Leadership from Hope Media Group, home to Houston’s top Christian radio station KSBJ, and Way Media announce their intention to merge into one media organization. The formal merger is expected to close by mid-2022, following FCC approval. The Christian media organization will be headquartered in Houston and will operate under the name Hope Media Group. KSBJ and WayFM, as part of the merged Hope Media Group, will continue to serve their respective audiences under their existing brand names.
This merger combines the rich heritage of two like-minded media organizations currently engaging audiences totaling more than 4 million people. Hope Media Group was founded 40 years ago with one radio station, KSBJ-FM/Houston, and Way Media was formed 35 years ago with WAYJ-FM/Fort Myers. This is a merger of equals and a cash-free transaction that received a unanimous vote from both boards of directors.
Hope Media Group’s Joe Paulo, who will be President/CEO of the merged entity, commented, “We are incredibly excited to join forces with Way Media and expand our combined impact. Our ministry has called Houston home for 40 years and I have no doubt this city is the perfect place to continue being a beacon of Hope, not only locally, but across the nation.”
Fundraising and construction plans are underway for a new 50,000 square foot media and office facility to be located on Redemption Square in Generation Park, a mixed-use urban development on Beltway 8 in northeast Houston. The newly merged organization will employ nearly 200 people, with over half in the Houston-area.
Way Media’s Interim CEO Tim Dukes will serve as Chief Operating Officer of Hope Media Group. He added, “We have a vision to integrate the best of both ministries and be better together for spreading life-changing hope. More will be shared soon to announce the leadership team for the combined entity that will still be focused on serving our existing audiences with excellence, in addition to growing through further digital expansion and new terrestrial radio markets.”
Currently, Hope Media Group is a family of media brands that include Houston-focused KSBJ, the brand-new Spanish Christian “Vida Unida”, digital content outlets NGEN Radio (Christian hip-hop and pop), Hope On Demand and Amen: The Prayer App, plus a concert and event brand, Special Events. Way Media owns and operates a national network of more than 20 full-power CCM-formatted “WayFM” stations in markets that include Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Portland, Nashville, and South FL (West Palm/Ft. Lauderdale) and over 30 translators from Florida to Washington State, in addition to digital content outlets that include Waynation.com, WAYLOUD (Christian Rock), and Way Now (Christian Pop).
(This post was taken from a post sent to me by KSBJ)
