Emmis sells Indianapolis radio stations, including sports talk’s The Fan

INDIANAPOLIS — In one of many largest native radio shakeups in current historical past, Emmis Communications mentioned Monday it’s promoting its Indianapolis stations to City One, pending approval from the Federal Communications Fee.

The sale contains B105 (WYXB 105.7-FM), HANK FM (97.1-FM), The Fan (93.5-FM and 107.5-FM), WIBC (93.1-FM) and Community Indiana. 

“When Emmis launched our first station, WENS now HANK FM, in 1981, I by no means may have envisioned the journey we might go on,” Emmis founder and chairman Jeff Smulyan mentioned in a press release Monday. “Indianapolis is my hometown, and I am so happy with what we have been in a position to accomplish.”

Maryland-based City One describes itself as “the biggest diversified media firm that primarily targets Black People and concrete customers in the US.”

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City One, Smulyan mentioned, “has deep media expertise, together with prolonged expertise as an Indianapolis radio and tv operator, important assets and a dedication to native radio.”

In a press release, Alfred Liggins, president and CEO of City One, mentioned. “These are terrific basic market codecs (Greatest Selection, Nation, Information and Sports activities) and shall be an important addition to City One in a transaction that’s accretive and deleveraging.”

Emmis Indianapolis Radio has 77 full-time and 50 part-time staff, all based mostly within the firm’s Monument Circle headquarters. It’s unclear what’s going to occur to staff or the stations’ codecs after the sale is full.

The Fan is house to the one sports activities discuss radio format in Indy, together with three weekday reveals: “Kevin & Question” which airs 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., “The Dan Dakich Present” from midday to three p.m. and “The Trip with JMV,” which airs 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The sale will shut as soon as the transaction receives approval from the FCC, which Emmis mentioned may take a number of months. Till then, Emmis will proceed to personal and function the stations. 

Background on Emmis’ Indy stations:

>> WIBC (previously 1070 now 93.1-FM) is a information discuss format bought by Emmis in 1994 from Horizon Broadcast Group. The frequency moved to 93.1-FM in 2007.

>> HANK FM (97.1-FM) was previously WENS, the primary station owned by Emmis. Bought in 1979, the sign was moved to Indianapolis, and launched in 1981 with an grownup modern format. The station switched codecs in March 2005 to its present nation format. 

>> The Fan, a sports activities discuss station, is house of the Indianapolis Colts, the Indiana Pacers and the Indy 500. It at present operates at 93.5 and 107.5. It was launched in 2007 on the previous 1070 sign (when WIBC moved to 93.1-FM) and moved to 107.5 in 2017, and added 93.5 in 2019. 

>> WYXB, often called B105.7, launched in 2001. Emmis bought the frequency (however not the mental property) from WTLC. The station airs an grownup modern format. 

>> Community Indiana gives information, discuss and sports activities programming to greater than 70 radio stations serving the state of Indiana. Emmis bought Community Indiana in 1998 from the Hulman Household.

“We have develop into a useful contributor to the Indianapolis neighborhood,” Smulyan mentioned in his assertion Monday, a frontrunner of radio trade initiative and innovation, and a trusted useful resource for Central Indiana listeners and companies.”

Observe IndyStar sports activities reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Attain her by way of e mail: dbenbow@indystar.com.