Radio relay

At 76, Rob Weaver was looking for an exit strategy.

On a suggestion from a mutual friend, he and Mark King connected in early 2024.

In the next few months, the sale will be complete.

King, a Portland resident, is in the process of purchasing WPGW Radio and its sister stations from Weaver and his family.

Radio Insight first reported the sale, and WPGW Radio has also began broadcasting notice as required under Federal Communications Commission rules.

The sale won’t trigger an immediate retirement for Weaver, who has owned and operated the stations for more than four decades.

“I told Mark that I would stay with him for a year or two, for however long he wants me to be here … to help him through the transition,” said Weaver. “I’m very positive on Mark’s business ability, but he hasn’t been in the radio business so I think I can be of some help to him in guiding him through some of those early stages …”

He said he plans to be retired within two years.

“I’m not leaving right away,” he added.

“I want Rob here as soon as he wants to stay here,” King said. “This isn’t Rob leaving right now. Rob’s going to be here.”

Weaver said he had been looking for a buyer for “a while” when King was suggested as a possibility. The latter was immediately interested.

“This opportunity doesn’t come along, at all, hardly ever,” said King. “Rob’s been here 45 years. I think it’s a solid opportunity business-wise. It’s something I’ve always felt is, in many regards, along with the paper, the heart and soul of Jay County. I feel like it’s an opportunity to be part of that …

“I just feel like it’s, for me, a way to help the community, give back.”

The potential buyer and seller began discussions about the possibility and had hoped to have the transaction complete by the end of 2024.

WPGW began broadcasting notices about the potential sale a couple of weeks ago, as required by the Federal Communications Commission.

The process is currently in a 30-day waiting period during which members of the public can make comments to the FCC about the potential sale. The FCC will then review the sale documents for possible approval.

Weaver said he expects that deal to be finalized this spring.

In addition to WPGW (100.9 FM, 105.3 FM and 1440 FM) for $996,873.40, the sale includes the non-commercial WZJR 91.7 for $55,740.54 and WZBD 92.7 FM in Adams County for $343,905.69. King filed a stock sale in late January. It indicates he will pay $110,000 at closing with the remainder to be financed by the Weavers (Rob, his wife Mindy and his son Kyle).

King said this week that the remainder of the deal will be paid over a six-year period.

He said he doesn’t plan any major changes for the stations as he takes over ownership.

“We’re gonna keep this local. It’s gonna be family owned,” said King, noting that his son Christian will also be involved in the station. (Christian is currently working Saturdays at WZBD.) “I think I’d be very arrogant to come in and say, ‘I’m gonna make wholesale changes across the board’ because this is something that Rob has built … This is always gonna be Rob Weaver’s station, to some extent, even when he leaves the station.

“He may not have created this station, but Rob’s the one who … built it into what it is today. … It’s working well. I don’t see where any major changes need to be made.”

Weaver is a graduate of Marion High School and Ball State University and was a math teacher when he got involved in radio calling games for the Union City Indians. He was brought on to become the voice of the Jay County Patriots after the school opened in 1975 and gave up teaching two years later for a full-time gig in radio. In the mid-1980s, he and his wife Mindy became majority owners of WPGW.

While discussing the sale, he thanked his wife for all of her support.

“She’s not been directly involved in the operation of the radio but she’s been directly involved in the success of what we’ve done,” Weaver said.

King is a 1986 graduate of Jay County High School got his bachelor’s degree in 1991 from Taylor University, where he studied history. He has been in sales — business forms, labels, stock paper, laundry detergent, antiques — throughout his career, including as an auctioneer. He is currently self-employed and plans to continue his sales work while making the radio stations his new priority.

“At first … I need to learn the radio end of the business,” King said. “I’m not sure if I have a voice made for radio. I plan on staying behind the scenes initially … and learning the intricacies and nuances of the radio business from Rob. …

“Everything is in place. I just need to stay out of the way and not mess anything up.”