Blue Ridge Broadcasting to Acquire Knoxville, Tenn., Radio Station

Acquisition complements the Billy Graham-founded ministry’s presence in northeast Tennessee

ASHEVILLE, N.C, Dec. 29, 2011 – Blue Ridge Broadcasting, Inc. (BRB) of Asheville, N.C., has entered an agreement with South Central Communications Corporation of Evansville, Ind., to acquire WRJK-FM, Norris, Tenn., pending approval of the Federal Communications Commission. The purchase price is $625,000 cash.

This transaction marks BRB’s first radio acquisition in 48 years. BRB was founded in 1962 by Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth. BRB’s flagship station, 106.9 The Light (WMIT), Black Mountain, N.C., was purchased in 1963 and currently has the 12th largest FM coverage area in the U.S., including parts of eastern Tennessee.

“BRB is blessed to serve a large, growing group of northeast Tenn. via 106.9 The Light.” says Jim Kirkland, executive director of BRB. “We’re excited about the opportunity to now extend our ministry outreach into metro Knoxville.”

Added Kirkland “Knoxville is a city for which the Graham association has long carried warm regards.” Both Billy Graham and his son Franklin held well-received events in the city. Mr. Graham led a 1970 crusade at the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium. In 2008, Franklin Graham hosted a similar event at UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena.         

South Central Communications owns and/or operates four other stations in the Knoxville area: WIMZ, WJXB, WNFZ and WQJK. The corporation also has radio stations in Nashville, Tenn., and Evansville, Ind.
WRJK-FM broadcasts on 106.7 MHz with a power of 1.1 kW. Its antenna sits 751 feet above average terrain in northern Knox County. 

Brokerage advisory services for BRB were provided by Mitt Younts of EnVest Media, LLC. For South Central Communications service were provided by Doug Ferber of Defcom, LLC.

About Blue Ridge Broadcasting
Blue Ridge Broadcasting (BRB), a non-profit organization, is a listener-supported ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. BRB was founded by Billy and Ruth Graham in 1962. The organization operates several stations, including its flagship station 106.9 The Light (contemporary Christian), from its location in Black Mountain, N.C. Other stations under BRB include 1010 AM WFGW (Southern Gospel), LaLuzDeCristo.org (Spanish-language station) and theEDGE 106.9 HD2 (youth/young adult).

Media Contact:
Lisa Moseley
704-401-2116
lmoseley@bgea.org