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Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Buys 2 Edmonton, 7 Saskatchewan Stations From Rawlco
July 10, 2014 at 4:14 PM (PT)
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The JIM PATTISON BROADCAST GROUP is buying 7 FM and 2 AM stations in the EDMONTON market and SASKATCHEWAN from RAWLCO RADIO for an undisclosed price. The stations include Hot AC-Classic Hits CKNO (102.3 NOW! RADIO) and Adult Hits CIUP (UP! 99.3)/EDMONTON; Country CKBI-A, Hot AC-Classic Hits CFMM (POWER 99), and Active Rock CHQX (MIX 101)/PRINCE ALBERT, SK; Hot AC CJCQ (Q98), AC CJHD (93.3 THE ROCK), and Country CJNB-A/NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK; and Country CJNS/MEADOW LAKE, SK.
The current management and staff are expected to remain on board and RAWLCO will retain its stations in SASKATOON, REGINA, and CALGARY; PATTISON is also buying paNOW.com, serving PRINCE ALBERT, as part of the deal.
Chairman/CEO JIM PATTISON said, “The RAWLINSON family have built a great legacy in Canadian broadcasting with the first purchase of CKBI Radio in PRINCE ALBERT, SASKATCHEWAN in 1946. I thank RAWLCO RADIO CEO GORDON RAWLINSON for allowing us the opportunity to continue building on his family’s history in the radio industry, especially in the province of SASKATCHEWAN, with which we both have close ties.”
RAWLINSON said, “When we were approached by the JIM PATTISON BROADCAST GROUP, I was impressed with how their style of operating radio stations was very similar to ours. They have an outstanding reputation of providing excellent local radio with a keen focus on community service. I was also pleased with the PATTISON commitment to provide opportunities for all of the current RAWLCO employees to grow their careers with Pattison. I am confident that these stations will be in very good hands.”
JIM PATTISON BROADCAST GROUP Chairman RICK ARNISH said, “Continuing to grow our presence in WESTERN CANADA has always been and clearly remains a top priority for our Broadcast division. I’ve approached GORDON RAWLINSON several times for many years that, I am pleased to say, has resulted in this terrific opportunity for us to enter EDMONTON, PRINCE ALBERT, NORTH BATTLEFORD and MEADOW LAKE. The opportunity to join forces with this highly reputable and industry-leading company is very attractive to us, and we’re most excited to have this opportunity to grow in markets that mirror our other Western Canadian radio and television stations. I have the utmost respect for the RAWLINSON family, and it will be our Broadcast division’s focus to continue to serve the community and listeners in EDMONTON and SASKATCHEWAN with the same high-quality programming and commitment to community as they are accustomed to with RAWLCO RADIO. Our history has been built on acquisitions and new licences, as we are great believers in the future of radio. This purchase is part of our strategic plan to grow and expand in the west.”

