Urban One is bulking up its radio holdings in Texas. Three years after it expanded its Houston cluster, the company is moving to solidify the position of its Dallas operation, reaching a deal to buy urban “K-104” KKDA and “Smooth R&B 105.7” KRNB from Service Broadcasting. It is a deal that CEO Alfred Liggins has sought for years, giving Urban One the top two urban stations in market No. 4.
Urban One already owns rhythmic CHR “97.9 The Beat” KBFB and adult R&B “Majic 94.5” KZMJ in the Dallas market. But the company said it will spin off KZMJ to Fuzion Dallas. Despite the sale, Urban One says the two deals mark a “significant expansion” of the company’s reach in the Dallas community and reinforces a commitment to providing high-quality, local content to the market.
“By bringing these stations into our portfolio, we aren’t just growing our footprint; we are elevating our ability to serve our audience and our advertising partners with unmatched scale and local expertise,” Liggins said in a statement. “This transaction is accretive and advances our consolidation strategy by scaling our presence in high-growth regions where our target audience is most concentrated.”
Nielsen says nearly one in five (18%) listeners in the Dallas-Fort Worth radio market are Black. Another 29% are Hispanic.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the sale is that Service Broadcasting founder Hymen Childs, the independent operator who has been the recipient of multiple offers since the 1990s consolidation wave, has finally agreed to sell. Childs bought KKDA in 1976, and then signed-on KRNB two decades later.
Service Broadcasting calls the sale to Urban One a “thoughtful transition” that will bring its exit from ownership.
“For decades, Service Broadcasting has been deeply committed to serving the community through culturally relevant programming, trusted voices, and meaningful local engagement,” the Service statement says. “We are incredibly grateful to our employees, partners, and listeners who have contributed to the success and legacy of these brands. Urban One’s scale and platform position these stations for continued growth while preserving the local impact that has always defined them.”
Urban One says its acquisition of KKDA and KRNB will bring little change to the heritage brands. The company says programming and community-focused broadcasting will remain, while local businesses will have a more comprehensive advertising solution with a broader reach.
“Our people are the heart of our success,” added Doug Abernathy, Regional VP of Urban One. “By aligning our best-in-class team with these new platforms, we are securing the future of local radio in Dallas and ensuring we remain the primary source for news, entertainment, and connection for the communities we serve.”
Financial terms were not immediately released.
It is the latest Texas deal for Urban One, which earlier paid $27.5 million for the four FMs that Cox Media Group owned in Houston in 2023. Its cluster in that market now includes rhythmic CHR “97.9 The Box” KBXX, country “93Q” KKBQ-FM, the classic rock “Eagle 106.9 & 107.5” simulcast of KHPT-FM and KGLK-FM, and classic country “Country Legends 97.1” KTHT-FM.