Urban One/Emmis Indy Deal Approved
• RAMP has confirmed two pieces of business connected to Urban One’s acquisition of the Emmis Indianapolis cluster: 1) The transaction was formally approved by the FCC last Thursday, August 18, and 2) Emmis Communications Corp. has changed its name, downshifting to just plain Emmis Corp. as the company gradually transitions away from its focus on radio ownership.
The sale, which was originally announced in June, includes these Emmis properties: Soft AC WYXB (B105), Country WLHK (97.1 HANK FM), Sports-Talk 93.5/107.5 The Fan (WIBC-HD2), News-Talk 93.1 WIBC-FMand Network Indiana. Also part of the sale: translators W228CX (93.5) and W298BB (107.5), which rebroadcast The Fan. They will join Urban One’s existing Indianapolis properties: Urban AC 106.7 WTLC and Urban Gospel WTLC-AM (1310 The Light).
As we recently reported, in order to meet ownership caps, Urban One spun off 96.3, the former longtime home of Urban/Rhythmic WHHH (Hot 96.3) to Bible Bible Broadcasting Network for $3.2 million and relocated the format up the dial a few notches to 100.9, replacing now defunct Top 40 WNOW (Radio NOW 100.9).
