Beasley Broadcast Group
An American radio broadcasting company that owns and operates local stations and related digital media businesses.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Beasley Broadcast Group is a United States broadcasting company based in Naples, Florida. Founded in 1961 by George G. Beasley, the company developed as a family-founded radio operator and later became a publicly traded owner of local and regional radio stations. Its operating stations are generally presented under the Beasley Media Group name, while Beasley Broadcast Group is retained as the corporate parent and public-company identity. The company’s core business is terrestrial radio. Its stations serve a range of formats, including news, sports, country, classic hits, classic rock, active rock, adult contemporary, rhythmic contemporary hit radio, urban and urban adult contemporary, Latin and bilingual programming, and brokered or religious programming. This format diversity allows Beasley to address different demographic segments within individual metropolitan and regional markets. The company also extends its local-media activities through station websites, streaming, digital advertising, events, audience engagement, and other online services associated with its radio properties. A major turning point came with Beasley’s initial public offering, completed on February 11, 2000. The public listing gave the group access to capital markets while it continued to expand through station purchases and market transactions. In 2014, the company completed a large station exchange with CBS Radio involving properties in Tampa, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Miami. In 2015, Beasley reorganized stations previously held through several subsidiaries under the Beasley Media Group operating name. The acquisition of Greater Media in 2016 was one of the most important expansion moves in the company’s history. The $240 million transaction, approved by the Federal Communications Commission and completed on November 1, added stations in Philadelphia and Boston, expanded the company into Detroit, and gave it a presence in several New Jersey markets. Beasley subsequently made divestitures and station swaps to address debt and regulatory ownership constraints. These included the sale of stations in the Greenville–New Bern–Jacksonville, North Carolina, market in 2017, the exchange of Boston stations WMJX and WBZ-FM in connection with the Entercom–CBS Radio merger, and the reacquisition of Philadelphia country station WXTU in 2018. Beyond conventional radio, Beasley has pursued sports and esports-related opportunities. In 2019, it acquired the Houston Outlaws, a professional Overwatch League team, marking its third esports venture according to the referenced company history. In 2021, it became associated with AXLE-R8, a Rocket League organization formed through an open-qualifier and player-contract process. These activities broadened the group’s media and audience strategy beyond broadcast frequencies, although radio remains its principal business. The company’s station portfolio has included properties in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. The portfolio described in the reference material includes sports brands such as WBZ-FM’s Sports Hub and WPEN’s Fanatic, music outlets such as WMMR, WMGK, WXTU, WRIF, and WKLB-FM, and news, talk, and specialized services such as WGAC and WTEL. Station ownership and formats can change through acquisitions, divestitures, regulatory transactions, and local programming decisions; therefore, the portfolio should be treated as time-sensitive. As of the February 2026 snapshot cited in the reference material, the company was described as owning 49 stations under the Beasley Media Group name.
History
Beasley Broadcast Group traces its origins to 1961, when George G. Beasley founded the company as a radio broadcasting business in the United States. Its growth was based on acquiring and operating local stations serving different communities and audience segments. Rather than relying on a single national format, the company’s portfolio developed across music, news, talk, sports, and other specialized programming categories. The company completed its initial public offering on February 11, 2000. Becoming publicly traded created a formal capital-markets platform for a broadcaster whose expansion depended substantially on station acquisitions, market exchanges, and portfolio management. Beasley continued to operate as a multi-market radio owner while adapting its business to changes in advertising, competition, regulation, and the growing importance of online distribution. A significant portfolio reshaping occurred in 2014. CBS Radio announced that it would exchange 14 stations in Tampa, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for five Beasley stations in Miami and Philadelphia. The transaction was completed on December 1, 2014. In January 2015, Beasley reorganized stations that had previously been held by several subsidiaries under the Beasley Media Group name. The corporate parent continued to use Beasley Broadcast Group, creating a distinction between the public company and the operating identity used for its stations. On July 19, 2016, Beasley announced an agreement to acquire Greater Media for $240 million. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction on October 6, and closing took place on November 1. Greater Media expanded Beasley’s presence in Philadelphia and Boston and introduced the company to Detroit and three New Jersey markets. The transaction substantially increased the scale and geographic diversity of the portfolio, but also created debt and regulatory ownership considerations that led to later divestitures and exchanges. In February 2017, Beasley announced that it would sell six stations and four translators in the Greenville–New Bern–Jacksonville, North Carolina, market to Curtis Media Group for $11 million. The stated purpose was to reduce debt. One station, WNCT-FM, was concurrently transferred to Inner Banks Media to comply with Federal Communications Commission ownership limits. The sale process was completed on May 1, 2017. Beasley also participated in transactions connected with the Entercom–CBS Radio merger. In November 2017, it announced the sale of Boston adult-contemporary station WMJX to Entercom in exchange for Boston sports station WBZ-FM. The exchange closed on December 20, 2017. In July 2018, Entercom announced the sale of Philadelphia country station WXTU to Beasley for $38 million. The transaction formed part of the regulatory remedies associated with Entercom’s purchase of WBEB and closed on September 28, 2018. The company later broadened its media interests beyond terrestrial radio. In November 2019, Beasley announced the acquisition of the Houston Outlaws, a professional Overwatch League team, from Immortals Gaming Club. The transaction was described as Beasley’s third esports venture. In August 2021, Beasley became the owner of AXLE-R8, a Rocket League organization. Its players were selected through an open qualifier and a gauntlet-style competition for one-year contracts. These moves reflected an effort to engage younger and digitally oriented audiences through gaming and esports alongside the company’s established radio operations. The station portfolio described in the available reference material spans Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Brands in the portfolio cover country, rock, classic hits, adult contemporary, sports, news, talk, urban, Latin, bilingual, and other formats. Radio stations also operate as local digital-media businesses through websites, streaming, online advertising, promotions, and event activity. The exact station count, ownership status, and formats are subject to change. The cited February 2026 snapshot describes 49 stations operating under the Beasley Media Group name.
- 2021
AXLE-R8 Rocket League organization
[1]Beasley became the owner of the AXLE-R8 Rocket League organization.
- 2019
Houston Outlaws acquisition
[1]Beasley acquired the Houston Outlaws Overwatch League team from Immortals Gaming Club.
- 2018
WXTU returned to Beasley
[1]Beasley reacquired Philadelphia country station WXTU from Entercom for $38 million.
- 2017
North Carolina market divestitures
[1]Beasley sold stations and translators in eastern North Carolina to reduce debt and satisfy FCC ownership limits.
- 2016
Greater Media acquisition completed
[1]Beasley completed its $240 million acquisition of Greater Media, expanding into Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New Jersey markets.
- 2015
Beasley Media Group operating identity established
[1]Radio stations previously held through multiple subsidiaries were reorganized under the Beasley Media Group name.
- 2014
CBS Radio station exchange completed
[1]The company completed a multi-market exchange of stations with CBS Radio on December 1.
- 2000
Initial public offering
[1]Beasley completed its initial public offering on February 11, 2000.
- 1961
Company founded
[1]George G. Beasley founded the broadcasting company in the United States.
Products and positioning
A regional and multi-market radio broadcasting group focused on locally oriented programming, advertising, digital extensions, and a diversified portfolio of music, news, sports, and talk formats.
Terrestrial broadcasting · 1961
Local radio stations
Beasley’s principal offering is a portfolio of local AM and FM radio stations serving metropolitan and regional markets across the United States. Stations operate under distinct local brands and carry music, news, talk, sports, and specialized programming. Their business model combines audience delivery with local, regional, and national advertising.
Digital media
Digital media and streaming
The company’s radio operations extend onto station websites, online audio streams, digital content, social platforms, and digital advertising products. These services complement terrestrial broadcasts and allow station brands to reach audiences beyond the coverage area or broadcast schedule.
Sports media · 2019
Sports and esports properties
Beasley has pursued sports-oriented media through sports radio stations and esports investments. The company acquired the Houston Outlaws Overwatch League team in 2019 and became associated with Rocket League organization AXLE-R8 in 2021, broadening its audience and content strategy beyond conventional radio.
Brand decisions
2021
AXLE-R8 Rocket League investmentStrategyBackground
Beasley continued exploring gaming and esports as extensions of its media and audience strategy.
Action taken
Beasley became the owner of Rocket League organization AXLE-R8, whose players were selected through an open-qualifier competition.
Aftermath
The move added a Rocket League property to Beasley’s esports activities; further performance or commercial outcomes are not specified in the available sources.
2019
Houston Outlaws acquisitionM&ABackground
Beasley sought to expand into esports and reach audiences outside its traditional radio operations.
Action taken
The company acquired the Houston Outlaws Overwatch League team from Immortals Gaming Club.
Aftermath
The acquisition added a professional esports property to Beasley’s media portfolio and was described as its third esports venture.
2018
Reacquisition of Philadelphia station WXTUM&ABackground
Entercom’s purchase of Philadelphia station WBEB required divestitures to address Department of Justice revenue concerns.
Action taken
Entercom sold country station WXTU to Beasley for $38 million; the transaction closed on September 28, 2018.
Aftermath
Beasley regained a Philadelphia country station and expanded its position in the market.
Acquisition price. $38 million (Announced July 19, 2018; completed September 28, 2018)
2017
North Carolina divestiture for debt reduction and regulatory complianceStrategyBackground
After the Greater Media acquisition, Beasley sought to reduce debt and comply with FCC station-ownership limits.
Action taken
Beasley sold six stations and four translators to Curtis Media Group for $11 million and separately divested WNCT-FM to Inner Banks Media.
Aftermath
The transactions reduced Beasley’s presence in the Greenville–New Bern–Jacksonville market and addressed stated financial and regulatory constraints.
Divestiture proceeds. $11 million (Announced February 2, 2017; completed May 1, 2017)
2017
Boston WMJX and WBZ-FM exchangeM&ABackground
The transaction was associated with the Entercom–CBS Radio merger and its station-portfolio requirements.
Action taken
Beasley sold WMJX to Entercom and received sports station WBZ-FM in exchange.
Aftermath
Beasley strengthened its Boston sports-radio presence through WBZ-FM, while Entercom obtained WMJX.
2016
Greater Media acquisitionM&ABackground
Beasley pursued a major expansion of its radio-station portfolio and geographic coverage.
Action taken
It agreed to acquire Greater Media for $240 million; the FCC approved the transaction and closing occurred on November 1, 2016.
Aftermath
Beasley added stations in Boston and Philadelphia and entered Detroit and three New Jersey markets, while later managing additional debt and ownership constraints.
Acquisition price. $240 million (Announced July 19, 2016; completed November 1, 2016)
2014
CBS Radio station exchangeM&ABackground
Beasley and CBS Radio sought to reshape their station portfolios across Tampa, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Miami.
Action taken
The companies exchanged 14 CBS Radio stations for five Beasley stations, with the transaction closing on December 1, 2014.
Aftermath
The exchange changed Beasley’s market footprint and preceded the 2015 consolidation of its stations under the Beasley Media Group identity.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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