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Dave Crooks of DLC Media announces retirement.
Sells all 6 stations to two different locally owned Indiana & Illinois broadcast companies.
Dave Crooks, President of DLC Media, Inc. has agreed to sell 3 of his 6 radio stations, WAXI-FM 104.9 in Rockville, IN and WAKO-FM 103.1 and WAKO-AM 910 and FM Translator W257DW 99.3 in Lawrenceville, IL to 3 Towers Broadcasting owned by Scott Huber and Johnny McCrory.
3 Towers already owns radio stations and digital newspapers in Greencastle, Shelbyville, Plymouth, and Rochester, Indiana. The application to transfer WAXI and WAKO was filed Friday with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). DLC Media also has a time brokerage agreement with Vincennes University Foundation commercial radio station WFML-FM 96.7. 3 Towers is interested in operating WFML under a similar arrangement.
Crooks confirmed he is selling his 3 remaining stations, WVIG-FM 105.5 in West Terre Haute and his Brazil, IN combo WFNB 92.7 and WAMB AM 1130 including FM Translators W295CQ
106.9 & W258BA 99.5 to JKO Media, Inc. owned by Joey & Kelsey O’Rourke. JKO owns and operates 105.9 WMMC in Marshall, IL, and will expand to a 4-station Terre Haute Metro
cluster.
In 2017, Crooks and his company built a modern 3 radio station studios and offices along the Old National Road in Downtown Brazil, Indiana. JKO will lease the current Brazil radio center and has the first option to purchase it. The application to transfer WVIG, WAMB, and WFNB is expected to be filed with the FCC soon as both parties finalize and review documents.
Crooks began his radio career at the age of 16 in 1980 as a Disc Jockey at WNDI in Sullivan, Indiana. He hosted a morning show and did high school play-by-play as a senior in high school and through much of his 44-year career. Dave has worked and owned various radio stations in Indiana and Illinois since 1993. After serving several years on the board, Dave was elected to serve as 2016 President of the Board of Directors for the Indiana Broadcasters Association.
He was an Indiana State Representative in District 63 from 1996-2008. Crooks added, “I am ready to slow down and knock more items off my bucket list. It’s been a great ride. I am confident I am leaving the stations, staff, and the communities they serve in good hands”.
The Federal Communications Commission will have the final say on the expected date of both transfers.
Crooks speculated he could be out the door as soon as May 1st