Prestige Media Agreed to Purchase Fall River Radio
The firm will acquire WSAR and a local FM translator from Bristol County Broadcasting for $50,000.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Prestige Media Group has filed an agreement to acquire radio station WSAR and its associated translator, W240EB, from Bristol County Broadcasting. The deal marks the end of Bristol County Broadcasting's tenure in the radio ownership market.
Why it matters
The acquisition follows the termination of a joint management and relocation venture between the two parties in February. This transition secures the future operations of the Fall River station as ownership changes hands.
The agreement is valued at $50,000 for the 1480 AM signal and 95.9 FM translator. Beyond the purchase price, infrastructure costs for a new tower are projected to exceed $100,000, with studio relocation expenses expected to surpass $20,000.
The players
Prestige Media Group
This is the buyer in the transaction and does not currently own other radio stations.
Bristol County Broadcasting
This entity is the seller and will exit the radio ownership market upon the completion of the sale.
WSAR
This radio station operates on the 1480 AM frequency in Fall River.
W240EB
This is a radio translator operating on the 95.9 FM frequency.
The details
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will split costs for necessary station improvements. Bristol County Broadcasting will cover half the expense of a new tower, while Prestige Media will fund half the cost of moving the station to new studio facilities.
Timeline
The joint venture agreement was terminated in February 2026.
The purchase agreement was officially filed on October 13, 2026.
Market Dynamics
The deal resolves the complex management arrangement that collapsed earlier this year. It follows the February 2026 termination of the joint venture agreement, signaling a shift in operational control for the Fall River broadcast market.
For stakeholders, the deal provides a concrete timeline for the exit of Bristol County Broadcasting from the local media landscape. The split of infrastructure costs suggests that future station upgrades will be shared, potentially stabilizing operating expenses during the transition.
The takeaway
This transaction settles outstanding infrastructure obligations between the two companies by formalizing cost-sharing for the new tower and studio. Listeners and stakeholders should note that the ownership change will involve significant capital investment in broadcast facilities.
Further reading
Learn more about local investment shifts on the Fall River Financial Planning page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fall River Reporter.
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