The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing a proposed $20 million deal that would transfer ownership of six St. Louis-area radio stations from Audacy to Hoffmann Media Group, led by billionaire David Hoffmann, who recently became the majority owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s parent company, Lee Enterprises.
In filings submitted Wednesday, Hoffmann Media Group outlined agreements to acquire the stations from the New York-based Audacy, which owns hundreds of radio outlets nationwide. The stations include:
- Talk: KMOX (1120 AM/104.1 FM), which broadcasts St. Louis Cardinals and Saint Louis University basketball games
- Talk: KFTK (97.1 FM)
- Hip-hop/R&B: WHHL (98.7 FM)
- Adult contemporary: KEZK (102.5 FM), WFUN (96.3 FM), and KYKY (Y98.1 FM), which carries St. Louis City SC soccer games
He has signaled plans to expand radio holdings alongside his portfolio of 154 newspapers.
“We are building a scaled, multi-platform network that combines print, digital, and broadcast to deliver trusted journalism and meaningful community connection,” Hoffmann said in a press release. “Talk radio is a natural extension of that vision and a powerful driver of our long-term growth.”
The deal comes amid broader consolidation in St. Louis media. It follows the FCC’s March approval of Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna — currently on hold due to an antitrust lawsuit — which would place local TV station KSDK under the same ownership as Nexstar’s KPLR and KTVI.
Separately, community station KDHX (88.1 FM) sold for nearly $9 million last year.
Hoffmann has described the radio acquisition as a bargain relative to recent local transactions and part of his strategy to strengthen local media presence.