Connoisseur Media’s Jeff Warshaw Eyes Further Expansion After Alpha Media Deal.

After past attempts to purchase Cumulus Media and Saga Communications were denied, Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw has found a group to acquire and expand his company’s reach.

“Alpha Media has terrific properties in many markets that I’m very familiar with,” Warshaw tells Inside Radio, adding that he has done business in many of the markets where Alpha currently operates.

As previously reported, the newly merged operation will retain the Connoisseur Media name and be led by Warshaw. Once the transaction is finalized, pending FCC approval is expected to close in the second half of 2025. The company will then own 218 stations across 47 markets, reaching approximately 20% of the U.S. population. Key markets include San Antonio, Portland, Salt Lake City, Nassau-Suffolk, Palm Springs, and San Jose.

Warshaw says another reason the purchase of Alpha Media made sense is his belief in local radio. He says Alpha Media’s business practices are similar to how Connoisseur operates.

“We believe in having big presences, strong local teams, well-trained, large sales forces, providing the opportunity for our advertisers to be part of what we do for our local promotions and events,” he explains. “In the case of Alpha, this is very consistent with what we do, and we want to even further bolster their local efforts and become even more so a compelling resource for advertisers and provide programming that is local and part of the communities.”

While other radio groups are looking to cut costs and downsize, Connoisseur “generally invests more in our markets,” Warshaw says. “Particularly when we see that there’s opportunities to be successful.”

Moving forward, Connoisseur Media, with the financial backing of Brigade Capital Management, will be looking to make additional acquisitions. “Strategic M&A has been a big part of my background and will continue to be,” Warshaw adds. “We think we have all the ingredients to be a highly successful local media company for many years to come.”