By Mark Dugan
As shown in our monthly transaction chart, March delivered a measured but meaningful set of broadcast transactions, totaling approximately $69.8M in television deals and $25M in radio. While overall deal volume remains selective, the transactions point to continued confidence in core broadcast assets, particularly in local television.
Television Transactions: Strategic Expansion in Key Markets
March’s television activity was anchored by E.W. Scripps Company, which executed two notable acquisitions that stand out for both scale and market positioning.
The largest transaction of the month and year to date was Scripps’ $54 million acquisition of INYO Broadcast Holdings. This deal includes 23 stations across several major and mid-sized markets, including Phoenix, Detroit, Denver, and Cleveland. The breadth of this acquisition reinforces a continued strategy of building scale in local television, especially in markets where operational efficiencies and advertising demand remain strong.
Scripps also acquired WTVQ in Lexington, Kentucky from Morris Multimedia for $15.8 million. While smaller in size, this transaction reflects ongoing interest in strengthening station portfolios in regional markets where local advertising and community engagement remain durable.
From a year-to-date perspective, these two Scripps transactions now rank as the largest television deals of 2026, underscoring the company’s active role in shaping the current transaction landscape.
It is also important to provide context around larger transactions already in motion. The Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA Inc. transaction, announced in July 2025 and involving 62 stations valued at $6.2 billion, remains part of BIA’s transaction tracking based on when deals are announced, even as it moves toward completion amid legal challenges.
Radio Transactions: Targeted Deals with Local Focus
Radio transactions in March reflect a more targeted, market specific approach, with buyers focused on individual stations or small clusters rather than large scale consolidation.
The largest radio deal of the month was Connoisseur Media’s acquisition of four stations in Lincoln, Nebraska from NRG Media for $5.75 million. This transaction highlights continued interest in strengthening local clusters where operators can drive efficiencies and deepen advertiser relationships.
The second largest deal was Bible Broadcasting Network’s purchase of WLNK in Charlotte, North Carolina from Urban One for $4.2 million. This acquisition reflects the ongoing role of mission driven and format focused buyers in the radio transaction market.
Year-to-date, the largest radio transaction remains the February sale of three Florida stations by Hall Communications to MARC Radio Group for $9 million.
What This Means for the Market
Television continues to drive transaction value, signaling sustained confidence in local TV at scale.
Radio activity remains focused and market specific, with buyers targeting clusters where they can strengthen local position and efficiency.
Overall, strategic buyers are shaping the market, aligning portfolios with where advertising demand and revenue opportunity are growing.
Turn Transaction Activity Into Strategy
Understanding who is buying, where, and why is only part of the equation. The real advantage comes from connecting transaction activity to local revenue opportunity.
With BIA’s ADVantage platform, you can align these market moves with local advertising forecasts, category demand, and media mix shifts to identify where growth is accelerating in your market.
MEDIA Access Pro provides the station-level intelligence behind these transactions, helping you track ownership, market presence, and competitive positioning with precision.
If you want to better understand how recent transactions impact your market and where the next revenue opportunities are emerging, connect with BIA to put these insights into action.
