CBS Radio, Beasley Broadcast Close On Tradio Deal

CBS Radio has announced it has completed its deal with Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. to swap 13 mid-size market radio stations in Tampa and Charlotte as well as WIP 610 AM in Philadelphia for five large market stations in Philadelphia and Miami, moving forward in its strategy to grow the division’s major market presence.

In the trade, CBS Radio has acquired Philadelphia stations WRDW-FM and WXTU-FM, and Miami stations WKIS-FM, WPOW-FM and WQAM-AM.

Beasley has obtained WIP-AM in Philadelphia; WHFS-AM, WHFS-FM, WLLD-FM, WQYK-FM, WRBQ-FM, and WYUU-FM in Tampa; and WBAV-FM, WBCN-AM, WFNZ-AM, WKQC-FM, WNKS-FM, WPEG-FM and WSOC-FM in Charlotte.

This marks the first time CBS Radio will operate stations in Miami, where CBS already owns two television stations. The Company operates duopolies in 15 markets nationwide, including 11 of the top 15 radio markets.

“This transaction reinforces our strategy to concentrate on large market properties,” said Dan Mason, President and CEO, CBS Radio. “We already have television duopolies in both Philadelphia and Miami, so these new stations will be a terrific complement to our existing local broadcasting portfolio, and a welcome addition to the overall CBS family.”

No format changes have been noted at any of the stations.  Many have speculated that CBS would use one of its newly acquired Philly FMs to simulcast All-News KYW 1060 AM.  Another possibility would be converting WRDW 96.5 FM from HipHop to Top40 'Amp'.  Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, CBS Radio says Rob Morris has been named Vice President, Programming, for CBS RADIO’s cluster of stations in Miami, including WPOW-FM, WKIS-FM and WQAM-AM.  The announcement was made Monday by Joe Bell, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, CBS RADIO Miami and is effective immediately.

Rob Morris

“Today marks a new beginning for our cluster of stations in Miami and I’m thrilled to be working with Rob and the great management team at CBS Radio,” said Bell.  “We have built a solid foundation in the market with a history of community service and programming excellence.  We look forward to the extensive array of assets and expertise that CBS Radio brings to our operations which will ultimately benefit the listener and our advertisers.”

Morris most recently was Vice President, Programming for CBS Radio’s former stations in Tampa that included WHFS-FM/AM, WLLD-FM, WQYK-FM, WRBQ-FM, and WYUU-FM.  He joined the cluster in July of this year.  Prior to that, he was Operations Manager/Program Director for CBS Radio’s Minneapolis stations KZJK-FM and KMNB-FM since 2012. During that time Morris oversaw audience share increases in key demographics of 85% and 31% for JACK FM and BUZ’N 102.9, respectively.

For 17 years before he joined CBS Radio, Morris was Music Director, Assistant Program Director, Program Director and later Operations Manager for iHeartMedia in Minneapolis.  During that time KDWB 101.3 FM won three Marconi Awards.  In 2009, Morris received the “Most Influential Program Director Award’ from FMQB.