Stephen King's WKIT Radio Station Saved by Last-Minute Buyer Before Shutdown
Bangor skyline from Penobscot River
Bangor, Maine, the broadcast area of Stephen King radio station WKIT, which has found a new owner. Photo Credit: Vasiliymeshko
Stephen King's radio station WKIT 100.3 FM has secured a last-minute buyer, preventing its shutdown planned for the end of 2024. Bangor businessman Jeff Solari and his partner Greg Hawes have finalized the purchase of the station, which was the most popular among King's three radio properties.
The acquisition comes after King announced plans to cease operations of his three stations (WKIT 100.3 FM, WZLO 620 AM, and WZON 103.1 FM) due to significant financial losses over the years. General manager Ken Wood had previously disclosed that King absorbed multimillion-dollar losses while operating these stations.
The new owner, Jeff Solari, brings substantial media experience to the table. As president of Rock Lobster Media and owner of Sports Chowdah, Maine's only free weekly sports newsletter, Solari appears well-positioned to manage the station's operations.
While WKIT will continue broadcasting under new ownership, the fate of sister stations WZLO and WZON remains unchanged, with both expected to cease operations as initially planned.
This development occurs amid broader challenges in the radio industry, with major players like iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media implementing layoffs, and SiriusXM undertaking strategic realignment following disappointing Q3 results and declining stock value.
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