Tampa Radio: EMF To Acquire Beasley's 98.7 FM

Beasley Media Group has finalized an agreement to sell its Classic Rock station, “98.7 The Shark” (WPBB), located in Holmes Beach/Tampa, to K-Love Inc., a subsidiary of the Educational Media Foundation (EMF). Financial details of the transaction have not been made public.

Caroline Beasley, CEO of Beasley Media Group, expressed enthusiasm about the deal, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with EMF for the sale of 98.7 The Shark. EMF’s dedication to providing uplifting, family-oriented programming resonates deeply with the values of the Tampa Bay community. We are confident that K-Love will make a positive and lasting impact in this dynamic market.”

Tom Stultz, CEO of K-Love, shared his excitement about the acquisition, noting, “After 43 years, it’s an incredible honor to establish a presence in Tampa. Our mission at K-Love is to deliver compelling, faith-based media that connects people worldwide to the hope of Christ. We look forward to bringing our positive and encouraging Christian format to this vibrant city, offering listeners a trusted and uplifting destination.”

Beasley Media Group originally acquired WPBB in 2014 through a multi-market station swap with CBS Radio. Following the acquisition, Beasley rebranded the station, transitioning it from a Sports format to Classic Rock as “Bubba 98.7.” Over the years, the station underwent several format changes, including stints as “98.7 No Rules Rock” and Adult Contemporary “B98.7,” before returning to its Classic Rock identity as “The Shark” in 2018.