MARC Radio Group continues to significantly expand its presence in Florida by acquiring a cluster of radio stations in the Lakeland-Winter Haven market from Hall Communications.
The deal includes :
- Country formatted WPCV-FM (97.5 "97 Country") — a heritage station with strong coverage from near Tampa to Sanford, an award-winning morning show, and a loyal audience. MARC has stated it will retain the successful country format, with Chief Revenue Officer Scott Miller noting, "You don't mess with success."
- Adult Hits WONN (1230 "MAX") and its FM translators W296CS (107.1) and W240DB (95.9).
- Talk formatted WLKF-AM (1430) (note: the current FM translator at 96.7 is not included in the deal).
The transaction is expected to close in May, subject to approval by the FCC. This acquisition comes just days after MARC announced another major purchase: five stations along Florida's I-95 corridor (including markets from the Space Coast to the Treasure Coast, such as Vero Beach-area outlets in AC, adult hits, country, and news/talk formats), further strengthening the privately owned company's statewide footprint.
Key attractions for the purchase include WPCV's award-winning morning show, dedicated listener base, and strong signal coverage spanning from near Tampa to Sanford. Adding WONN's adult hits programming and WLKF's talk format creates a diverse lineup, allowing MARC to reach a wide range of listeners and advertisers in the market.
As a Central Florida-based company with deep local roots—including ties to Florida Southern College alumni and longstanding community support—MARC Radio Group continues to grow strategically across the state, now adding these heritage stations to its portfolio.