Cumulus Buys Dial Global

[Mark Watson]

All Access and Radio-Info reporting that Cumulus has purchased Dial Global for $260 million, and will be merged into the Cumulus Media Networks operating under the name Westwood One. As part of this deal Cumulus is spinning off 53 stations nationwide to Townsquare Media, including stations in the Portsmouth/Dover/Rochester and Portland markets. As a result of this Townsquare is now the third largest radio station owner in the US. 

Dial Global offers several satellite fed music formats, including the "Timeless Favorites" standards/soft AC format airing on WFEA Manchester. I believe Dial Global also operates the voice tracking service that is being used outside of AM drive and middays on WBOQ. 

The deal also give Cumulus radio distribution rights to radio broadcasts of NFL games, NCAA basketball, Olympics, AP Radio News, NBC Radio News and various syndicated programs, some of which (such as the NFL and NCAA) are heard on either WEEI or WBZ-FM.

Once the station sale is approved, it should be interesting to see how this will affect the Portsmouth and Portland stations, programming and staffing wise. WOKQ in Dover is also simulcast on WPKQ 103.7 licensed to North Conway, transmitting from atop Mt. Washington. Curious to know if WPKQ will be part of the sale to Townsquare. 

Mark Watson

Mark Watson