A Chicago-based company has announced it will purchase three southern Utah radio stations.
Marathon Media, which owns more than 60 stations in small markets throughout the Midwest and West, announced a deal Tuesday to buy KONY-AM and KONY-FM in St. George and KREC-FM in Cedar City.Details of the agreement have not been disclosed. The deal must still be approved by the Federal Communications Commission.
Marathon will take over operations at KONY from Red Rock Broadcasting Inc. on Feb. 1, under a local marketing agreement. Brian Head Broadcasting will continue operating KREC until the FCC approves the license transfer.
"Radio broadcasting across the country is in a period of consolidation," Red Rock Broadcasting President Hal Hickman said. "It's difficult for single-station owners to compete with large groups that own multiple stations."
Jim Burgoyne, Marathon's regional vice president, met with KONY staff Tuesday to assure them no staff changes are planned.
"This company is very interested in small-market radio. We know that it is the people who make such stations successful," Burgoyne said. "As far as our listeners are concerned, they won't hear a difference."