WI Radio: Civic Media Closes on WISS AM/FM

Civic Media has expanded it footprint into the Fox Valley, Wisconsin with the purchase of WISS 1100 AM 98.3 FM, and the relaunch of the station as Oshkosh Air Support: News, Talk, Brewers.

“Civic Media is ecstatic to add WISS, a heritage station in the Fox Valley and the home of the Milwaukee Brewers, to our network. We thank Tom and Joanne Boyson from Hometown Broadcasting for giving us this opportunity. I love everything about how Tom makes radio and hope to emulate his success,” said Mike Crute, President of Civic Media.

WISS is just the latest in a series of station acquisitions for Civic Media, following the recent addition of WXCE and WDMO in the St. Croix Valley, WBZH in Hayward, and WRCO and WRCE in Richland Center. The growing network now has nine stations broadcasting across the state, and several others awaiting FCC approval.

“Civic Media would also like to thank WBA Hall of Famer Ron Fruit and his wife Beth,” said Crute, “for allowing us to continue their community serving legacy in Richland Center.” Civic Media is preserving WRCO’s “Country and Community” format while changing the WRCE AM and FM translator to a News/Talk format, “News from the Center.” “We also thank Marcus Jaeger for his friendship and good will in the purchase of his stations in Wisconsin Rapids and Nekoosa,” Crute continued, in reference to WFHR and WIRL, which joined the network in August.

“Hometown radio that centers local communities is the foundation of our model,” said Sage Weil, CEO of Civic Media. “We believe that radio has a crucial role to play in our state by focusing our attention on what is happening here at home, where local and regional issues have an out-sized impact on our lives.”

“We believe radio has a crucial role to play in helping local communities stay connected,” added Weil, “but we aim to meet listeners wherever they are. All of our stations are available to stream online via connected cars, phones, and smart speakers, while our shows are available immediately after broadcast on popular podcasting platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.”