Hope Media Group and WAY Media Announce Merger
Christian content providers Hope Media Group and WAY Media announced Wednesday (Jan. 26) they will merge into one organization by the middle of this year.
Hope Media Group owns radio station KSBJ in Houston as well as the Spanish language Christian station “Vida Unida;” digital content outlets NGEN Radio (Christian hip-hop and pop), Hope On Demand and Amen: The Prayer App; and a concert and event brand, Special Events. The company is based in Houston.
WAY Media, founded by Bob and Felice Augsburg in 1987, owns WayFM, which is broadcast on FM signals in 26 states, in addition to digital content outlets that include Waynation.com, WAYLOUD (Christian Rock), and Way Now (Christian Pop).
The merger is expected to close by mid-2022, pending FCC approval. A news release from the organizations said the merger will be a cash-free transaction between equals that received a unanimous vote from both companies’ boards of directors.
The merged entity will be headquartered in Houston and will operate under the name Hope Media Group. Hope Media Group’s Joe Paulo will serve as CEO of the new organization. WayFM and KSBJ will continue to operate under their existing brand names.
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“We have a vision to integrate the best of both ministries and be better together for the cause of Christ,” said WAY Media’s interim CEO Tim Dukes, who will serve as chief operating officer for the new entity.
Dukes said the new, combined Hope Media Group will focus on continuing to serve its existing audiences “with excellence” while growing through digital expansion and into new radio markets.
“We are incredibly excited to join forces with WAY Media to not only continue our shared mission of connecting people to God, but to create even more opportunities to spread His hope for good,” Paulo said. “We know that together we can accomplish more. The board of directors for each ministry has been prayerful about this for months and we believe this will also further ignite a new trend of collaboration and unity amongst Christian ministries.”
The release said the rest of the leadership team for the combined entity will be announced soon.
