BIA’s September 2026 Broadcast Media Transactions Report shows limited television deal activity and a more active radio market. Two commercial full-power or Class A television transactions totaled $6.85 million, while 87 commercial radio stations were sold for a combined $16.98 million.
Television Transactions
Television transaction activity remained light in September, with just two deals totaling $6.85 million.
Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire KRNV in Reno, Nevada, from Cunningham Broadcasting for $6.5 million. The station had been held by a separately licensed entity with an established operating relationship with Sinclair.
The only other television transaction was HC2 Holdings’ purchase of KADO in Shreveport, Louisiana, from Word of Life Ministries for $350,000.
The largest television transaction of 2026 remains E.W. Scripps’ March purchase of 23 stations from INYO Broadcast Holdings for $54 million. Gray Media’s July acquisition of WUPW, WDBD and KVHP from American Spirit Media for $50 million ranks second, followed by E.W. Scripps’ $15.8 million purchase of WTVQ in Lexington, Kentucky, from Morris Multimedia in March.
Radio Transactions
Radio deal activity was considerably stronger in September, with 87 commercial stations sold for a total of $16.98 million.
The largest reported transaction was a $7.842 million stock redemption involving 25 stations within Leighton Enterprises. Four shareholders redeemed their shares, making the Leighton Enterprises, Inc., Employee Stock Ownership Plan the company’s sole shareholder.
Other notable transactions included MARC Radio’s $2.5 million purchase of five stations in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Gainesville-Ocala, Florida, markets from WGUL FM. MARC Radio also acquired three stations in the Melbourne-Titusville-Cocoa, Florida, market from Cumulus Media for $2.073 million.
For the year to date, Urban One’s May purchase of KKDA and KRNB in Dallas-Fort Worth from Service Broadcasting Group for $22 million remains the largest radio transaction. Hoffmann Media Group’s July acquisition of six stations in St. Louis from Audacy for $20 million ranks second. Hall Communications’ February sale of three Florida stations to MARC Radio Group for $9 million ranks third.
The September report also adds the June sale of WYVE-AM, WLOY-FM and WXBX-FM from Alamance Media Partners to Three Rivers Media for $25,000.
Tracking Broadcast Media Deal Activity
BIA’s Broadcast Media Transactions Report tracks announced transactions across television and radio, providing insight into station sales, ownership changes and market activity. BIA classifies transactions based on the date a sale is announced, rather than when it closes. Accordingly, the announced Nexstar/TEGNA transaction involving 62 stations for $6.2 billion was included in BIA’s July 2025 transaction report.
BIA tracks broadcast transactions and station details in MEDIA Access Pro (MAPro), giving media companies, investors and industry professionals a resource for researching ownership changes, following deal activity and understanding the evolving broadcast ownership landscape.
