ST. LOUIS – The Hoffmann Family of Companies has struck a deal to buy NewsRadio 1120 KMOX and five other Audacy-owned St. Louis stations, a move that would put a hefty slice of the local commercial dial under one owner. The agreement, announced Monday, covers KMOX (1120 AM/104.1 FM) along with KEZK-FM (102.5), KYKY (Y98), WFUN-FM (96.3), KFTK-FM (97.1) and WHHL-FM (Hot 98.7). The sale still needs federal regulatory approval and must clear standard closing conditions before anything is final.
Deal details and Hoffmann's plans
As reported by St. Louis Public Radio, Audacy has agreed to sell the six St. Louis stations to the Hoffmann Family of Companies. In the announcement, David Hoffmann framed the purchase as a calculated step to speed up the expansion of the family's media platform. The Hoffmanns said the acquisition would help propel their company toward becoming one of the largest media owners in the United States, with a goal of being the second-largest media company by the end of the year. The deal must still be approved by the Federal Communications Commission before it can officially close.
A heritage station with reach
KMOX is a 50,000-watt clear-channel news-talk powerhouse long branded as “The Voice of St. Louis,” with a signal that stretches well beyond the metro area. The station runs a mix of local and syndicated shows and has been a central player in how regional news and sports are delivered to listeners. It added an FM simulcast on 104.1 in 2025, giving it another way to reach the market. Additional background on the station and its signal is available on its public entry at Wikipedia.
Part of a rapid expansion
The St. Louis radio deal is the latest in a string of big media moves by the Hoffmann family. Last year, David Hoffmann led a 50 million dollar investment in Lee Enterprises and took over as chair of the newspaper company in an effort to stabilize and grow local papers, according to AP News. The Hoffmann Family also recently agreed to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins, a purchase the NHL Board of Governors signed off on in late June, as reported by NHL.com.
What comes next in St. Louis
For now, KMOX and the five other stations stay under Audacy's umbrella while regulators do their work. The sale is still contingent on FCC approval and other closing steps, and the companies must file the necessary paperwork and meet any regulatory conditions before the ownership handoff happens, St. Louis Public Radio reported. Local advertisers, sports rights holders and newsroom staff are among those likely to keep a close eye on developments, although neither side has released specifics about any potential format tweaks or staffing changes.
Why local media watchers are watching
Media analysts note that putting newspapers, radio stations and sports franchises under the same corporate roof can create powerful cross-platform opportunities for advertising and subscriptions. At the same time, it raises familiar questions about consolidation and how much editorial independence survives when one family or company controls so many outlets in overlapping markets. In coverage of Hoffmann's investment in Lee Enterprises, the investor highlighted his plans to back local reporting and pursue “disciplined execution” as part of his broader strategy, according to AP News. For now, the timeline in St. Louis hinges on the pace of regulatory review and whatever the Hoffmann Family of Companies or Audacy decide to say next about their plans.
