Max Media


Max Media is a company that owns radio stations throughout the United States. It is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The company also operates under the name River Radio for stations in their Illinois and Missouri Markets with offices in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Carterville, Illinois, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

History

Max Media was founded in 2001. Prior to this, some of the company's management had run the TVX Broadcast Group from 1979 until its sale in 1991 to Paramount Communications, and had also run Max Media Properties from then until its sale in 1998 to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
In December 2003, Max Media would gain a handful of radio stations in Southern Illinois and Missouri after the Zimmer Radio Group sold 17 of their stations to Max under the name River Radio for an estimated $43 million.
On September 30, 2013, the Cowles Publishing Company acquired Max Media's Montana television station cluster for $18 million.
On October 31, 2013, Sinclair acquired the non-license assets of WPFO, Waterville, Maine, for $13.6 million; the deal made it a sister station to WGME-TV, Portland, Maine, which already produced a newscast for the station. On November 20, 2013, it was announced that Cunningham Broadcasting was to acquire the license assets for $3.4 million. The sale of the license assets was approved on June 23, 2017.
On January 9, 2014, Max Media sold its six Arkansas-based radio stations to Bobby Caldwell's East Arkansas Broadcasters for $3 million.
Effective November 5, 2015, Max Media sold its four Pennsylvania-based radio stations to Kristin Cantrell's Southern Belle, LLC for $3.8 million.
On April 5, 2017, Max Media announced that it was selling NBC affiliate WNKY in Bowling Green, Kentucky to Marquee Broadcasting for $5.6 million. The sale was completed on June 30, 2017.
All television stations either directly or indirectly owned by Max Media were sold off by 2019, leaving the company with a portfolio consisting solely of radio stations.

Current stations

Radio

City of license / MarketStationOwned sinceCurrent format
Cape Girardeau, MissouriKGIR 12202004Sports radio
Cape Girardeau, MissouriKZIM 9602004News/talk
Cape Girardeau, MissouriKCGQ-FM 99.32004Active rock
Cape Girardeau, MissouriKEZS-FM 102.92004Country music
Cape Girardeau, MissouriKGKS 93.92004Adult hits
Marion–Carbondale, ILWCIL 11202004News/talk
Marion–Carbondale, ILWJPF 13402004News/talk
Marion–Carbondale, ILWCIL-FM 101.52004Contemporary hit radio
Marion–Carbondale, ILWOOZ-FM 99.92004Country music
Marion–Carbondale, ILWUEZ 95.12004Adult contemporary
Marion–Carbondale, ILWXLT 103.52004Sports radio
Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Newport News, VAWGH 13102005Sports radio
Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Newport News, VAWGH-FM 97.32005Country music
Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Newport News, VAWTWV-FM 92.92005Adult contemporary
Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Newport News, VAWVBW-FM 100.52005Urban adult hits
Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Newport News, VAWVSP-FM 94.12005Sports radio
Poplar Bluff, MissouriKWOC 9302004News/talk
Poplar Bluff, MissouriKJEZ 95.52004Active rock
Poplar Bluff, MissouriKKLR-FM 94.52004Country music
Sikeston, MissouriKMAL 14702004Sports radio
Sikeston, MissouriKSIM 14002004News/talk
Sikeston, MissouriKLSC 92.92004Variety Hits

Former stations

Television

Radio

City of license / MarketStationYears ownedCurrent status
Morrilton, ARKVOM 8002003–2014Owned by East Arkansas Broadcasters
Morrilton, ARKVOM-FM 101.72003–2014Owned by East Arkansas Broadcasters
Russellville–Dardanelle, ARKCAB 9802003–2014Owned by East Arkansas Broadcasters
Russellville–Dardanelle, ARKCJC 102.32003–2014Owned by East Arkansas Broadcasters
Russellville–Dardanelle, ARKVLD 99.32003–2014Owned by East Arkansas Broadcasters
Russellville–Dardanelle, ARKWKK 100.92003–2014Owned by East Arkansas Broadcasters
Denver, COKFCO 107.12009-2024Owned by Pillar Media
Denver, COKJHM 101.52009-2024Owned by Pillar Media
Ahoskie, NCWQDK 99.32003–2015Owned by Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute, Inc.
Elizabeth City, NCWGAI 5602003–2014Owned by Gregory Communications License, Inc.
Elizabeth City, NCWCMS-FM 94.52003–2018Defunct, went silent in 2024
Elizabeth City, NCWCXL 104.12003–2018Owned by JAM Media Solutions
Selinsgrove, PAWVSL 12402003–2013Defunct, went silent in 2013
Selinsgrove, PAWFYY 106.52003–2015Owned by Southern Belle, LLC
Selinsgrove, PAWVSL-FM 92.32003–2015Owned by Southern Belle, LLC
Selinsgrove, PAWWBE 98.32003–2015Owned by Southern Belle, LLC
Selinsgrove, PAWYGL-FM 100.52003–2015Owned by Southern Belle, LLC