Draper Media To Acquire Five More Delmarva Radio Stations

Draper Media is making another major move to expand its radio footprint on Delmarva. The company has reached an agreement to purchase Forever Media’s Southern Delaware stations.

The acquisition includes Eagle 97.7 (WAFL), 101.3 The Chicken (WCHK FM), Delaware 105.9 (WXDE), Cool 102.1 (WNCL/W271CX), and 97.1 The Wave (WAVD). The deal would further strengthen Draper Media’s already sizable radio presence, which includes 93.5 The Beach (WZBH), 102.5 WBOC FM, Coast Country 103.9 (WRDE FM), Big 107.7 (WGBG FM), and The Duck (WTDK) on translators in Salisbury and Ocean Pines. Because the purchase would give Draper Media ownership of eight FM signals assigned to the Salisbury Ocean City market, the company is asking the FCC for a waiver. In its filing, Draper argues the Milford licensed stations primarily serve Delaware and do not compete for advertising revenue in the Salisbury Ocean City market as defined by Nielsen and BIA.

The proposed acquisition also reunites the stations with the former Delmarva Broadcasting properties that Draper Media purchased from Forever Media in June 2025. If approved, the latest deal would further consolidate Draper Media’s position as the dominant locally based broadcaster across much of Delmarva, with stations stretching from Southern Delaware to Maryland’s Eastern Shore.