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CMG Media Corporation

Trade name	Cox Media Group
Company type	Joint venture
Industry	Media
Founded	December 2008; 16 years ago (2008-12)
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Key people	Daniel York (president and CEO)
Parent	Apollo Global Management (71%) Cox Enterprises (29%)
Divisions	Cox Newspapers Cox Radio Cox Television
Website	www.cmg.com

CMG Media Corporation (doing business as Cox Media Group) is an American media conglomerate principally owned by Apollo Global Management in conjunction with Cox Enterprises, which maintains a 29% minority stake in the company. The company primarily owns radio and television stations—many of which are located in the South, Pacific Northwest, Eastern Midwest, and Northeast, and the regional cable news network Pittsburgh Cable News Channel (PCNC).

Originally founded in December 2008 by Cox Enterprises through a consolidation of its existing publishing and broadcasting subsidiaries, the current incarnation of Cox Media Group was formed on December 17, 2019, through the acquisition by Apollo of the original Cox Media Group (along with Cox Enterprises' advertising subsidiary, Gamut) from Cox Enterprises, which transferred a controlling interest in the company to Apollo, and Northwest Broadcasting from Brian Brady.

History

In December 2008, Cox Enterprises created Cox Media Group (CMG) by merging Cox Newspapers, Cox Radio, and Cox Television into one integrated digital media company. The creation of Cox Media Group was a departure from grouping subsidiaries based solely on publishing medium.

In August 2009, Cox Enterprises realigned its radio, television, newspaper/publishing, and digital assets into the same division. Under the new structure, while the local brands remain independent, they share resources and some management. Dayton, Ohio, was considered the prototype for the media group, where radio, television, newspaper, and direct mail were all in the same market, and were combined into a new building. In other markets where the facilities are not as close together, they do share some senior management; for example, Houston and San Antonio Radio and the Austin American-Statesman newspaper all fall under the same regional vice president. In addition to the radio/TV stations and newspapers, Cox Media Group encompasses Cox Digital Solutions (digital sales for both Cox and non-Cox online and mobile properties), Cox Reps (national TV sales for station groups such as Gray and Tegna), Kudzu.com, Savings.com, and Valpak direct mail.

CMG introduced a new group-buying discount program called DealSwarm in October 2010. DealSwarm provides online discounts at local businesses. The program is active in such Cox Media Group properties as Atlanta, Austin and Dayton.

In July 2012, CMG announced its intention to sell its radio stations in smaller markets: Birmingham, Greenville, Hawaii, Louisville, Richmond, and Southern Connecticut. It also intends to spin off its smaller-market television stations in El Paso, Johnstown, Reno, and Steubenville. The company said it intended to focus on larger markets or smaller markets that could be clustered together with other CMG properties.

In April 2013, CMG launched the online-only new site Rare.us as a conservative media source, originally with the tagline "Red is the Center", and more recently "America's News Feed". After initially-low audience numbers, the site expanded dramatically following more prominent use of social media and a more diverse range of stories.

On February 12, 2013, CMG announced the sale of the Birmingham, Greenville, Hawaii, Louisville, and Richmond radio stations to SummitMedia, and the southern Connecticut stations to Connoisseur Media; two weeks later, on February 25, the company announced the sale of the four television stations (and the local marketing agreement for a fifth) to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

In October 2014, Cox Digital Solutions became Gamut. Smart Media from Cox., offering media solutions to address the evolution of over-the-top media services (OTT). With this transition, CMG will cover linear television and radio, and Gamut will focus on OTT/CTV.

Sale of majority stake to Apollo Global Management

On July 24, 2018, Cox Enterprises announced that it was "exploring strategic options" for Cox Media Group's television stations, which the company said could involve "partnering or merging these stations into a larger TV company." Cox Media Group's president, Kim Guthrie, subsequently clarified to trade publication Radio & Television Business Report that the company was solely seeking "a merger or partnership" and not an outright sale of the television stations.

On February 15, 2019, Cox announced that Apollo Global Management would acquire a majority interest in the CMG television stations, as well as the Dayton radio stations and Ohio newspapers (whose operations are integrated with WHIO-TV), forming a new company that retains Cox Media Group's management and operating structure; Cox Enterprises holds a minority stake in this company. Cox's other radio stations, as well as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, were not included in the deal; Cox had previously said that any deal involving the television stations would not include radio stations or newspapers. In March 2019 filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Apollo disclosed that the new company, tentatively named Terrier Media, would purchase the Cox stations for $3.1 billion (reduced by the value of Cox's equity stake in Terrier).

On March 18, 2019, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that Cox Enterprises was "exploring options" for its radio stations. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution would not be included in any potential deal for the stations.

On June 26, 2019, Cox announced that the radio stations, as well as national advertising business – CoxReps, and local OTT advertising agency - Gamut, would also be acquired by the Apollo Global Management-backed company, which concurrently announced that it would retain the Cox Media Group name instead of Terrier Media. As they would no longer be grandfathered, the new company must divest a radio station each in the Orlando and Tampa Bay markets.

Both acquisitions, along with Apollo's concurrent $384 million acquisition of Northwest Broadcasting, were approved by the FCC on November 22, 2019, under conditions imposed after a federal court blocked changes to several FCC ownership policies. To comply with regulations prohibiting the cross-ownership of broadcast stations and daily newspapers (which the FCC had sought to repeal), CMG agreed to cut publication of its Ohio newspapers to three days a week within 30 days of the deal's completion; Cox Enterprises also reduced its stake in CMG to a nonattributable interest, eliminating an ownership conflict with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. CMG was also required to surrender the licenses to two of Northwest Broadcasting's stations, in Yuma, Arizona, and Syracuse, New York, where Northwest's existing duopolies did not comply with reinstated provisions of the FCC's duopoly rule. Cox announced the closing of the acquisition on December 17, 2019.

On February 10, 2020, Cox Enterprises announced it would repurchase the Dayton Daily News, Journal-News, and Springfield News-Sun from CMG, once again owning a 100% interest in the newspapers; the sale, which reunited the papers with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Cox Enterprises' newspaper holdings, allowed them to continue daily publication despite the court ruling. The sale was officially closed on March 2.

On February 22, 2022, a partnership of Standard General and Apollo announced their intent to acquire Tegna; Apollo will hold non-voting shares in the company. As part of the sale, Standard General will sell Standard Media's WDKA, WLNE, KBSI, and KLKN to CMG, and CMG will also acquire Tegna's stations in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin (including WFAA, KHOU, and KVUE). WFXT will be divested to Standard General. The sale was approved by Standard General and Apollo Global Management on May 17, 2022. On February 24, 2023, it was confirmed that the deal would be given a hearing before an administrative law judge, which the FCC Commissioner's Board voted to remand the merger review. The deal was terminated on May 22, 2023.

On March 30, 2022, Cox Media Group announced that it would sell 18 stations, namely KYMA in Yuma, Arizona; KIEM and KVIQ-LD in Eureka, California; KPVI in Idaho Falls, Idaho; KLAX in Alexandria, Louisiana; WABG, WNBD and WXVT in Greenwood, Mississippi; WICZ in Binghamton, New York; WSYT in Syracuse, New York; KOKI and KMYT in Tulsa, Oklahoma; KMVU and KFBI-LD in Medford, Oregon; WHBQ in Memphis, Tennessee; KAYU in Spokane, Washington; and KCYU-LD and KFFX in Yakima, Washington to Imagicomm Communications—a shell company affiliated with the cable network INSP—for an undisclosed amount. The sale was completed on August 1.

On June 18, 2024, Cox Media Group conducted a round of layoffs around the company including mostly low level management, morning show hosts, program/brand directors and promotions personnel. The exact number or positions have not been officially disclosed.

Radio stations

Cox Media Group owns, operates or provides sales and marketing services to 50 stations in 10 markets. This radio portfolio includes nine AM stations and forty-one FM stations.

Cox Radio became a public company, majority owned by Cox Enterprises, in 1996. Around April 2009, Cox Enterprises proposed a US$69-million takeover offer of Cox Radio. The offer expired on May 1, 2009. The offer was later raised to $4.80 a share, and the expiration was pushed to May 13. The offer was accepted, and the acquisition was completed on June 1.

• (**) — indicates a station built and signed on by Cox.

Current

Former

Talk shows

• Clark Howard (syndicated by Westwood One)
• Rick and Bubba (syndication handled by Syndicated Solutions)

Television stations

Stations are listed in alphabetical order by state and city of license.

• (**) - Indicates a station built and signed on by Cox.

Current

Former

Cable channels

• Pittsburgh Cable News Channel

Former assets

The following outlets were at one time owned by subsidiary Cox Newspapers Inc. or CMG:

Daily newspapers

• Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio
• Journal-News, Hamilton, Ohio
• Springfield News-Sun, Springfield, Ohio
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta
• Austin American-Statesman, Austin, Texas
• Chandler Arizonan, Chandler, Arizona
• The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
• The Daily Reflector, Greenville, North Carolina
• The Daily Sentinel, Nacogdoches, Texas
• The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado
• Longview News-Journal, Longview, Texas
• The Lufkin Daily News, Lufkin, Texas
• The Marshall News Messenger, Marshall, Texas
• Mesa Tribune, Mesa, Arizona
• Miami News, Miami, Florida
• Orange Leader, Orange, Texas
• Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach, Florida
• The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida
• Palo Verde Valley Times, Blythe, California
• Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, Texas
• Rocky Mount Telegram, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
• Scottsdale Progress, Mesa, Arizona
• Tempe Daily News, Tempe, Arizona
• Waco Tribune-Herald, Waco, Texas

Weekly newspapers

• Beaufort-Hyde News, Belhaven, North Carolina
• Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, North Carolina
• The Chowan Herald, Edenton, North Carolina
• The Duplin Times, Kenansville, North Carolina
• The Enterprise, Williamston, North Carolina
• Farmville Enterprise, North Carolina
• The Nickel-Grand Junction, Grand Junction, Colorado
• Perquimans Weekly, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
• Standard Laconic, Snow Hill, North Carolina
• Times-Leader, Ayden-Grifton, North Carolina
• Weekly Herald, Robersonville, North Carolina

Websites

• Rare, Washington, D.C.

Notes

1. ^ Acquired from Newport Television.
2. Owned by Hoffman Communications, Inc.; CMG operates the station under a shared services agreement.
3. ^ Acquired from Fox Television Stations.
4. ^ Acquired from Northwest Broadcasting.
5. Owned by CMG, News-Press & Gazette Company operated KYMA via a shared services agreement. In January 2020, CMG surrendered the license of KYMA (which the callsign was subsequently changed to KSWT), and moved its NBC programming to a subchannel to KSWT (which the callsign was subsequently changed to KYMA).
6. Co-owned with Knight Newspapers until 1962 in an equally-divided joint venture.
7. Owned by John Wagner; CMG operated WFXW under a shared services agreement.
8. Owned by Ellis Communications, Cox operated this station under a joint sales agreement along with sister station KRXI-TV.
9. Operated under an SSA by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
10. Semi-satellite of KFFX-TV.

References

1. "Commercial Broadcast Stations Non-Biennial Ownership Report". fcc.gov.
2. "Cox media units combining into Cox Media Group". bizjournals.com. December 4, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
3. "Cox Newspapers, Inc. profile and media properties". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
4. "Cox Newspapers, Inc. profile and media properties". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
5. "Cox Media Group Announces New Integrated Media Organization | Cox Media Group". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
6. "Ohio | Cox Media Group". Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
7. "Our Properties | Cox Media Group". Archived from the original on March 27, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
8. "The DealSwarm Arrives in Atlanta, Austin, Dayton, Seattle with O". October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
9. "Cox Media Group Purchases New TV Stations in Jacksonville,... | Cox Media Group". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
10. ^ O'Leary, Sean (September 15, 2014). "Cox Media Group cooks up America's News Feed". Newspaper Association of America. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
11. Carlton, Bob (February 12, 2013). "Cox Media sells Kiss, Jamz, WZZK, other Birmingham radio stations to group that includes David DuBose". The Birmingham News. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
12. Malone, Michael (February 25, 2013). "Sinclair to Acquire Five Cox Stations". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
13. "Cox Launches Gamut, a New Company Addressing Evolving Needs". Digital Content Next. October 14, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
14. ^ Simon, Mollie (July 24, 2018). "Cox Enterprises looks to sell its TV stations". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
15. Jacobson, Adam (July 24, 2018). "Cox On The Block: TV 'Merger or Partnership' Confirmed". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
16. ^ Trubey, J. Scott (February 15, 2019). "Cox Enterprises to sell majority stake in TV stations to Apollo". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
17. Gnau, Thomas (February 15, 2019). "Cox, Apollo agree to form private company". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
18. Jessell, Harry A. (March 6, 2019). "Cox TV Valued At $3.1 Billion In Apollo Acquisition". TV News Check. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
19. Allison, David (March 18, 2019). "Cox Enterprises exploring options for its radio stations". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
20. Jacobson, Adam (June 26, 2019). "It's Official: Cox Radio, Gamut, CoxReps Going To Apollo". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
21. "With FM Spins And Newspaper Sacrifices, FCC Approves Apollo Buyout Of Cox Media". Inside Radio. November 25, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
22. Jacobson, Adam (November 25, 2019). "FCC OKs Foreign Dollars For Cox/Apollo With Deal's Approval | Radio & Television Business Report". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
23. "Cox Enterprises Announces Close of Cox Media Group Sale to Affiliates of Apollo Global Management", prnewswire.com, December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
24. Kiesewetter, John (February 10, 2020). "Cox Keeps Dayton, Butler County And Springfield Newspapers In The Family". WVXU. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
25. "Jana Collier named publisher of Cox Enterprises' Ohio newspapers", Dayton Daily News, March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
26. Szalai, Alex Weprin,Georg; Weprin, Alex; Szalai, Georg (February 22, 2022). "Local TV Giant TEGNA Sold to Private Equity Firms in Mega-Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
27. "WFAA and Houston, Austin TV stations expected to go to Cox Media in Tegna's $5.4 billion sale". Dallas News. February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
28. "Radio Implications To Today's Standard General Acquisition of TEGNA". RadioInsight. February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
29. Goldsmith, Jill (May 17, 2022). "Tegna Shareholders Approve Sale Of Broadcaster To Standard General, Apollo Global". Deadline Hollywood.
30. Johnson, Ted (February 27, 2023). "Standard General Blasts FCC Decision On Tegna Merger, Calls For Full Commission Vote". Deadline Hollywood.
31. "Standard General's Tegna Takeover Dies After Money Goes". Bloomberg L.P. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
32. Miller, Mark (March 30, 2022). "Cox Sells 18 Stations In 12 Markets To INSP". TV News Check. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
33. LLC, Cox Media Group (March 30, 2022). "Cox Media Group to Sell Television Stations in Twelve Markets to Imagicomm Communications". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved March 31, 2022.
34. Jacobson, Adam (March 30, 2022). "An INSP-ired TV Deal For Cox Is Done | Radio & Television Business Report". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
35. George Winslow (March 30, 2022). "Cox Media Group to Sell TV Stations in 12 Markets to Imagicomm". TVTechnology. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
36. Winslow, George (August 1, 2022). "Cox Media Group, INSP Close Deal for Sale of Cox TV Stations to Imagicomm". TVTechnology. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
37. "Cuts Across Cox Media Group Stations". RadioInsight. June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
38. "About | Cox Media Group". Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
39. "Cox Radio offer extended." Dayton Business Journal. Monday April 20, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
40. "Cox Radio Gains On Higher Buyout Offer." Radio and Records. Thursday April 30, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
41. "Cox Radio now part of Cox Enterprises". Louisville Business First. June 1, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
42. ^ "Fox Acquires San Francisco TV Stations in Swap with Cox". Variety. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
43. ^ "KTVU becomes a Fox station". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2014.

External links

• Official website

v t e Cox Enterprises
Daily newspapers	The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Dayton Daily News Journal-News The Springfield News-Sun
Cox Media Group	v t e Cox Media Group Owned by Apollo Global Management (71%) and Cox Enterprises (29%) Radio stations KCYY KISS-FM KJSR KKYX KONO KONO-FM KRAV-FM KRMG KRMG-FM KSMG KTKX KWEN WALR-FM WAPE-FM WBAB WBLI WCFB WDBO WDUV WEDR WEZI WFEZ WFLC WGAU WGMG WHFM WHIO WHIO-FM WHJX WHKO WHPT WHQT WJGL WMMO WNGC WOEX WOKV WOKV-FM WPUP WRFC WSB WSB-FM WSBB-FM WSRV WTBV WWKA WWRM WXGL WXKT WZLR Television stations (by primary affiliation) ABC WFTV WSB-TV WSOC-TV CBS KIRO-TV WHIO-TV WJAX-TV Fox KLSR-TV WFOX-TV WFXT MyNetworkTV KEVU-CD NBC WPXI Telemundo KIRO-TV WSOC-TV WFOX-TV Other affiliates Independent WAXN-TV WRDQ Cable channels Pittsburgh Cable News Channel Defunct Miami Valley Channel Acquisitions Newport Television Northwest Broadcasting Standard Media (cancelled) Owned by Hoffmann Communications, Inc., Cox Media Group operates WJAX under a SSA. These stations broadcast these networks on their digital subchannels.
Cox Communications	Cable channels NewsWatch 15 YurView Arizona California Louisiana Oklahoma
Cox Automotive	Autotrader.com (98%) (Kelley Blue Book) CarsGuide Manheim Auctions
Former assets	Cox Sports Television Cox Sports Kudzu.com San Diego Cable Sports Network Valpak
Cox Enterprises holds a 29% stake in the Cox Media Group.

v t e Apollo Global Management
Leon Black (Founder) Josh Harris (Founder) Marc Rowan (Founder / CEO)
Media assets	v t e Cox Media Group Owned by Apollo Global Management (71%) and Cox Enterprises (29%) Radio stations KCYY KISS-FM KJSR KKYX KONO KONO-FM KRAV-FM KRMG KRMG-FM KSMG KTKX KWEN WALR-FM WAPE-FM WBAB WBLI WCFB WDBO WDUV WEDR WEZI WFEZ WFLC WGAU WGMG WHFM WHIO WHIO-FM WHJX WHKO WHPT WHQT WJGL WMMO WNGC WOEX WOKV WOKV-FM WPUP WRFC WSB WSB-FM WSBB-FM WSRV WTBV WWKA WWRM WXGL WXKT WZLR Television stations (by primary affiliation) ABC WFTV WSB-TV WSOC-TV CBS KIRO-TV WHIO-TV WJAX-TV Fox KLSR-TV WFOX-TV WFXT MyNetworkTV KEVU-CD NBC WPXI Telemundo KIRO-TV WSOC-TV WFOX-TV Other affiliates Independent WAXN-TV WRDQ Cable channels Pittsburgh Cable News Channel Defunct Miami Valley Channel Acquisitions Newport Television Northwest Broadcasting Standard Media (cancelled) Owned by Hoffmann Communications, Inc., Cox Media Group operates WJAX under a SSA. These stations broadcast these networks on their digital subchannels. v t e Yahoo Inc. Owned by Apollo Global Management (90%) and Verizon Communications (10%) Current assets Built by Girls CompuServe Engadget Flurry Netscape Rivals.com RYOT TechCrunch Weblogs, Inc. Former assets AIM Alto Mail Edgecast Flickr go90 HuffPost MapQuest Moviefone Polyvore Tumblr Related Yahoo! Inc. (1995–2017) Altaba v t e Yahoo Websites oneSearch Yahoo.com Finance News Search Sports Tech Communication Mail Corporate Yahoo! Inc. (owner since 2017) Yahoo! Inc. (owner until 2017) Criticism History Products Timeline Acquisitions Defunct services Answers Babel Fish GeoCities Groups Kickstart Kids Maps Messenger Pipes Query Language Smart TV Together Travel View Related people David Filo Marissa Mayer Jerry Yang Related AOL Altaba Yahoo China Koprol Yahoo Australia Yahoo Japan Yahoo Kimo Yahoo Korea Yahoo Maktoob Yahoo Xtra Yahoo Time Capsule Category v t e AOL Websites Aol.com Yahoo! Search Related AOLserver ART image file format Elwood Edwards One by AOL OSCAR protocol TAC Ultravox Yahoo Acquisitions Former AIM Alto Mail buy.at Community Leader Program CompuServe DMOZ Explorer FanHouse Ficlets GameDaily Gravity Hometown In2TV Neverwinter Nights On Politics Daily press Propeller.com Radio Radio KOL Seed Singingfish Socialthing TOC protocol MSN TV TV
Other assets	Apollo Education Group Arconic Cardenas/Tony's Fresh Market CareerBuilder Coinstar Great Wolf Resorts Legendary Entertainment Lumileds The Michaels Companies Miller Homes The Restaurant Group Shutterfly Sun Country Airlines Tenneco Ventia (15%) The Venetian Las Vegas/The Palazzo

• Cox Media Group
• 2008 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
• 2019 mergers and acquisitions
• American companies established in 2008
• Apollo Global Management companies
• Cable network groups in the United States
• Companies based in Atlanta
• Cox Enterprises
• Mass media companies established in 2008
• Mass media companies of the United States
• Newspaper companies of the United States
• Radio broadcasting companies of the United States
• Television broadcasting companies of the United States