Torres Media Group to purchase 98.5 Lite FM from Evanov
Evanov Communications has announced that there is a buyer for its Ottawa station 98.5 Lite FM that was slated for closure.
Torres Media Group has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of CJWL-FM, currently operating as Lite 98.5, pending CRTC approval.
Torres already operates Rebel 101.7 in the market, which carries a mainstream Rock format. Lite FM will be the companies 5th radio station. They currently operate 103.1 Max FM in Valleyfield, QC, K-Country 93.7 in Georgina, ON and 105.5 Hits FM Uxbridge.
Torres also operates SkyWords Media which is one of Canada’s leading content producers for radio. Founded in 1991, SkyWords provides a full range of radio content services including traffic, weather and business reports and more. Radio stations across Canada use SkyWords to provide their listeners with accurate real-time information.
“The acquisition of a second station in Ottawa is an exciting opportunity for our company that will give us a more competitive offering for our advertisers,” said Ed Torres, CEO of Torres Media Group, in an announcement. “Our SkyWords Division has operated in Ottawa since 1995, we started our first radio station here in 2010. We know the market well and our local ownership will continue to drive our business. This opportunity in Ottawa represents a significant milestone for our company.”
“I am so thrilled that Torres and ECI agreed to keep the station on the air,” said ECI President and CEO Paul Evanov. “As an incumbent with a stand-alone station in the Ottawa market, like we have been, we know that a sister station for Torres’ Rebel 101.7 will provide a better competitive environment and efficiencies for the success of both stations. We also know that as a smaller, more locally-focused broadcaster, Torres is well equipped to succeed from day one”.
ECI was going to shut the station down as of September 20 but the agreement between ECI and Torres allowed the station to stay on the air.
