Radio Disney Group

Radio Disney Group, LLC was created on July 30, 2003, by ABC Radio Networks, which at that time was part of The Walt Disney Company. The company was organized to own and operate much of the terrestrial station infrastructure used by the Radio Disney network. Its headquarters were in New York City, and its corporate parent was Disney–ABC Television Group. The group’s position changed during the 2007 sale of ABC Radio Networks to Citadel Broadcasting. Disney transferred the broader ABC radio business to Citadel, but the Radio Disney network and its owned-and-operated stations were not included in that transaction. Radio Disney Group therefore remained within Disney’s radio operations after the ABC Radio Networks divestiture. Beginning in 2010, Radio Disney Group pursued a station-disposal program focused initially on outlets outside the 25 largest U.S. radio markets. The majority of the stations affected by the program eventually went silent, changed their formats, or continued under their regular local formats rather than carrying Radio Disney programming. This reduced the importance of the group’s terrestrial station portfolio. On August 13, 2014, Disney announced a broader plan to sell Radio Disney’s stations, with KDIS identified as an exception under the arrangements described in the reference material. The strategic rationale was to focus Radio Disney on digital distribution, including XM satellite radio and livestream services such as TuneIn. The stations were initially expected to stop broadcasting Radio Disney programming on September 26, 2014, but they remained on the air and continued carrying the network’s programming while buyers were found. The last reported transaction in the program was the sale of WSDZ to Salem Media Group, completed on December 18, 2015. The available reference does not state whether the LLC was legally dissolved after the station sales. Accordingly, the group’s current corporate status cannot be confirmed from the supplied material. Its documented history is best understood as the history of a Disney radio-station ownership vehicle that supported Radio Disney’s terrestrial expansion and later enabled the network’s transition toward digital and satellite distribution.

• 2015

  WSDZ sale completes the station divestiture

  [1]Radio Disney Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Salem Media Group completes its purchase of WSDZ on December 18, reported as the final station sale in the divestiture process.

• 2014

  Disney announces a terrestrial station sell-off

  [1]Radio Disney Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Disney announces plans to sell Radio Disney stations, apart from KDIS, and emphasize digital, satellite, and livestream distribution.

• 2010

  Station divestitures begin outside the largest markets

  [1]Radio Disney Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Radio Disney Group starts selling stations located outside the 25 largest U.S. radio markets.

• 2007

  Radio Disney remains outside the Citadel transaction

  [1]Radio Disney Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Radio Disney network and its owned-and-operated stations are excluded when ABC Radio Networks is sold to Citadel Broadcasting.

• 2003

  Radio Disney Group is founded

  [1]Radio Disney Groupen.wikipedia.org

  ABC Radio Networks establishes Radio Disney Group, LLC on July 30 to own and operate Radio Disney stations.

A Disney-controlled radio-station ownership and operating group supporting a youth- and family-focused music and entertainment network.

• Radio broadcasting · 2003

  Radio Disney terrestrial stations

  Radio Disney Group owned and operated a substantial portion of the terrestrial stations that carried Radio Disney programming in the United States. The stations provided local broadcast outlets for the network’s youth- and family-oriented music and entertainment format. Beginning in 2010 and accelerating after the 2014 announcement, these stations were sold, taken silent, or moved to other formats.

• Audio media

  Radio Disney programming distribution

  The group supported distribution of the Radio Disney network through its owned-and-operated stations. As Disney reduced its terrestrial holdings, the broader Radio Disney operation placed greater emphasis on satellite and online access, including XM and livestream services such as TuneIn.

• 2014

  Shift Radio Disney toward digital and satellite distributionStrategy

  Background

  Disney announced that Radio Disney would sell its terrestrial stations and focus on digital XM radio and livestream outlets.

  Action taken

  The company announced the sale of all Radio Disney stations except KDIS as described in the reference material. Stations continued airing Radio Disney programming during the sales process.

  Aftermath

  The final reported station sale, WSDZ to Salem Media Group, was completed in December 2015.

  Source

• 2010

  Begin selling stations outside the 25 largest radio marketsStrategy

  Background

  Radio Disney Group started reducing its terrestrial portfolio by targeting stations outside the 25 largest U.S. radio markets.

  Action taken

  The group offered stations for sale; many later went silent, changed format, or continued under a regular non–Radio Disney format.

  Aftermath

  The move reduced the group’s terrestrial presence and preceded the later decision to sell the remaining stations.

  Source

1. 1Radio Disney Groupen.wikipedia.org