follows the death of company founder Stephen Marks last year.

“We are thrilled to carry forward the tremendous legacy built by the Marks family,” Morgan Murphy Media executive vice president and chief operating officer Brian Burns said in a statement posted on the company’s LinkedIn page.

Earlier this year, the Marks family sold its radio stations in Park Falls, Wis., to Civic Media. It still owns several radio and TV stations in western North Dakota and Montana.

Morgan Murphy Media owns TV stations in seven markets, including Madison and La Crosse, and radio stations in two markets.

Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.